Foreign diplomats experience tea picking in Thai Nguyen
VOV.VN - Foreign diplomats in Vietnam have tried their hand at picking and pan-firing tea leaves in Vietnam’s northern Thai Nguyen province, gaining first-hand insight into the traditional craft behind the distinctive flavour of Tan Cuong tea.
Ambassadors, heads of international organisations in Vietnam and their spouses joined a programme on October 30 as part of the 2026 Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival. The programme was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the provincial People’s Committee to introduce international visitors to the region’s tea heritage, local communities and cultural traditions.
The delegation travelled from Hanoi to Thai Nguyen aboard a heritage train, where participants sampled speciality teas and local dishes, watched traditional performances and learned about local products and the province’s tourism potential.
In Tan Cuong commune, a renowned tea-growing area, the visitors experienced tea picking and traditional pan-firing, a process in which freshly harvested leaves are heated in a pan to help develop their flavour and aroma. The hands-on activities offered an insight into the skill and care required at each stage of tea production.
The delegation also met local residents over cups of tea and watched flute performances and Tac Xinh, a traditional dance of the San Chay ethnic group. The exchanges highlighted the close links between tea cultivation, local livelihoods and community cultural life.
The programme continued at the Museum of Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups, where the visitors explored the cultural diversity of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Activities included traditional water puppetry, Then singing accompanied by the đàn tính string instrument, performances of Ngũ âm music and an introduction to making five-coloured sticky rice.
Promoting tea culture and local tourism
Located in northern Vietnam’s midland and mountainous region, Thai Nguyen is known for its tea-growing areas and long-standing tea-making traditions. Tea is not only an important agricultural product but also part of the region’s cultural identity and rural livelihoods.
The 2026 Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival runs from October 30 to November 7 under the theme “Thai Nguyen – Foremost Land of Renowned Tea”. The festival aims to promote the province’s tea brand, strengthen international cooperation and connect tea production with tourism and cultural exchange.
The programme for diplomatic representatives is part of wider efforts to introduce Thai Nguyen’s products, landscapes and cultural heritage to international audiences, while creating opportunities for cooperation in trade, tourism and the tea industry.
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