Vietnam's Thai Nguyen hosts International Tea Festival, eyes billion-dollar industry

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thai Nguyen provincial administration held an international press conference in Hanoi on Thursday to introduce the 2026 Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival, scheduled for October 30 to November 7.

The opening ceremony is set for the evening of October 30 at Vo Nguyen Giap Square. The festival is expected to highlight the recognition of knowledge and practices associated with growing and processing Thai Nguyen tea on Vietnam’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

From 'finest tea' to billion-dollar ambitions

Thai Nguyen has about 22,000 hectares of tea plantations and plans to expand to 25,000 hectares. The 2026 International Tea Festival is expected to boost tourism by linking tea culture with local experiences.

Nguyen Thi Loan, vice chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the festival’s organizing committee, said the event aims to honor tea growers and industry players while promoting product quality.

“Tea growers are the ones who determine product quality,” she said.

The province aims to raise tea’s value through improved varieties, technology and sustainable production, with the goal of improving farmers’ livelihoods and building a billion-dollar industry.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang said the festival would promote both cultural and economic diplomacy, highlighting Vietnamese tea as a symbol of the country's culture and commitment to green production. 

She noted that the United Nations' designation of May 21 as International Tea Day reflects growing global recognition of tea's economic and social value.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work with relevant agencies and overseas missions to expand market access for agricultural products and help producers meet international sustainability standards.

Beyond the cup: Taking Thai Nguyen tea global

Festival activities will take place in well-known tea-growing areas, including the Tan Cuong tea region, Dong Hy, La Bang, Vo Tranh and Dong Phuc, as well as venues in the provincial center.

Rather than focusing solely on product displays, organizers have planned activities that allow visitors to meet tea growers, hear the stories behind different tea-producing areas and experience tea culture. The approach is part of the province’s efforts to combine tourism with tea heritage and make the destination more attractive to visitors.

A 'Heritage Train' connecting Hanoi and Thai Nguyen is also expected to operate during the festival.

Beyond attracting domestic and international visitors, the festival aims to expand market opportunities and bring Thai Nguyen tea to wider markets.

An international tea forum themed 'From Tea Heritage to the Global Tea Economy,' along with trade promotion activities, is expected to bring together businesses, investors and experts to discuss branding, market expansion and supply-chain development.

A key challenge after the festival will be ensuring that business connections made during the event are sustained and translated into concrete results.

At the close of the press conference, Loan reiterated the province’s ambition to turn tea into a billion-dollar crop. She said it would continue supporting farmers and cooperatives with funding and scientific and technical solutions.

The province will also work with central government agencies to attract more foreign businesses to invest in deeper processing and develop higher-value products, moving beyond its current range of familiar tea products.