The soul of the countryside in cups of tea

Every early morning, my grandfather and father carefully brewed a pot of tea. The aroma of the tea spread throughout the small house, penetrating deep into my memory and soul.

Vietnamese tea - not fussy, but each cup of tea carries within it the soul of the land and the people. From green tea buds from Thanh Hoa or Tan Cuong, to lotus tea, jasmine tea brewed in dried banana leaves, all contain the quintessence of heaven and earth and the efforts of the working people.

Taking a sip of tea, I felt a slight bitterness on the tip of my tongue, then a sweetness in my throat. Every time I did that, I felt my heart soften, time seemed to slow down, and my soul suddenly became vast and clear like the evening clouds.

Hồn quê trong những chén trà - Ảnh 1. — Officers and soldiers drink tea on their day off.

I love tea, not only because of its taste, but also because of the way Vietnamese people drink tea. Not hurried or noisy, drinking tea is to sit together, chat a few sentences or just be silent but still understand each other. A warm cup of tea can bring two distant souls closer, can share the hardships and difficulties in life. For marines like us, a cup of tea is even more imbued with the love of comradeship, a spiritual support in the face of all difficulties and challenges.

Vietnamese tea is a popular yet elegant drink. Whether in a thatched roof house 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 maintain tranquility, sincerity and appreciate simple things.

For me and my teammates, drinking tea is not just about enjoyment. It is also a moment of re-energizing, a bridge back to the roots - where there are grandparents, parents, the evening smoke from the kitchen and the familiar call, with the gentle aroma of tea seeping into every memory, quietly but deeply, intact over the years.

( Entry to the contest "Impressions of Vietnamese coffee and tea" under the program "Honoring Vietnamese coffee and tea" for the 3rd time, 2025 organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).