Reviving the cultural space of tea

Tourists enjoy Xinjiang tea.

Tea village tourism – a "gateway" to expanding the value of Thai Nguyen tea.

Beyond being just a traditional agricultural product, Thai Nguyen tea is gradually being "elevated" through handicraft village tourism and experiential tourism models linked to tea culture. This is considered a suitable direction, contributing to the transformation of the rural economic structure, increasing the added value of tea, and simultaneously creating more jobs and income for local people.

Tea village tourism not only brings economic benefits but is also an effective way to preserve and spread the long-standing cultural values of the Thai Nguyen tea region. From tea cultivation and processing techniques to tea-drinking customs and etiquette – these elements create the unique identity of the land known as the "Finest Tea Region".

Tan Cuong, one of the province's key tea-growing regions, has always been an attractive destination for tourists from both within and outside the province. Currently, Tan Cuong commune has over 615 hectares of tea plantations, with 12 traditional craft villages and 31 cooperatives specializing in tea processing and trading.

Along with the development of traditional craft villages, many cooperatives have proactively invested in experiential spaces, exhibition booths, tea tasting areas, and OCOP product showrooms. Here, visitors can not only tour the tea hills but also directly participate in tea processing procedures, learning about the process of creating a truly fragrant cup of tea.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, originally from Son La, visited Hao Dat Tea Cooperative during her trip to Thai Nguyen and expressed her admiration for the model of clean agricultural production combined with experiential tourism there.

Ms. Hoa shared: "I never thought that in this hilly region there would be such a well-organized and systematic agricultural model. The more I visited, the more I felt the dedication of the farmers and realized that the trip was truly worthwhile."

Ms. Dao Thanh Hao, Director of Hao Dat Tea Cooperative, one of the leading tea cooperatives in Tan Cuong, said: "In recent years, the cooperative has focused on developing a more modern and sustainable collective economic model. Alongside developing tea production, the cooperative has built a tea village tourism destination, showcasing the tea cultivation and processing process, and guiding visitors on the culture of tea serving, brewing, and enjoying tea, thereby promoting the image of the land and people of Tan Cuong."

Towards sustainable and professional tourism.

Thai Nguyen province currently has approximately 24,000 hectares of tea plantations, with many famous tea-growing regions such as Tan Cuong, La Bang, Trai Cai, Phu Luong, and Dong Hy… Besides the scenic green tea hills, these localities also preserve a treasure trove of knowledge and traditional tea-making techniques of the local people.

Members of Tuyet Huong Cooperative (Dong Hy commune) harvesting tea.

Taking advantage of this, in recent years, many localities have proactively developed experiential tourism models in tea villages. Many cooperatives and tea production facilities have renovated and cared for beautiful tea plantations, invested in building processing areas, product display areas, and spacious tea-tasting spaces to meet the needs of visiting groups.

The Tuyet Huong Cooperative in Dong Hy commune currently has about 30 hectares of tea plantations. Along with building a VietGAP-certified tea brand, the cooperative is investing in tea hills with check-in points and tea-making spaces to attract tourists.

Ms. Tran Thi Tuyet, Director of Tuyet Huong Cooperative, said: "To develop tea village tourism, the cooperative has proactively linked with travel agencies to build tours such as 'A Day in the Tea Village,' which include artistic photography and learning about traditional crafts..."

According to the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thai Nguyen province, tea culture is identified as an important pillar in the province's tourism development strategy. Tea village tourism does not develop in isolation, but is connected with community tourism, history, culture, spirituality, and major cultural and tourism events of the province.

In the coming period, Thai Nguyen will focus on developing community-based tourism destinations associated with tea villages; organizing tourism skills training for local people; promoting tourism on digital platforms; and strengthening tour and route linkages through survey programs and famtrips. The goal is to make tea village tourism a distinctive and in-depth product, contributing to enhancing the brand image of Thai Nguyen tea on the national tourism map.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202512/danh-thuc-khong-gian-van-hoa-tra-fb17e2d/