Giving wings to Dong Hy tea to fly far.

Known as one of the representative tea-growing regions of Thai Nguyen, in recent years, Dong Hy commune has developed many effective production models, gradually affirming its position through a systematic approach: safe production, standardized processes, improved quality, and sustainable brand building. This approach is helping Dong Hy tea reach further, with Nguyen Viet Safe Tea Cooperative being a prime example.

Locals in Dong Hy commune share their experiences in producing safe tea according to VietGAP standards.

The Nguyen Viet Safe Tea Cooperative currently has 31 member households and 32 satellite households, with over 40 hectares of tea plantations in production.

To create products that are competitive in the market, the cooperative has established production areas according to specific standards: 17 hectares of tea are produced according to VietGAP standards; 8 hectares according to organic standards; and 10 hectares have been granted planting area codes. As a result, the cooperative's tea products have clear origins, production processes, and guaranteed quality.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue , from Minh Tien hamlet, said: "Making tea according to VietGAP standards is more laborious than the traditional method. Every day, tea growers have to record tasks such as fertilizing, using pesticides, harvesting, and processing. It's a bit busier, but in return, the product is guaranteed to be safe, easy to sell, and accepted by consumers at a higher price."

The mindset of tea growers has changed in a positive direction. This is an advantage in building and improving the quality of the tea brand in the region. Currently, many tea farmers in Dong Hy commune are accustomed to keeping field diaries.

Ms. Uong Thi Lan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Director of Nguyen Viet Safe Tea Cooperative, said: "Previously, many households relied on traditional experience and paid little attention to technical standards or food safety and hygiene. Since joining the cooperative, members have received training in advanced tea production and processing techniques ; field workshops; and visits to effective production models."

Building a brand for tea products is a long process. Therefore, the cooperative always prioritizes quality control and decisively directs its member and satellite households to strictly adhere to safe production processes. This is considered a crucial factor in increasing the value of tea and improving people's income.

After harvesting, the fresh tea buds are preserved by the locals using proper techniques.

Sharing with us, Ms. Ly Thi Hoi from Minh Tien hamlet said: "Living off tea cultivation, we realize that to build a strong brand, tea-producing households cannot operate in isolation. Therefore, my family joined the cooperative, working with other villagers to create a concentrated production area. All households strictly adhere to the safe tea cultivation, harvesting, and processing procedures."

Through cooperatives, many households have access to practical support from the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance and the New Rural Development Program, such as water pumps, lawn mowers, tea roasting machines, tea rolling machines, and product packaging machines, contributing to reducing labor, improving processing quality, and increasing professionalism in production.

Ms. Pham Thi Vinh, from Ca Phe hamlet, said: "The entire 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of tea plantations belonging to my family are cultivated using organic methods. Thanks to the application of new techniques and investment in an irrigation system, the quality of the tea buds is uniform, the yield is stable, the price of tea is higher, and my family's life is more stable."

The consensus among tea growers in production has enabled the cooperative to develop to its full potential. Over the past five years, the cooperative has maintained stable production, with an average output of over 300 tons of dried tea leaves per year and total revenue exceeding 105 billion VND per year.

Currently, the cooperative has 18 tea products, of which 6 have achieved OCOP (One Commune One Product) ratings from 3 to 4 stars. The 4 products that achieved OCOP 4 stars include: Hooked Tea, Shrimp Bud Tea, Dinh Dinh Tea, and Hooked Tea, which are highly appreciated by consumers.

Mr. Duong Van Bo, from Ca Phe hamlet, enthusiastically shared: "Thanks to focusing on quality, the Nguyen Viet and Dong Hy tea brands are becoming increasingly well-known to consumers. Besides selling through traditional methods, many households also do business through social media. In 2025 alone, my family sold over 1,000 orders, with payments mainly made via QR code."

Premium tea varieties such as Dinh Dinh Tea or Giot Ngoc Tea are meticulously processed from carefully selected tea buds. Some products are even sold to consumers for as much as 3 million VND per kilogram.

The "Giọt Ngọc" tea product was awarded the title of "Golden Brand of Vietnamese Agriculture" by the Vietnam General Association of Agriculture and Rural Development. Many of the cooperative's products have been recognized as typical agricultural products at the regional level, and 3 products have been selected as typical rural industrial products at the national level.

Efforts to build brand awareness and improve product quality are bringing sustainable economic value to the people of Dong Hy tea-growing region. With the continued support of the younger generation, product quality is becoming the "wings" that propel Dong Hy tea to greater heights.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202606/chap-canh-cho-che-dong-hy-bay-xa-08c3ccd/