HANOI, Vietnam
Vietnam's mountainous Thai Nguyen Province, a hub of that country's tea production, will host Vietnam's first international tea festival November 11-15.
Teas to be showcased include those from Taiwan, China, India, Japan, Russia, Britain, the United States, Germany, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The event is to promote Thai Nguyen teas from 25 local companies and encourage investment. A series of activities will take place in the festival including a photo exhibition featuring Vietnam’s tea-growing areas and tastings to introduce the Vietnamese tea ceremony as well as musical performances and culinary activities.
An international seminar themed “Vietnamese tea integrating globally” will also be held to call for investment in the tea making industry.
Vietnam shipped 130,000 tons of tea last year, valued at $190 million and making it the fifth largest tea exporter. Thai Nguyen Province produces green, black tea and flavored black teas. Lam Dong Province is the nation's top producer.
Dang Viet Thuan, Vice President of the Thai Nguyen People’s Committee, at a press briefing in Hanoi on April 7 estimated 60,000 foreign visitors and 400,000 local people will attend the event.