The soul of the countryside in a cup of tea.

(NLĐO) - Mentioning tea brings to mind my love and passion - a gentle, profound feeling that has existed since my childhood in the sunny and windy central region of Vietnam.

Every early morning, my grandfather and father would carefully brew a pot of tea. The aroma of the tea filled the small house, seeping deep into my memories and soul.

Vietnamese tea – simple yet each cup carries the soul of the land and its people. From green tea buds in Thanh Hoa or Tan Cuong region, to lotus tea and jasmine tea brewed in dried banana leaves, all are imbued with the essence of nature and the hard work of the local people.

I take a sip of tea, feeling a slight bitterness on my tongue, then a gradual sweetness in my throat. Each time this happens, I feel my heart calm down, time seems to slow, and my soul becomes expansive and serene like an evening cloud.

Officers and soldiers drink tea on their day off.

I love tea, not just for its flavor, but for the way Vietnamese people drink it. Without haste or noise, tea drinking is about sitting together, chatting a few words, or simply remaining silent while still understanding each other. A warm cup of tea can bridge the gap between two distant souls, sharing the hardships and struggles of life. For sailors like us, a cup of tea is even more imbued with camaraderie and fellowship, a source of spiritual support in the face of all difficulties and challenges.

Vietnamese tea is a simple yet refined beverage. Whether in a thatched cottage in the countryside or a tea corner in the city, a cup of tea is always present as an indispensable part of Vietnamese life. It reminds us to cherish tranquility, sincerity, and appreciate the simple things.

For me and my teammates, drinking tea is not just about enjoyment. It's also a moment of renewed strength, a bridge back to our roots – where our grandparents and parents reside, where the smoke from the kitchen fires rises in the evening, and where familiar voices call out, the gentle aroma of tea subtly permeates our memories, silently yet profoundly, remaining intact through the years.

( Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, part of the 3rd "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program, 2025, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Rules of the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest. Graphic: CHI PHAN

Source: https://nld.com.vn/hon-que-trong-nhung-chen-tra-196250427212753251.htm