The vice chairman of Hanoi's People’s Committee, Tran Xuan Viet, asked the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Dong Da District to carry out a plan for preserving and developing the Lang basil fields.
There are only about 40 families growing the basil on a total area of 2,000 square metres.
However, urbanisation has been infringing on the land used to grow the herb and many people fear that the basil may soon disappear completely.
At present, there are only about 40 families growing the basil on a total area of 2,000 square metres. Not only has the land area been decreasing, but the irrigation canals have also been filled for building projects, making it difficult for the farmers to water their fields.
The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has recently submitted a plan to save and develop this traditional herb.
Viet said that he agreed with the department's plan. “Lang basil does not only hold important scientific and cultural value but it also play an important role in Vietnamese cuisine,” he said.
Lang Village is located in Lang Thuong Ward, Dong Da District. In the past, it was in Yen Lang Commune, near Bao Khanh Gate, Thang Long Citadel. Hung Lang has small leaves with round stems and grows in clusters. The aroma of Hung Lang is not as pungent as other kinds of basil.
