Top 10 Most Toxic Mushrooms Commonly Found in Vietnam

The distinctive feature of the Gray-brown Ribbed Mushroom is its shape. The cap starts off conical and later turns bell-shaped with a sharp tip. Its fibers range from yellow to brown, extending from the top of the cap to its edge. As the mushroom matures, the cap's edges split into separate rays. The primary toxin in this mushroom is muscarine, which causes neurological symptoms like excessive sweating, coma, seizures, hallucinations, agitation, weakness, and paralysis. Symptoms usually diminish after two hours, and death is rare, only occurring with severe poisoning that causes cardiovascular and respiratory failure.

The Gray-brown Ribbed Mushroom typically grows on the forest floor in areas rich in decayed leaves and other organic matter. The cap, when immature, is a pale white and firmly attached to the stem, but as it matures, it turns gray or brown, separating from the stem. The stem is 3-9 cm long, ranging from white to yellow-brown and lacks a ring. The flesh is white, with muscarine being the dangerous toxin for humans.

Distinguishing between edible and toxic mushrooms involves a combination of experience and research. Key guidelines include avoiding brightly colored mushrooms, those with a strong odor, mushrooms that are too young or too mature, and those that leak sap. However, there are many exceptions, as some toxic mushrooms resemble regular ones in both color and shape. For this reason, it can be challenging to identify safe mushrooms without sufficient experience and knowledge. The best advice is to treat all mushrooms found in the wild, such as the Light Black Mushroom, as poisonous and avoid consumption.

The Light Black Mushroom, also known as the Black-Green Mushroom or the Bag Mushroom, is typically greenish-black or olive-colored. It grows either individually or in clusters in forests and grassy areas. Its appearance closely resembles that of common mushrooms, making it easy to confuse with safe varieties. This toxic mushroom is highly dangerous—just 30g of it can be lethal to an adult. The mushroom's flesh is soft and white, with a sweet smell when young and an unpleasant odor as it matures. Consuming this mushroom can cause symptoms such as vomiting, severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, excessive sweating, loss of electrolytes (Cl, K, Na), hypoglycemia, fatty liver degeneration, and inhibition of certain enzymes in the Krebs cycle.

The Red Mushroom is known for its striking appearance, with bright red or orange caps speckled with small white dots. These mushrooms grow individually or in clusters on grassy fields or in forests. In some places, they are even used to kill flies. The mushroom's cap has a diameter ranging from 10 to 15 cm, with a white or yellow stem and a bulbous base. The flesh is white and lacks any distinctive odor. The mushroom contains toxic compounds like cholin, muscarin, and muscaridin. While cholin is not very toxic, it becomes dangerous when oxidized, and muscarin has harmful effects on the autonomic nervous system.

Native to temperate regions and the northern hemisphere, Amanita muscaria has also spread to southern hemisphere countries as a result of its symbiotic relationship with pine plantations. This species often associates with various coniferous trees and deciduous plants. The Red Mushroom typically grows alone or in small clusters on the ground in open fields, hillsides, or forest edges, primarily in the summer and fall. This mushroom can be found in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia as well.

The Toxic Green-Black Mushroom (Green Mushroom) initially has an egg-shaped cap that expands and breaks open as it matures. The cap edges are smooth with no distinct ridges, and the gills are white with a faint greenish hue. These mushrooms grow either alone or in clusters in forests or plains, thriving particularly in the summer months. Containing potent toxins like Amanitin and Phalloidin, consuming even a small part of this mushroom can be fatal. Phalloidin acts quickly, causing liver damage and disrupting cellular division, while Amanitin leads to hypoglycemia and cellular degeneration.

Early poisoning symptoms are easier to detect and usually respond to treatment, allowing patients to recover. However, delayed poisoning cases are often overlooked or inadequately treated, leading to severe complications and high fatality rates. Mushroom poisoning typically occurs in spring and summer, often when people forage and consume wild mushrooms. Across the country, there have been numerous cases of mass poisonings, particularly in mountainous areas, where the Green Mushroom (the cause of slow-acting poisoning) is frequently responsible for such incidents.

The Entoloma sinuatum is a highly toxic mushroom native to Europe and North America, and in Vietnam, it is primarily found in the northern mountainous provinces. This species, the largest among the pink-spored mushrooms of the Entoloma genus, is also a representative species. It appears in late summer and autumn, typically found in deciduous forests on clay or chalky soils, or occasionally in nearby parks. The mushroom has a sturdy, Tricholoma-like appearance. The cap is ivory to grayish-brown, reaching up to 20 cm in diameter, with inward-curved edges.

The gills are wavy, light-colored, often tinged with yellow, and turn pink as the spores mature. The stem is slightly white and thick with no ring. Entoloma sinuatum mushrooms are conical in shape, with cylindrical stems and brown caps. They are commonly found at the forest edges from late spring to early autumn. Consuming this mushroom can lead to rapid onset of symptoms within hours, such as confusion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, low blood pressure, and swift progression to coma. The high toxicity can cause death within a very short time.

The Egg-shaped White Toxic Mushroom is small in size with white flesh that emits a pungent odor. Its cap resembles the shape of an egg. This mushroom typically appears at the end of spring or early summer. Its pure white color and smooth surface give it a distinct look. When immature, the cap is round and egg-like, tightly attached to the stem. As it matures, the cap flattens and reaches about 5 to 10 cm in diameter. The underside of the cap (gills) is white, while the stem is also white, with a membranous ring near the cap, and a bulbous base with a flower-like sheath.

The flesh of the mushroom is soft and white, with a mild scent similar to that of the white parasol mushroom, though it may sometimes have an unpleasant odor similar to that of conical poisonous mushrooms. This mushroom contains Amanitin (Amatoxin), a highly toxic substance that damages cell protoplasm, especially affecting the liver, leading to acute liver failure. Symptoms of poisoning usually appear late (6 to 24 hours) and include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, bleeding, reduced urine output, and coma. Immediate treatment is crucial to reduce the risk of death.

The Bell-shaped Spotted Mushroom (Paneolus campanulatus) belongs to the Coprinaceae family, known for its relatively small size. Despite its charming appearance, this mushroom contains powerful toxins that require extreme caution. Its diameter is quite small, and it often grows in grassy areas, both in plains and mountainous regions. When consumed, it impairs the nervous system, potentially causing confusion, hallucinations, and even death.

The mushroom is fragile, with a thin gray stem (3 to 8 cm) and a bell-shaped cap, typically 2 to cm in diameter. The cap is a tan color, lighter at the edges, and slightly sticky. The gills are streaked, changing from green to black as the spores mature unevenly, creating dark streaks. It grows on decomposed manure in grassy fields from January to September, often solitary or in small clusters. This mushroom can be found in areas such as Hanoi and Hung Yen.

The deadly White Toadstool Poison (Amanita verna) is found in the northern regions of Vietnam, with its amanitin toxicity being extremely dangerous. Known in Europe by several names such as "the fool's mushroom", "spring destroyer", or "death's messenger", this mushroom is closely related to the infamous death cap (Amanita phalloides). Amanita verna typically grows in the spring, predominantly in northern provinces such as Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Bac Kan, and Phu Tho. It thrives in clusters within bamboo, palm, and sparse tree forests. The mushroom features a smooth, white cap, up to 5-10 cm in diameter when mature. Its gills and stem are also white, with the stem swelling into a bulbous base, and the root encased in a floral-like sheath. The flesh is soft and white, emitting a pleasant fragrance, making it tricky to distinguish from other harmless white mushrooms.

This toxic mushroom contains high levels of amanitin (amatoxin), which causes nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, watery diarrhea, followed by liver and kidney failure, and eventually coma. If untreated, it can lead to death. What's particularly horrifying is that the amatoxin in Amanita verna cannot be neutralized by cooking, boiling, or even drying. A study from Slate.com reveals that 60% of the amatoxin is absorbed directly into the liver, where it spreads to both damaged and healthy cells, entering the bile, concentrating in the gallbladder, and cyclically returning to the liver. The remaining 40% of the toxin is carried to the kidneys, where, if healthy, they work to filter the toxin out of the bloodstream and into the bladder, reducing the body's toxin load.

Cone-shaped White Toadstool (Amanita virosa) is often confused with the White Toadstool Poison (Amanita verna) due to its similar appearance and color. This mushroom also grows singly or in clusters on high ground or within forests. When mature, it has a relatively small diameter compared to the White Toadstool Poison, measuring just 4 to 10 cm, and the flesh has an unpleasant odor. Its toxicity, like Amanita verna, comes from amanitin (amatoxin), which can cause severe liver and kidney failure.

The Cone-shaped White Toadstool resembles the White Toadstool Poison in many ways. It appears in clusters or singly on the forest floor or other locations. The cap is white and smooth, initially round like an egg, with the edges tightly attached to the stem. As it matures, the cap becomes more conical in shape. The gills are white, and the stem is also white with a membrane-like ring near the cap. The stem swells at the base, resembling a bulb, with a floral-like root covering. The flesh is white and soft but has a disagreeable smell. The main toxin, amanitin (amatoxin), is highly toxic and poses significant danger to humans.

White Umbrella Mushroom with Green Gills typically grows either singly or in clusters, often found in cattle sheds, barns, or grassy fields with loose, fertile, and moist soil. When young, the mushroom has a pale yellow color with small brownish spots, but as it matures, it can grow up to 15 cm in diameter, with a stem that can reach up to 30 cm. Its cap surface develops thin, dirty brown scales. This poisonous mushroom causes severe digestive disturbances, including vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances. In Vietnam, there have been several cases of poisoning from this mushroom, notably in June 2014, when seven people in Điện Biên narrowly escaped death after consuming it.

The young mushroom's cap is hemispherical, pale yellow, with small brown or grayish scales. As it matures, the cap flattens out to a shape resembling an umbrella, with a white color and a diameter ranging from 5 to 15 cm. The cap surface shows thin, dirty brownish scales, which thicken towards the top. The gills underneath the cap start out white but turn pale green or bluish-green as the mushroom ages, becoming more distinct in older mushrooms. The stem ranges in color from white to brown or gray, with a ring near the top close to the cap. Unlike other mushrooms, this one does not have a bulbous base or a veil. The stem length is between 10 to 30 cm. The flesh is white and less toxic, primarily causing digestive issues.