Since mid April, traders in Gia Lai have been purchasing cicada shells at unusually high prices, prompting many local families to search forests and farms for the insect remains attached to coffee trees and forest vegetation.
Traders buy the shells, pack them into sacks and transport them to northern provinces for sale (Photo: Pham Hoang).
A resident identified as Suc from Ayun Commune said his entire family joins the nightly searches.
“My wife, child and I all go into the forest. On good days, we can collect nearly 1 kilogramme of shells,” he said. “Large shells are bought for nearly VND 2 million (approximately USD 80) per kilogramme, while smaller ones sell for around VND 600,000 (approximately USD 24).”
According to locals, the trade has become increasingly popular over the past three years as traders continue offering high prices during cicada molting season.
Cicada shells are being bought by traders for nearly VND 2 million, or about USD 77, per kilogramme (Photo: Pham Hoang).
At collection points, the shells are sorted by size, packed into sacks and transported to northern provinces. Some traders reportedly announce purchase prices in advance and even provide cash deposits to maintain supply networks.
One collector in Ayun Commune said she gathers several dozen kilogrammes of cicada shells daily from nearby residents.
“We only collect and send them to buyers in northern Vietnam,” she said. “I heard they are used as traditional medicine, but I do not know the details.”
Another trader in Ia Khuorl Commune said prices previously reached VND 2.5 million (approximately USD 100) per kilogramme before declining slightly this year.
Multiple cicada shell collection points have appeared in Gia Lai Province (Photo: Pham Hoang).
Cicadas usually emerge from underground in the evening or late at night, especially after the first seasonal rains. Freshly shed shells that remain intact, dry and light yellow are considered the most valuable.
Local forest protection officials said there are currently no regulations prohibiting people from collecting cicada shells because the activity does not directly damage forest resources.
However, Nguyen Thanh Vinh, head of the Mang Yang Forest Protection Department, warned that the influx of people entering forests during the dry season could increase wildfire risks.
“We are concerned that cooking or smoking in forests may lead to fires,” he said, adding that authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and avoid speculative collection trends.
According to doctor Nguyen Chi Hoang Phat from Hung Vuong Gia Lai Hospital, cicada shells have long been used in traditional medicine to support treatment for headaches, dizziness, skin conditions and sleep problems in children.
He stressed, however, that the material is usually combined with other medicinal ingredients and should only be used under professional guidance.
“With prices rising sharply, counterfeit products and fungus contaminated shells have also appeared on the market,” the doctor warned. “People should not buy or use them without proper knowledge.”