In La Bang, listen to the tea 'tell stories'.

Before me stretched an endless expanse of green. The hillsides gently sloped in the breeze. Tea plants connected tea. Tea connected the land. Tea connected the sky. Tea connected people to the sediment of a cultural region. Tea connected people to people through stories of hardship, yet radiant with peace. We arrived, heard the earth stir, saw the green tea leaves, tasted the fragrant tea, and saw countless smiles blossoming on the lips of those who have dedicated their lives to this iconic product of Thai Nguyen. Generation after generation, the stories of the tea land intertwined with us throughout our journey.

"Blue Wave Music".

Cultural sediments shape people's character.

By the time the group arrived in La Bang, the rain had stopped. Before that, while we were still in the car on the way from the provincial center, the streets were covered in a white drizzle. We jokingly said that Thai Nguyen welcomed the group with a truly wonderful "gift from heaven." Our group consisted of just over twenty people, but it represented the full presence of people from all three regions of Vietnam, converging on Thai Nguyen for a journey to discover the land of tea and listen to the stories that have shaped this region's reputation. It was only thanks to a suggestion from journalist Luong Bich Ngoc and the organizers of the "Centennial First-Class Tea" competition that we excitedly discussed and finalized the plan for this thrilling trip.

La Bang is located west of the former Dai Tu district, only about 10km from the city center and nestled at the foot of the Tam Dao mountain range. According to Mr. Truong Duc Nam, Deputy Director of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Information Center, this locality has rich tourism resources, ranging from community-based ecotourism to cultural, historical, and spiritual tourism. In its upcoming development goals, the province has directed La Bang to gradually exploit its potential and advantages to build and develop local tourism, attracting visitors to explore and experience the area. Above all, the goal is to bring La Bang closer to a wider audience of Vietnamese and international tourists.

Perhaps Mr. Nam was the most exhausted person among our group, at least during the entire journey from Hanoi to Thai Nguyen, facing over twenty journalists and writers from all over the country, whose questions were incredibly varied. However, it was the warmth and sincerity evident on the weathered face of this man, who is always deeply concerned about developing the tea-growing region of the province, that made us hopeful for information from him.

Fortunately, he answered every question thoughtfully. That same heartfelt dedication, I actually found in the tea pickers early in the morning on these verdant tea hills. They constantly and meticulously explained every step of the process, from planting and harvesting to processing and final product. La Bang thus exuded a deep and warm affection in the eyes and hearts of our group.

It seems that the cultural heritage of this land, dating back to ancient times, has shaped the way of life of the people of La Bang. A warm and passionate character, like the aroma of tea, enveloped us throughout our journey. To be honest, as a Southerner visiting Thai Nguyen for the first time, I had only heard of Tan Cuong tea. Because in Saigon's countless tea shops, Tan Cuong tea is always presented as a top-tier delicacy from this renowned northern tea-growing region. Most tea shops catering to Saigon's tea connoisseurs or international tourists display numerous tea boxes with images of Tan Cuong printed on them.

The story of tea and the land of Tan Cang was told in vivid detail by the vendor. So when my feet touched the soil of La Bang, I was momentarily amazed by the beauty of the hillsides, and my heart was filled with even more emotion when I learned that this land held a glorious milestone linked to the history of the country.

I was born and raised after the country was reunified, so the stories of a difficult and heroic era grew within me through the stories I learned in history lessons, films, the accounts of relatives, and the journeys I undertook while passionately traveling. My homeland is still so beautiful! My homeland still has so many stories that I don't know yet! That's why on my trips I always seek to learn about the stories of each place.

For me, the land shapes the character of its people. Half a century has passed, and as we look forward to the many joys of commemorating the glorious milestones of our nation, I am fortunate to have gathered a story about a land that played a part in the great history of the resistance war of the past. La Bang appears in my mind through the story of a young woman from the Thai Nguyen Provincial Association of Literature and Arts as a testament to the cultural history that has created the beauty of this land.

La Bang is a "red address" of Thai Nguyen province. With a radiant look in her eyes, Hien Trinh recounts the past with the pride of today's youth. Here lies the historical site where the first Party cell of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee was established (in 1936). It's in Lau Sau hamlet and has been classified as a National Historical Monument. The story of the sons and daughters of Thai Nguyen who set aside many dreams to volunteer to fight for territorial integrity back then stirred our hearts.

During the two wars of national resistance, countless sons and daughters of Thai Nguyen went to war and never returned. Many mothers waited until the last vestiges of their lives had faded, yet they never saw their sons, not even their worn bones. Or those who returned not whole, but still shone with unwavering faith and love for their country's independence. Hien recounted many stories.

I asked Hien how she remembered so clearly. It turned out that, on this land, besides tea, there were also people who were deeply devoted to their country. Halfway up the slope, we sat down in the Cau Da tea plantation to rest. I told Hien about the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City, when a team of doctors and nurses from Thai Nguyen went south directly into the heart of the outbreak, warming the hearts of so many people in the South. There was a picture taken on a rainy afternoon, five volunteers from Thai Nguyen in a vehicle from an emergency center to a small village. The heavy rain and strong wind made the five blue coats huddle together. The picture was taken by another volunteer, who was on a later trip.

That very afternoon, the photo received widespread praise from the online community. Indeed, it left a deep impression on me regarding the kindness of the people of Thai Nguyen. Hien is a petite girl, but she took me for a ride through the streets at night in the heart of the province. That was the night before. Hien drove me around, and she introduced me to everything we encountered.

Hien said that a quick trip around the center of Thai Nguyen would take a lifetime to see everything, but to explore the whole province, sometimes even a lifetime wouldn't be enough! Her gentle words, spoken on a cold, windy night, made me understand just how deeply this girl from the tea-growing region loved her homeland. Just like that morning in La Bang, Hien boldly invited me to Thanh La Pagoda. To "persuade" me, Hien said that Thanh La Pagoda was located in a very beautiful spot, offering a panoramic view of the entire La Bang tea-growing region changing color with the seasons. The story of this young woman in her 20s began as we followed the gentle slopes of the hills to the Cau Da tea plantation and continued until we stopped to begin our journey of listening to the tea's tales.

Designating a tea-growing region

Tourists take photos in the tea plantations.

To be honest, it was only when I arrived in La Bang and took a sip of hot green tea that I truly appreciated its rich and refreshing flavor. The tea was a vibrant green with a golden sheen. It had a slightly bitter initial taste, but a sweet aftertaste. I brought the cup to my nose, and the strong, refreshing aroma spread throughout my nostrils. The more I inhaled, the more the richness permeated my nasal cavity, and a long breath might even make me feel dizzy and lightheaded.

For someone like me, who has been drinking tea brewed with fresh tea leaves for over two decades, the aroma is truly captivating. But what I like most about La Bang tea is the lingering aftertaste in my throat. That aftertaste is sweet and refreshing, gradually seeping into my very being.

La Bang has the La Bang Tea Cooperative and Ha Thai Tea Joint Stock Company, which have built spacious tea tasting areas, product display areas, and tea processing areas that can accommodate and serve large groups of visitors for sightseeing and experiences.

And it was from this experience that I immediately thought, why hasn't La Bang become well-known throughout the country? Perhaps we should start with digital media and technology to promote the region's culture. We should launch on online platforms and sell the story of La Bang, instead of just selling tea as we do now.

Enjoying tea in a cozy setting.

La Bang boasts the Kem stream, originating from the verdant peaks of Tam Dao mountain. The stream flows crystal clear and meanders through the area, nestled among pristine forests at the foot of Tam Dao. The local ethnic communities still preserve many unique traditional cultural features, including Then singing, Tinh playing, and the melodious folk songs of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups; as well as traditional customs and practices of the Dao people such as the coming-of-age ceremony and the New Year's dance.

The cuisine is diverse and rich, with many dishes that attract tourists, such as: wild bamboo shoots, free-range chicken, five-colored sticky rice, wild vegetables, and various dishes made with sturgeon... The conversation between Dr. Nguyen Kien Tho, journalist Nguyen Hong Lam, and me lasted until noon, until we reached a stream that many households utilize to raise sturgeon, a specialty of Thai Nguyen. Even that much wasn't enough for me to hear everything about the tea of ​​this region. But from this trip, Thai Nguyen blossomed in my mind not only about tea, the land, and the people, but also about the cultural identity of these lesser-known tea-growing regions.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202509/ve-la-bang-nghe-che-ke-chuyen-c9e4921/