Objectives: To distinguish Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng, Panax quinquefolium and Panax vietnamensis by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Methods: Analysis of the difference in the saponin composition of Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng, Panax quinquefolium and Panax vietnamensis by TLC and HPLC.