Tan Cuong commune, which is dubbed “the Kingdom of green tea” in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, has some of the most beautiful and large tea hills in Vietnam. Green tea hills stretch to the horizon creating a peaceful scene.
Cau Da tea hill is one of the most beautiful site in Thai Nguyen province. (photo: thainguyen.gov.vn)
From Thai Nguyen city, tourists travel about 10 km west to reach the tea hub. Visitors may ride bicycles or drive motorbikes through the tea hills, exploring every corner and capturing photos up close to the tea trees. Tan Cuong's terrain is mainly low, bowl-shaped hills. The soil, which is mainly red-yellow feralit soil and alluvial soil of the Cong River, is suitable for growing rice, vegetables, industrial crops, and tea. Some households are tending ancient tea trees in the land with hundred-year-old tea-making tradition.
A Tay woman, Ly Thi Chien, Director of ATK Gio Ngan Cooperative in Dong Thinh commune, Dinh Hoa district, said: “The most attractive areas are Dai Tu and Dinh Hoa, with Tan Cuong commune being renowned for producing the most flavorful and high-quality tea. In Thai Nguyen province, tourists should visit the Tan Cuong tea village model to experience the best tea. The “Trà Quê Em”, my hometown tea, model blends traditional techniques with modern technology, ensuring the tea is crafted with care while preserving its traditional values.”
The Tan Cuong tea hills have a long history, with nearly every family growing tea. Farmers have expertly utilized the hillside terrain, cultivating tea in terraced layers or arranging it in patterns resembling giant raspberries.
Tourists take photos up close to the tea trees. (photo: VOV)
Ngo Van Van, a member of the Trà Quê Em Cooperative in Hong Thai hamlet, shared: “The Trà Quê Em model is a collaboration between me and the Tan Cuong cooperative alliance. My farm in Hong Thai hamlet is divided into several sections. I cultivate tea on about 2,000 square meters of riverbank land, and I also have large hillside plots and fields.”
The climate in Tan Cuong is pleasant year-round. From atop a hill, you can gaze out over a picturesque landscape of lush green tea fields. Villager Ly Thi Chien said: “Tea gardens stretch far to the horizon to create a rustic beauty. If you take photos, you raise our hands to catch the sun to keep beautiful moments. On beautiful tea hills, Thai Nguyen girls are diligently picking tea leaves.”
Tan Cuong tea is harvested year-round, with no fixed season. However, if you're looking to capture the best travel photos, the summer months from April to June are ideal. The weather is sunny yet pleasantly cool during this time.
Ly Thi Chien said: “We cooperate with friends from Tan Cuong Tea Cooperative and Tra Que Toi Cooperative to guide tourists through the tea hills and introduce them to the entire tea-making process, from picking to roasting and preserving the tea's aroma. Visitors can enjoy a hands-on experience in making Tan Cuong tea and take home their own creation. They will also be invited to have a meal with local families."
In Tan Cuong commune, besides contemplating the fresh green scenery and enjoying the delicious tea, visitors can try to become farmers to care and and harvest tea.
Ngo Van Van introduces his tea farm-tourism model: “In my house, guests can pluck tea, roast tea, drink tea and have a meal with us. We have space for visitors to enjoy tea and relax. It’s not far from here to the Nui Coc Lake tourist area.”
Currently, villagers have combined Tan Cuong tea products with eco-tourism and agricultural tourism, aiming to promote the Tan Cuong Tea brand in the domestic and international markets.
Lam Thanh - Ngoc An
