Thái Nguyên tea industry seeks to increase value through innovation

The tea industry in Thái Nguyên, Vietnam, is undergoing a strategic shift to move beyond low-value raw exports toward deep processing and cultural tourism. At the 2026 International Tea Economic Forum, experts highlighted that while Vietnam exported approximately 137,000 tons of tea in 2025, the average price remained low at roughly 1.74 USD per kg.

To escape the “low-price raw export trap,” stakeholders are advocating for the development of a multi-layered value ecosystem. This includes investing in technology for products like matcha and instant tea, as well as integrating tea culture with tourism. In the Tân Cương region, local authorities are leveraging the historical reputation of “the first famous tea” to promote community-based tourism, featuring tea hill landscapes and traditional processing experiences.

Educational and creative initiatives are also emerging to preserve and promote tea heritage. At Quang Trung Secondary School, students use local tea culture as a medium to learn English, creating art from dried tea leaves to connect academic knowledge with their local identity. Additionally, the World Master Tea Vietnam 2026 competition is working to identify and honor professionals capable of innovating tea-based beverages to enhance the global competitiveness of Vietnamese tea.