A friendly Thai Nguyen

In the last days of June, with incessant rain and lightning flashing across the sky, Thai Nguyen City still radiated a unique vitality. This wasn't just due to the enthusiastic applause for the Muay Thai fighters, but also the friendly encounters and conversations among visitors from many countries around the world.

International guests enjoy Thai Nguyen tea.

Just outside the stadium's corridor, small, simple yet elegant tea tables are set up, reflecting the unique tea culture of Vietnam. On these tables, made from bamboo from the forests of Northern Vietnam, are displayed traditional tea sets and plates of peanut candy – a rustic local treat that surprises and delights many international visitors.

A guest from Australia, Mr. Peter Daniels, took a sip of tea and smiled happily: "I had seen Thai Nguyen tea on the internet, so this is my first time trying it, and I'm very excited. I drank it slowly to fully appreciate the aroma and flavor. And the peanut candy, the condiment, made the tea even more exquisite."

The conversation about tea and peanut candy gradually created a more cheerful atmosphere. International guests began to open up and share with each other as if they had known each other for a long time. Ms. Pornthip, a guest from Thailand, shared: "Initially, I was a little worried because I had never been to Thai Nguyen before, but as soon as I arrived at Noi Bai airport, my friends and I were warmly welcomed. I was especially impressed when we were offered tea and peanut candy right in the lobby of the stadium."

Many international visitors affirm that Thai Nguyen is a friendly destination.

The 2025 Asian Muay Thai Championship is a large-scale continental sporting event. It brings together over 300 athletes, coaches, and referees from 18 countries and territories. But here, the athletes don't just "communicate" with knee and elbow strikes in the ring; they also meet, socialize, share competition experiences, and introduce their hometowns to their friends. And right outside the main hall, tea tables are set up by people from Thai Nguyen, offering hospitality.

Mohammad Fahim from Afghanistan was sipping tea and practicing his Vietnamese. He remarked: "Security in Thai Nguyen is very good. People are friendly and pleasant to talk to." Ahmed Al-Karim, a visitor from Iraq, added: "What touched me was the willingness of the people of Thai Nguyen to help foreign visitors. Especially the volunteers from Thai Nguyen University; they spoke English very well. They introduced us to the customs and traditions of the ethnic groups in Northern Vietnam, including the Then singing with a three-stringed instrument made from a dried gourd."

Although they didn't understand the musical rules of the Then singing and Dan Tinh playing, many international guests enthusiastically tapped their hands on the table, their faces beaming, and enjoyed tea and peanut candy. Mr. Rajeev Desai, a guest from India, shared: "In my country, we also have many famous teas such as Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri, but the most famous is Masala Chai tea. It's black tea combined with spices like ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. Therefore, drinking Thai Nguyen tea for the first time, I felt the refined taste of the mountains and forests. Sitting and drinking Thai Nguyen tea with peanut candy, I felt peaceful and able to slow down."

Tea and peanut candy help many international guests stay more alert while working.

When asked about their impressions of Thai Nguyen cuisine , many visitors, speaking broken Vietnamese, said: Pho, banh chung (sticky rice cake), com lam (bamboo-cooked rice), xoi ngu sac (five-colored sticky rice), free-range chicken, stuffed bamboo shoots, and smoked meat. Mr. Nasir Khan from Pakistan, however, laughed heartily: "The peanut candy made from tea leaves is my favorite. When I return home, I will buy peanut candy for my daughter and tea leaves as gifts for my friends."

The tea ladies, who are actually staff and performers from the Provincial Cultural and Arts Center, jokingly said: "The international delegation attending the 2025 Asian Muay Thai Championship really enjoys drinking tea and eating peanut candy. We constantly refill the teapots and add more candy to the tea tables." Mr. Karim Hassan, a guest from Iraq, innocently said: "The tea and peanut candy are so captivating that I ate and drank a lot; I stayed up all night reading until morning."

On this occasion, the Organizing Committee of the Festival skillfully designed outdoor areas for interaction, featuring traditional tea parties; showcasing the province's OCOP products such as Tan Cuong tea and Bo Dau sticky rice cakes; and promoting the province's tourism potential and strengths. The booths attracted thousands of domestic and international tourists who visited, experienced, enjoyed tea, and learned about the province's areas and destinations.

Many tourists expressed their desire to return to Thai Nguyen with family and friends in the future to visit the Museum of Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures; explore Phuong Hoang Cave; Than Sa Archaeological Site and other historical and cultural relics.

Ms. Park Jin-ho, a visitor from South Korea, confidently stated: "Where I live, there are also tea plantations stretching along the mountainside, so coming to Thai Nguyen feels like being at home. Even more interesting is that in Thai Nguyen, tea is often served with peanut candy. In Korea, tea is usually served with rice cakes."

Our team of volunteers is always ready to assist international visitors.

Over tea, lively conversations, friendly smiles, and firm handshakes filled the air among guests from many countries around the world. The 2025 Asian Muay Thai Championship is not only a major sporting event for the continent, but also a cultural bridge, where friends from across Asia meet, interact, and talk about their aspirations for peace, cooperation, and development. And a cup of tea and a piece of peanut candy provided an excuse for international guests to sit together longer, become more friendly, and understand each other better.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202506/mot-thai-nguyen-than-thien-2da0ef2/