"Keeping the soul of the countryside" in the digital age

From the mist-covered Shan Tuyet tea region of Suoi Giang to the Trinh Tuong village with its vibrant red Dao shirts, there are people who are quietly "preserving the soul of their homeland" while still "keeping pace with the digital age".

They are outstanding farmers and young union members in the patriotic emulation movement for the period 2020 - 2025, commended by the Fatherland Front (VFF) and socio -political organizations of Lao Cai province for their efforts to preserve identity and aspiration to become rich in their homeland.

From ancient tea trees to the desire to get rich in the homeland

At the top of Suoi Giang mountain, Van Chan commune - where clouds cover all year round, ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees stand tall on the rocky slopes as witnesses of many generations of Mong people attached to this land. Amidst the mist, Ms. Lam Thi Kim Thoa - Director of Suoi Giang Cooperative, is affectionately called by the people as the person who "breathed new life" into traditional tea trees.

Ms. Lam Thi Kim Thoa brews Shan Tuyet Suoi Giang tea for visitors to enjoy.

In 2007, when the movement “Farmers compete in production, good business, solidarity to help each other get rich and reduce poverty sustainably” spread strongly, Ms. Thoa mobilized people to contribute capital to establish Suoi Giang Cooperative. The initial capital was only 65 million VND, with a few manual tea drying machines, a makeshift workshop and products mainly consumed in the commune.

“At that time, some people told me to take risks, but I believed that if I worked with all my heart and kindness, Shan Tuyet tea trees would bring a prosperous life to the people,” Ms. Thoa recalled.

From a difficult beginning, after nearly two decades of efforts, Suoi Giang Cooperative has today become a bright spot in agricultural economic development associated with digital transformation. The Cooperative has invested more than 2 billion VND to build a spacious factory, equipped with modern equipment, increasing the capacity to 2 tons of fresh tea buds per day. Members are trained in techniques, learn from experience and sign stable product consumption contracts with farmers in the commune.

Ms. Lam Thi Kim Thoa sends export goods to the UK.

From the simple Shan Tuyet tea buds, Ms. Thoa and the Cooperative have created the brand "Tuyet Son Tra" - certified organic, HACCP, OCOP 4 stars; each tea tree is attached with a QR code to trace its origin. The two main products, Shan Tuyet Black Tea and Shan Tuyet Tea Leaves, are now available in the UK and Japan, contributing to affirming the position of the Lao Cai highland agricultural product brand in the international market.

Each year, the Cooperative has a revenue of about 2.2 billion VND, a profit of over 350 million VND; creating stable jobs for 10 regular workers and 20 seasonal workers, with an average income of 5.7 - 6 million VND/person/month.

Ms. Lam Thi Kim Thoa introduces Shan Tuyet tea products to the delegation visiting the Provincial Veterans Association.

Not only is she good at economics, Ms. Thoa also actively participates in community work, contributing tens of millions of VND and many working days to build new rural areas; supporting the education promotion fund, the "For the poor" fund; mobilizing people to plant flowers along the roadside, preserving the "green - clean - beautiful" environment, contributing to promoting the development of eco-tourism in Suoi Giang.

With a sense of responsibility, dynamism and creativity, Ms. Lam Thi Kim Thoa was awarded the title "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer of 2023" by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union - a worthy reward for a woman with a passion for her homeland.

Space to enjoy Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea at the 1st Congress of Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee, term 2025 - 2030.

“Today's farmers cannot just stick with buffaloes and plows, but must become 4.0 farmers - knowing how to apply science, technology, and e-commerce to master the market,” Ms. Thoa shared.

Amidst the misty mist of Suoi Giang, that woman still stands by the ancient tea trees every day, both preserving the soul of the countryside and pioneering in keeping up with the times, so that the fragrance of Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea can reach far and wide, carrying with it the pride of the land and people of the highlands.

Mai Tay Bac – the girl who brought her village to the “digital market”

If Ms. Lam Thi Kim Thoa preserves the soul of her hometown with her passion for hundred-year-old tea trees, then Pham Thi Phuong Mai, also known as "Mai Tay Bac" - "preserves the soul of her hometown" by bringing highland products and culture into the digital world.

Pham Thi Phuong Mai introduces Lao Cai's specialty products at the National Trade Development Program.

Mai is a lowland girl who used to have a stable job in Singapore. In 2019, after marrying Tan Tuong Nhan, a Red Dao man in Bat Xat, she decided to leave the city to return to the highlands. Amidst the mountains and forests, terraced fields and wooden houses hidden in the mist, Mai found her mission: connecting highland people with the large market through digital technology.

“At first, I just wanted to make videos about life, food and people in the Northwest so that my friends could learn more. I didn’t expect people to love it and even order agricultural products from the locals,” Mai said.

With just a phone, Mai began her journey as a “content creator” for her hometown’s agricultural products. Her authentic videos recording corn harvests, mustard green picking, wild honey gathering, and highland festivals have attracted millions of views. Viewers not only “liked” but also placed orders, opening up a new consumption direction for highland agricultural products.

Mai realized: “TikTok is a digital marketplace – where people in remote areas can sell their products directly to consumers across the country.”

Pham Thi Phuong Mai promotes Lao Cai's specialty dried buffalo meat on social media platforms, attracting many buyers.

From that awareness, she built a systematic strategy, cleverly integrating images of local products into each video; guiding people to open booths on e-commerce platforms. Thanks to that, agricultural products of the Northwest region in general and Lao Cai in particular, from honey, ginseng to cat cabbage, Séng Cù rice have gone further, known and trusted by consumers nationwide.

To date, Mai has more than 1.5 million followers on social media platforms: TikTok 750,000 people, Facebook 416,000 people, Zalo Video 186,000 people, more than 150,000 orders of Northwest agricultural products have been consumed through TikTok Shop, bringing in revenue of over 10 billion VND per year. Mai's model creates jobs for dozens of local workers, mainly young people and women, with a stable income of 7-10 million VND/person/month.

Pham Thi Phuong Mai received the title "Outstanding Local Seller 2024" awarded by Tiktok Shop CSR.

Not only selling products, Mai also became a “village teacher” – instructing young people and women on how to make videos, livestream, and build personal brands. Thanks to Mai, many young people have become “digital farmers”, selling agricultural products, doing community tourism, and spreading national cultural identity through intimate and authentic videos.

Pham Thi Phuong Mai helps many farmers become "digital farmers".

With her positive contributions, Mai was honored with the Luong Dinh Cua Award, Outstanding Young Face of Lao Cai and Advanced Youth following Uncle Ho's teachings in 2025 - a testament to the creative spirit and aspiration to contribute of today's young generation in the highlands.

Spreading the spirit of innovation - keeping the soul of the countryside in the new rhythm of life

Two people – two different journeys, but with the same meeting point: daring to think, daring to do, knowing how to combine tradition and modernity, identity and technology.

If Ms. Thoa preserves the soul of the Suoi Giang tea region, Mai Tay Bac breathes the breath of the times into the life of the Trinh Tuong highlands. Both are beautiful flowers in the garden of patriotic emulation, honored by the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations of Lao Cai province in the period 2025 - 2030.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Nhiem - Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee commented: “Typical examples like Ms. Thoa and Ms. Mai are not only proof of the effectiveness of the patriotic emulation movement but also demonstrate the spirit of innovation in each person and each field. From agriculture to digital transformation, from production to start-ups, they have been affirming that Lao Cai people can completely master technology and get rich right in their homeland.”

From the misty Suoi Giang to the brilliant Trinh Tuong, Lao Cai is transforming itself with the changes of the times. But there, in every house and mountainside, the image of ordinary people who dare to overcome difficulties, dare to think differently, do differently, to both preserve tradition and develop their homeland still shines.

Pham Thi Phuong Mai - was honored at the Conference of typical advanced members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations for the period 2025-2030.

They not only enrich themselves but also inspire confidence and pride in the community so that every person, whether in the highlands or lowlands, can become an "ambassador of homeland identity" in the digital age.

Amidst today's hustle and bustle, people like Lam Thi Kim Thoa and Pham Thi Phuong Mai still preserve the flavor of the land, the colors of the village and the beat of their homeland, to "preserve the soul of the homeland" not only through memories but also through today's proud changes.

in the province

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giu-hon-que-giua-thoi-dai-so-post885553.html