Thai Nguyen currently ranks first nationwide in tea-growing area, yield, production, and income. After its administrative merger with the Bac Kan province, the new expanded province has 24,000 hectares of tea, 23,000 in commercial production with an average yield of 18 tons per hectare.

Thai Nguyen has developed 207 OCOP-certified tea products rated from 3 to 5 stars. Thanks to effective support policies, Thai Nguyen tea achieved a product value of 550 million USD in the first half of 2025.

This year, Thai Nguyen aims to have 23,500 hectares of tea cultivation, producing 273,000 tons of fresh tea buds with the average value per hectare of 13,200 USD. By 2030, the province hopes to reach 1 billion USD in total tea value and make Thai Nguyen tea a strategic export commodity of Vietnam.

By then, 70% of the tea-growing area is expected to meet the VietGAP organic standards, with 24,500 hectares producing 300,000 tons of fresh tea buds. Exports will focus on demanding markets like Europe, Japan, and the US.

To realize this ambition, Thai Nguyen has issued Resolution 11 dated February 3, 2025, on tea sector development for 2025-2030 and pledged 19 million USD in support measures. This investment will create strong momentum for sustainable and efficient growth, said Nguyen Ta, head of the provincial Plant Protection and Crop Production Division.

“Thai Nguyen has promulgated very comprehensive policies — from cultivation, care, and processing to boosting product value through OCOP branding, as well as trade promotion and market expansion across 34 provinces and international markets,” said Ta, adding, “This may be one of the most comprehensive breakthrough policy packages for tea sector development in the nation.”

Support measures under Resolution 11 include increasing research of new high-yield, high-quality tea varieties; adopting advanced processing technologies to create premium, value-added tea products; and strengthening linkages among farmers, cooperatives, and businesses to form fully integrated value chains from production to consumption. The province is also investing in human resources and improving production infrastructure.

Policies are focused on VietGAP-certified cultivation, organic farming, quality management certification, plantation codes, smart water-saving irrigation, and eco-tourism models tied to tea culture.

Together with supportive policies, local tea producers are transforming their mindset and production methods. Many cooperatives and businesses are shifting toward organic tea to access high-value markets where prices may be 30 to 40% higher. In Tan Cuong — which produces Thai Nguyen’s most famous tea — the Hao Dat Tea Cooperative is leading this shift.

Ms. Dao Thanh Hao, the cooperative’s Director, recalled, “In the past, farmers used traditional cultivation methods, but now we use more scientific methods. We want to expand and elevate our brand, especially Tan Cuong tea, a signature product. We are innovating so that our tea is not only drunk, but also used to develop higher-value products like matcha and tea-based cosmetics.”

Digital transformation is being pushed to turn tea into a driver of prosperity. Cooperatives and companies are increasingly focused on high-value, differentiated products. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, Director of the La Bang Tea Cooperative in La Bang commune, said, “Our products previously achieved a 4-star OCOP rating, and that recognition helped us gain strong consumer trust. We are working toward a 5-star rating, which would open the door for La Bang tea to go global.”

Strong government support — from production to market access — combined with other support resources is creating powerful momentum for businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to elevate Thai Nguyen tea. With a fast-growing domestic and international reputation, Thai Nguyen tea is on track to become a globally respected brand and a sustainable economic pillar, carrying the province closer to its billion-dollar dream.