Tan Cuong tea-growing area - One of Thai Nguyen Province's “Five Great Teas”

From the reputation of a tea region to the value of an economic sector

Tea often brings Thai Nguyen immediately to mind. The province has long been celebrated as the home of Vietnam's finest tea. Over generations, the work of growers, processors and artisans in its renowned tea-growing areas has given Thai Nguyen tea a distinctive identity: a rich taste, a characteristic young-rice aroma, a lingering aftertaste and a tea-drinking tradition closely associated with Vietnamese lifestyles and social customs. Its value lies in more than the tea buds themselves. It also reflects the land, climate, cultivation techniques, processing expertise and cultural stories handed down through generations. Together, these elements have established Thai Nguyen's position on Vietnam's tea map and provide a foundation for the province to further strengthen its tea brand internationally.

The province currently has more than 22,000 hectares under tea cultivation and produces over 265,000 tons of fresh tea buds. The tea industry's product value reached approximately VND 14,800 billion in 2025, and the province aims to raise that figure to VND 16,800 billion in 2026. These figures show that tea is not merely a traditional crop but also a high-value economic sector linked to local culture, tourism and sustainable development.

Hand-picking tea leaves, a traditional practice that helps preserve the distinctive flavor and value of Thai Nguyen tea

To affirm the role and standing of tea cultivation and the tea industry in economic, cultural and tourism development; honor the historical, cultural, ecological and economic values of tea; promote the Thai Nguyen Tea brand; and contribute to developing a modern, sustainable Vietnamese tea industry with greater added value and competitiveness, while gradually strengthening its position on the international market, Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee will hold International Tea Festival - Thai Nguyen 2026 from October 30 to November 7, 2026.

According to Mr. Vu Van Phan, Chairman of the Thai Nguyen Tea Association, this Festival offers an important opportunity to reflect on established values and chart a clearer path forward: the goal is not simply to sell tea, but also to convey the stories, culture, quality and value of Thai Nguyen. Crucially, the tea industry is undergoing a marked shift in its approach to development. Rather than focusing primarily on output, tea producers are paying increasing attention to quality, standards, branding, traceability, advanced processing and markets. This is also a necessary response to growing domestic and international consumer interest in product origins, production standards and sustainability.

To date, the province currently has 147 registered tea-growing area codes covering a total of 1,359.71 hectares. Tea cultivation meeting VietGAP standards covers 6,483 hectares, while organic tea cultivation covers 186.8 hectares. These figures show that tea-growing areas are gradually being standardized, creating the conditions to improve product quality and meet market requirements.

In particular, the collective trademark “Thai Nguyen Tea” is protected in six countries and territories: the United States, China, Taiwan, Russia, Japan and South Korea. This provides a foundation for expanding markets, enhancing brand value and strengthening the competitiveness of Thai Nguyen tea. Against this backdrop, International Tea Festival - Thai Nguyen 2026 is expected to encourage the provincial tea industry to build on its traditions, accelerate innovation and reach further into international markets.

Looking toward new markets

International Tea Festival - Thai Nguyen 2026 is expected to welcome delegates from countries with established tea industries and cooperative relations with Thai Nguyen Province; representatives of foreign embassies and consulates general in Vietnam; international tea organizations, associations and enterprises; provinces and cities with strengths in tea production, processing and industry development; Vietnam Tea Association and provincial and municipal tea associations; tea experts, artisans and researchers; domestic and international tea enterprises; tea-producing, processing and trading cooperatives and craft villages; and tourism, travel and trade-promotion businesses.

For tea producers, processors, traders, cooperatives and businesses, the Festival is therefore more than an opportunity to display and promote products. It is also a chance to meet partners, explore new markets, learn about technology, develop links with tourism and, above all, bring tea growers' stories closer to consumers.

Mr. Pham Van Thai, Director of Thai Nguyen Green Tea Cooperative, said: “We are very proud that the International Tea Festival is being held in Thai Nguyen. It gives tea producers like us an opportunity to introduce our products through their quality and our own stories. Our cooperative is making careful preparations, from its growing areas, products, packaging and presentation to the way we introduce tea-drinking culture. We want Festival visitors not only to discover how good Thai Nguyen tea tastes but also to understand what makes it valuable.”

According to Thai, the market has changed. Consumers now look beyond whether a product tastes “good” to consider its origin, production process, safety and traceability. The cooperative is therefore changing its approach. Whereas the main priorities used to be producing and selling larger quantities of tea, the emphasis is now on creating consistent products with reliable quality, recognizable branding and the ability to enter demanding markets.

Thai Nguyen Green Tea Cooperative preparing tea products ahead of International Tea Festival - Thai Nguyen 2026

Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Hao, Director of Thinh An Tea Cooperative, shared this view, saying the Festival would help tea producers better recognize the value of what they have. “Thai Nguyen tea growers take great pride in preserving a product with its own established brand and distinctive culture. This Festival gives us even greater motivation to prepare products that are better in quality, more attractive and more professionally presented. When international visitors come to Thai Nguyen, we want them not only to enjoy a cup of tea but also to appreciate the care and dedication behind it,” Hao said.

Thinh An Tea Cooperative investing in modern tea-processing production lines to improve product quality

For tea-producing and trading establishments and cooperatives, the greatest hope is not merely to sell more products during the Festival. Their longer-term goal is to build lasting connections with businesses, distributors, international partners and the tourism industry. When tea becomes part of the tourism experience, its value extends far beyond a box of tea. A tea-growing area can become a destination; a tea-covered hill can become a place for visitors to experience local life; a cup of tea can tell a cultural story; and tea growers can become key participants in a new value chain.

Thinh An Tea Cooperative continually improving its tea products' designs and packaging in preparation for showcasing them to visitors at International Tea Festival - Thai Nguyen 2026

This year's Festival is expected to feature cultural, tourism, trade, investment and experiential activities promoting Thai Nguyen tea and enhancing the value and international standing of Vietnamese tea. Planned highlights include the launch of the “Heritage Train”, with 06 train journeys connecting Hanoi and Thai Nguyen; opportunities to meet and enjoy tea with special guests in 05 representative tea-growing areas of the province (Tan Cuong, Dong Hy, Vo Tranh, La Bang and Dong Phuc); an International Tea Forum and activities promoting international cooperation in tea industry development; nightly folk-song and folk-dance performances; a Thai Nguyen tea and culinary culture space; the Green Thai Nguyen Golf Tournament; the “Tea in the Clouds” event; and the Vietnam Master Tea competition. Notably, the opening ceremony will feature the announcement of a decision by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to include “Knowledge of growing and processing Thai Nguyen tea” in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This milestone not only recognizes tea culture but also pays tribute to the artisans, farmers, cooperatives and businesses whose efforts over many generations have preserved and developed the brand of Vietnam's finest tea.

Comrade Nguyen My Hai, Deputy Director of Thai Nguyen Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: “We hope that this Festival will be more than a successful event; we want it to create meaningful connections. The tea industry needs greater cooperation in technology, investment, processing, trade, logistics, tourism and green development. As it connects with global value chains, the value of Thai Nguyen tea will be measured not only by the volume sold but also by its brand and standing.”

From the “Five Great Teas” to an economic sector worth tens of thousands of billions of Vietnamese dong, the story of Thai Nguyen tea reflects the combined influence of land, people and time. International Tea Festival - Thai Nguyen 2026 is therefore expected to be more than a place to raise cups of tea: it will connect traditional and modern values, tea growers and markets, culture and the economy, and Thai Nguyen's tea-growing areas with international friends. As green tea hills continue to be tended and cooperatives take steps to standardize their growing areas, strengthen their brands and explore markets, Thai Nguyen tea has further opportunities to expand its presence internationally.