Meditate with the tea master.

In a tea-scented room in Thao Dien (Ho Chi Minh City), tea master Ngo Thi Thanh Tam gently places the teapot on the table, her hands moving slowly as if maintaining a tranquil rhythm.

Quiet contemplation with a tea master - Photo 1.

Tea master Ngo Thi Thanh Tam

The woman, recognized as a world record holder for her "Heart of Wonderful Tea" teapot collection and the founder of the Tea Master Academy, speaks about tea as if she were talking about life itself.

"I often hear people say: 'I'm too busy, I don't have time for tea.' But I say the opposite: 'Drinking tea is what gives me free time,'" she said with a smile.

Quiet contemplation with the tea master - Photo 2.

The warm world of tea and tea of tea master Thanh Tam

According to her, those few minutes of preparing the tea set and brewing the tea are precious moments of tranquility amidst a busy day. The moment the water boils, the moment the tea leaves touch the hot water, the tea maker must pause.

Stop working, stop the frantic thinking, stop the chaos in your mind. "Just those few minutes are enough to make a difference in body and mind. You can reorganize your thoughts and balance your life immediately," she said.

Quiet contemplation with the tea master - Photo 3.

The warm world of tea and tea of tea master Thanh Tam

Listening to tea master Thanh Tam share her thoughts, I suddenly understood why many people see tea as a way to reconnect with themselves. Actually, she didn't talk about tea in a pretentious way. She likened drinking tea to savoring a delicious meal.

"You have to try it yourself to know if it suits your taste. You can't just believe what others say." Therefore, she believes that the best tea isn't the expensive or rare kind, but the kind that suits the drinker. "Just knowing what flavor you like and how to enjoy it properly is enough."

Quiet contemplation with the tea master - Photo 4.

The warm world of tea and tea of tea master Thanh Tam

According to her, tea is not a distant, academic pastime, but something for everyone, for anyone who wants to sit down and slow down a bit.

"Making a good pot of tea is just a technique," the tea master said slowly. "But when you bring the lessons from tea into your life, transforming them into a way of living and behaving, that's the true Way."

Quiet contemplation with the tea master - Photo 5.

Tea master Ngo Thi Thanh Tam stands beside an ancient tea tree in the northern mountainous region.

Amidst the warm aroma of tea, I suddenly understood why so many people turn to tea: not just to drink it, but to find peace and tranquility.

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest 2026, part of the 4th "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Quiet contemplation with the tea master - Photo 6.