Traditional Knowledge of Halophytic Species in Coastal Provinces of Vietnam

Present study aims to document the traditional knowledge and the distribution of diverse halophytes used by the coastal community of Vietnam to compensate for the food, fodder, and medicine demands. The information was gathered from the local people, plant traders, and herbalists using semi-structured questionnaire. The survey indicated the ethnobotanical uses of 11 plant species from 8 families in the targeted area. 60% of studied plants were used in more than 2 different ways in which the majority of halophytic species possessed medicinal values, followed by being culinary, fodder, roof thatching, handicraft, and growing medium. The main diseases in the regions were joint and stomach pain. According to the mode of preparation, decoction form was the predominance with 64% over all modes. Base on the result, Cocos nucifera L., Portulaca oleracea L., and Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort. had the highest appearance frequency of 17%. In addition, seashore was the most prevalent location of halophytes in which it was the inhabit of 5 out of 11 species. The predominant habit recorded was herbs, followed by shrubs, trees, and vines.