Safe production

With more than 22,200 hectares of tea plants, the northern province of Thai Nguyen is a prominent tea-growing region, with fresh bud tea production surpassing 260,000 tonnes. Around 4,356 hectares of tea plantations in the region comply with VietGAP good agricultural practices, including 11 hectares of tea certified by UTZ as a sustainable farming brand and 127 hectares grown organically.

Thai Nguyen Province has implemented various policies to support and invest in the development of its tea industry, covering seed supply and scientific and technical applications for production and processing. The province has also established its own tea brands, including Tan Cuong, La Bang and Trai Cai, which are renowned within the country and in export markets. With the implementation of various innovative tea growing and processing solutions, the Thai Nguyen tea market is relatively stable, and certain high-end tea products are valued at between VND1.5 and over 5 million per kg.

Thai Nguyen Province is transitioning its tea plantations to sustainable organic farming practices

According to Pham Van Sy, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the use of safe production processes has significantly increased, including organic fertilizers, biological products, and water-saving irrigation technology in intensive tea cultivation. Additionally, growing area and packing facility codes are now mandatory in compliance with international practices and importing countries' regulations on plant quarantine, food safety and traceability.

To expand the province's tea export market, enhance the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products in the international market, and increase export turnover, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provides guidance for tea growing area codes in the province.

From field to cup

Despite significant progress in the production and business activities of Thai Nguyen Province's tea industry, challenges remain to sustainable development of tea plants and tea product brands, as well as export expansion. Currently, only 20.25 percent of tea production is certified organic, VietGAP and safe. Tea production is mainly small-scale and household-based, with limited cooperatives and no link between production and consumption to increase prices. Additionally, quality management, traceability, and trademark management have not received enough attention. Attracting investment in tea cultivation and processing remains challenging, and links between tea areas and tourism development are weak.

To enhance the brand and value of Thai Nguyen tea, Vice Chair of the Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Thanh Binh, suggests strengthening brand promotion, trade promotion, and connection among tea enterprises and cooperatives in the province. This can be achieved by participating in trade conferences and expanding domestic markets. Intellectual property protection for tea product branding also requires guidance and support. The management and use of the "Tan Cuong" Geographical Indication for tea products must be enforced.

The province should also focus on research to meet the criteria and legal regulations of potential tea markets worldwide. This will help in compiling documents and completing the application process to improve the registration of the "Thai Nguyen Tea" collective trademark. Strengthening the management of tea product brands, actively guiding tea producers to register and attach planting area codes, especially in concentrated tea growing areas of the province, could open up more discerning tea markets. The province could also select tea areas for building production models associated with eco-experience tourism, historical, cultural and culinary relics to attract visitors, shoppers and tea lovers.