Leveraging tea culture as a 'catalyst' for tourism.

In recent years, along with the trend of developing green and sustainable tourism, community-based tourism in Thai Nguyen is gradually asserting its position and becoming a promising direction. In particular, linking community-based tourism with the lush green tea hills – a symbol of the region known for its "premium tea" – is opening up new opportunities, both increasing economic value and spreading local cultural identity.

The community tourism destination space of Homestay May Suon Dong in La Bang commune.

Recently, May Suon Dong Homestay in La Bang commune has become a unique highlight, attracting tourists. On her family's tea plantation, Ms. Bui Thi Mai, Director of May Suon Dong Cooperative, boldly converted a portion of the land to build stilt houses and develop a homestay model, opening a new direction for experiential tourism.

Not only in May Suon Dong, but throughout the province, more and more homestay and farmstay models associated with tea-growing regions are emerging, creating a vibrant picture for community tourism, especially in Tan Cuong, La Bang, and Vo Tranh areas. These tea-growing regions are not only attractive because of the quality of their products, but also possess lush green landscapes and undulating tea hills, creating an ideal space for developing eco-tourism and experiential tourism.

In recent years, many localities and cooperatives have proactively combined tea production with tourism development. Visitors come here not only to enjoy tea but also to directly participate in tea picking, learn about and experience the production process, and listen to stories about traditional tea making. These authentic experiences have created a unique appeal, helping tea tourism gradually become a distinctive product of the province.

In Tan Cuong commune, one of the communes with the largest tea-growing area in the province, tourists from both within and outside the province are always attracted. Along with developing the traditional craft village, many cooperatives have proactively invested in experiential spaces, exhibition booths, tea tasting areas, and OCOP product introductions. This is followed by an experiential journey through the processing stages: from wilting, rolling, and roasting tea in cast-iron pans... to enjoying tea right in the production space.

The Tien Yen Tea and Community Tourism Cooperative is a community tourism destination in Tan Cuong commune.

Leveraging its strengths as a region specializing in tea, Thai Nguyen has identified community-based tourism and agricultural tourism linked to tea culture as key products with a unique local identity. This orientation is concretized in Project No. 17, dated December 10, 2025, on the development of tourism in Thai Nguyen province for the period 2026-2030, with the goal of gradually making tea a consistent highlight in tourism activities.

Accordingly, the province prioritizes investment in developing eco-tourism tours and routes in famous tea-growing regions such as Tan Cuong, La Bang, and Phu Luong; and simultaneously, creating diverse experiential itineraries connecting rural areas, communities, ecology, and resorts. Notable routes include: Tan Cuong - Dai Phuc - Nui Coc Lake - La Bang - Quan Chu; Tan Cuong - Dong Hy - Van Han - Phu Luong - Vo Tranh - Phu Lac - Phu Dinh; and the inter-regional link route connecting Phu Luong - Bac Kan - Ba Be Lake.

These tours, routes, and combinations not only expand the tourism space but also create opportunities for tourists to fully explore the landscape, culture, and life of the tea-growing regions. Based on the orientation of Project No. 17, the provincial authorities will coordinate with localities with tourism strengths to strengthen the linkage of tours and routes between community tourism and ecotourism, cultural-historical tourism, and resort tourism, thereby gradually forming a closed and diverse chain of experiences.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/mua-du-lich-thai-nguyen-2026/202605/khai-thac-van-hoa-tra-don-bay-cho-du-lich-3b974fb/