First Int’l Tea Festival Opens in Thai Nguyen

The first International Tea Festival opened in the northern province of Thai Nguyen on November 12.

 

This event aims to honor and advertise Vietnamese tea products to domestic and foreign trade partners and visitors.

 

Speaking at the festival, PM Nguyen Tan Dung praised great achievements of the tea sector as well as endless efforts by ministries, agencies and localities, scientists and tea growers.

 

PM Tan Dung hoped the sector would continue to promote achievements to contribute effectively to poverty reduction, particularly in mountainous areas.

 

The Government chief also asked for stronger tea promotion activities. In the next five years, the sector should strive to double or triple tea export turnover from current figures.

 

The main activities of the festival include the opening ceremony, the International Symposium on Tea with the theme "Spread of Thai Nguyen tea scent"; the Tea Cultural Festival "Vietnamese Tea -  development and international integration - Place of meeting, exchanging many famous tea in the world; Exhibition of introduction about land and people of Viet Nam and Thai Nguyen, Miss-Tea land contest.

 

Ten countries and territories along with 30 provinces and cities, 50 traditional villages, and 25 tea enterprises are participating in the festival.

 

Việt Nam is endowed with favorable conditions for the development of tea cultivation. Tea has been planted in 34 provinces across the countries with total area of 130,000 hectares.

 

Centralized tea processing zones have been formed in Thai Nguyen, Lam Dong, Phu Thọ, Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Son La, etc. Vietnamese tea products are now available in 100 countries and territories.

 

Last year, Viet Nam exported 135,000 tons of tea, earning nearly US $200 million. It ranks 5^th among the world’s biggest producers and exporters.