Fragrant tea, sweet love.

The autumn sun spreads like honey over the lush green tea plantations, and the gentle breeze carries the fragrant scent of tea, a scent of morning sunshine that soothes the soul, allowing one to leisurely "play" with the tender, succulent tea buds. This peaceful and charming rural scene makes anyone who sets foot in the famous tea-growing regions of Dai Tu district reluctant to leave…

A corner of the tea hill in Cau Da hamlet, Hoang Nong commune (Dai Tu district).

Tea is "participating" in tourism.

Standing on the hilltop of Cau Da hamlet, Hoang Nong commune (Dai Tu district), one can gaze out over a vast expanse of space. Looking up, one sees the deep blue sky with white clouds drifting lazily, while below lies a lush green carpet of tea plants, shimmering like gold when the sun shines on the sparkling dew drops clinging to the tea buds.

To witness and admire these moments, we had to wake up very early and travel over 30km from Thai Nguyen City to Hoang Nong – one of the localities in Dai Tu district famous not only for its tea-based beverages but also for its enchanting scenery of rolling tea hills, streams, and clear blue lakes… Many tourists from within and outside the province have come to Hoang Nong for tourism, picnics, relaxation, and to participate in tea harvesting and production experiences with the local people.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, from Hoang Mai district (Hanoi), said: "Previously, I studied at a university in Thai Nguyen, so I have quite a few friends. During holidays, they often invite me to visit Thai Nguyen. This time, we chose Hoang Nong as our destination, and it was a wonderful choice. We admired the tea hills in the early morning, then went swimming in the Cua Tu stream, and then we barbecued meat, had a meal, and sang songs by the stream... Our next plan is to participate in a tea harvesting and drying experience with a family in Cau Da hamlet."

It's not just Hoang Nong that offers visitors relaxing and enjoyable moments with family and friends; in other places like Tien Hoi, Ban Ngoai, La Bang, Phu Xuyen, Yen Lang, Phu Thinh, Phu Cuong, Minh Tien, etc., visitors can also immerse themselves in nature, stroll alongside rolling hills of tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see, and admire the meticulous care and attention of the farmers.

For a long time, tea has been one of the key economic crops of Dai Tu district, not only helping tea farmers escape poverty but also enabling them to become wealthy. Now, in order to help the aroma of Dai Tu tea spread further, Dai Tu district has actively promoted joint ventures and linkages in the production, processing, and consumption of tea, combined with tourism development.

The "parties" are collaborating.

As scheduled, every two years, Dai Tu district organizes the Tea Festival with many rich and diverse activities, such as: organizing booth competitions and tea brewing art demonstrations; displaying beautiful photos; tea tasting spaces; organizing the "Golden Hands Tea Processing" competition… Notably, in 2024, the Dai Tu Tea Festival had a new feature: the district organized a seminar on "Enhancing the Value of Tea Plants and Tea Products in conjunction with Tourism Development," with the participation of managers; scientists ; tea production and processing artisans; tea brewing artisans; and experts knowledgeable in and researching tea plants and tea products...

Residents of Hoa Tien 2 hamlet, Minh Tien commune (Dai Tu district), are harvesting tea.

At the workshop, delegates actively exchanged and discussed solutions to enhance the value of tea plants and tea products associated with local tourism development, such as: transforming the structure of high-quality tea varieties; preserving midland tea varieties; producing safe and organic tea to bring quality and safe products to the market; securing outlets for tea products from cooperatives; developing tea production chains; diversifying tea products; and developing tea products linked to tourism…

Dai Tu district has favorable conditions in terms of land, weather, and climate suitable for tea cultivation. With the largest tea growing area in Thai Nguyen province and ranking second among districts nationwide (over 6,500 hectares), tea has been identified by the locality as a key crop in agricultural economic development. The Resolution of the 24th District Party Congress, term 2020-2025, identifies "Promoting tea cultivation and high-quality agricultural development as one of the three key tasks for the 2020-2025 term"...

To put the resolution into practice, in addition to planning the raw material areas, with a policy of supporting 100% of the cost of tea seedlings, the locality has directed the planting of new tea varieties and the replacement of old, low-yielding, low-quality tea varieties with new, high-yielding, high-quality varieties (mainly hybrid tea varieties), increasing the total area of ​​new tea varieties in the district to 5,300 hectares (accounting for 80% of the total area).

The application of science and technology to tea production has always been a priority for all levels of government, relevant agencies, and tea growers in the district; training and technology transfer are carried out regularly and continuously; and support for safe tea production according to VietGAP and organic standards, granting planting area codes, and installing water-saving tea irrigation systems has been effectively implemented.

The total tea-growing area in the district equipped with water-saving irrigation systems has reached over 1,500 hectares; the area for winter tea production is over 1,600 hectares; the area for tea production according to VietGAP standards is 1,836 hectares, and organic certification is 15 hectares; 18 tea raw material areas have been granted planting area codes... As a result, tea yield reaches nearly 130 quintals/hectare; fresh tea leaf production reaches over 80,000 tons; the annual tea value reaches over 2 trillion VND; and the value per hectare of tea-growing land reaches over 400 million VND/year...

To date, Dai Tu district has 53 craft villages; 136 cooperative groups; and 58 cooperatives operating in the field of tea production, processing, and trading, contributing to providing consumers with high-quality tea products with attractive designs, ensuring food safety and hygiene, and being competitive in the market. In the work of promoting and facilitating trade, specialized agencies and communes and towns have actively and proactively disseminated information and supported people in providing basic market knowledge through agricultural and industrial extension work, and trade promotion activities such as: provincial tea fairs and exhibitions; the district-organized tea festival...

To date, over 10 businesses and cooperatives have participated in the integrated tea website with a product traceability system for Thai Nguyen tea; 9 units have created their own websites to promote and introduce tea products; and 40 tea products are sold on e-commerce platforms. The district has 22 tea products recognized as OCOP products (including 15 products achieving OCOP 3-star and 7 products achieving OCOP 4-star)...

Walking amidst the tea plantations, stopping at a small shop, enjoying fragrant tea with sticky rice flakes in the autumn weather of August, one feels an unusual sense of peace and tranquility… Perhaps, in that fragrant cup of tea, the tea maker has nurtured and infused it with their own feelings, which is why it captivates people so much…

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202409/thom-huong-che-tham-huong-tinh-d49230d/