Synonyms:
Genetics: Hmong Landrace
Type: Point of origin, open pollinated
Style: Multipurpose; fibre, medicine, food, oilseed
Farmer: Various
Sourcing: Eloise and Josh (2023)
Village(s): Ta Phin, Various
District: Sa Pa
Province: Lao Cai
Area: Hoang Lien Son Range
Region: Northwest Vietnam
Appellation: Sa Pa
Country: Vietnam
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Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Spring
Regional Harvest: October
Height: 2-5m
Classification: Broad Leafed Hemp (BLH) type landrace
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Description:
The Sa Pa landrace is a unique multipurpose cannabis variety cultivated by Black Hmong communities in the Hoang Lien Son Range of Northwest Vietnam. Unlike purely psychoactive landraces, this strain has been traditionally cultivated for fibre, food, medicine, and oilseed production, while also retaining low-to-moderate psychoactive properties.
These plants grow exceptionally tall (2-5m), with thick central stalks ideal for fibre production. The large, broad leaves and dense seed clusters are typical of hemp-type cannabis, but notable resin production and reported mild psychoactivity suggest a history of selective adaptation for medicinal use as well.
The terpene profile is subtle and herbaceous, with earthy, grassy, and slightly citrus-woody notes, reflecting its traditional use as a household crop rather than an intensive drug-type landrace.
While not traditionally grown for ganja, some older farmers claim that certain plants—when left to mature fully—exhibit narcotic effects
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Context:
The Black Hmong people have cultivated cannabis in Northwest Vietnam for generations, primarily for textile production, but also for medicinal and culinary uses. In traditional Hmong culture, hemp fabric is highly valued, used for clothing, ritual garments, and household textiles.
Historically, hemp was an integral part of subsistence farming in Sa Pa, with families growing cannabis for its strong fibre, nutritious seeds, and medicinal applications. Some elders recall using the plant for pain relief, digestive ailments, and ceremonial purposes, hinting at an older tradition of cannabis use beyond its textile properties.
Despite government restrictions on cannabis, cultivation has persisted in remote Hmong villages, particularly in Ta Phin and surrounding areas, where hemp remains deeply embedded in local culture.
However, modern pressures such as deforestation, tourism, and state intervention have threatened traditional hemp farming, leading to a decline in cultivation and knowledge transfer.
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Accession Details:
Ta Phin General Population (2023)
Notes: Collected by Eloise from multiple farmers in Ta Phin and surrounding villages.
Type: General Population, Domesticate Landrace
Altitude: 1300-1600m
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Current Status:
Traditional Hmong hemp cultivation is in decline, with fewer villages actively growing cannabis due to increased government restrictions and economic shifts toward commercial crops and tourism-based industries. While some families still maintain small plots, large-scale traditional hemp farming is no longer widespread.
Further research is needed to document the remaining genetic diversity of the Sa Pa landrace, particularly psychoactive expressions that may be remnants of historical drug-type cultivation.
Join us on Patreon to support research, conservation, and seed preservation efforts!
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Sa Pa
According to the Single Convention on Narcotic drugs signed in Vienna in 1961, the possession, importation and traffic of hemp seeds are not subject to regulation. This treaty expressly excludes cannabis seeds from the list of narcotic substances that are subject to international oversight. However, while the possession of hemp seeds is not a criminal offense in France, the cultivation of cannabis can result in administrative and penal sanctions as stipulated by Article 222-35 of the Penal Code. Zomia Collective S.A.R.L. carries no responsibility for the misuse of any products sold to users. Zomia Cannabis Collective store, and its domains, remain compliant with French law.
