Ngô Phương Ly, the spouse of Vietnam’s President To Lam, met Caroline Parmelin, the spouse of Swiss President Guy Parmelin, at Hanoi University of Pharmacy to explore traditional medicinal herbs. Their visit highlights how shared plant knowledge can link two distant countries.

The university’s history already ties the two nations together. Its predecessor, the Indochina Medical School, was once headed by Alexandre Yersin, a French physician of Swiss origin, linking the two nations historically.

Among the herbs examined was Ngoc Linh ginseng, a rare plant from Vietnam’s central mountains. Ngoc Linh ginseng is used to create products that improve livelihoods for ethnic‑minority mountain communities.

Switzerland’s strong pharmaceutical sector also plays a role. Swiss pharmaceutical companies have long‑term purchasing agreements with local growers, giving mountain farmers stable incomes.

The meeting took place as Vietnam and Switzerland marked 55 years of diplomatic relations. Both sides are now discussing deeper cooperation in traditional medicine, pharmaceutical research, and a free‑trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).