On October 17, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly and Madam Caroline Parmelin visited Hanoi University of Pharmacy. Their trip, part of the 55‑year Vietnam‑Switzerland diplomatic celebration, shows how traditional medicine can link the two nations.

The university is historically tied to Alexandre Yersin, a scientist of Swiss origin who founded the Indochina Medical College, the predecessor of today’s Hanoi University of Pharmacy. Yersin’s work laid the foundation for modern medical education in Vietnam, making the campus a symbol of the two countries’ long‑standing cooperation.

During the visit, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly highlighted that preserving, researching and developing Vietnam’s medicinal plant resources is essential for public health. She added that such work also creates jobs and improves living standards for people living in mountainous regions.

Madam Caroline Parmelin expressed strong interest in Vietnam’s medicinal resources. She noted that Swiss herbal traditions share many similarities with Vietnamese practices, reinforcing the potential for joint research and cultural exchange.

The spouses’ tour demonstrates that protecting medicinal plants can benefit both health and rural economies, while personal exchanges between leaders deepen Vietnam‑Switzerland friendship. Continued collaboration could turn traditional knowledge into sustainable development for mountain communities.