(VAN) Carefully packed tea bags, neatly arranged inside containers, begin their 5,000-kilometer journey to Afghanistan, carrying with them the aroma of mountain forests and the pride of Lai Chau province.
Preserving the tea’s aroma
Inside a workshop of nearly 2,000 square meters, the rhythmic sounds of roasting, rolling and drying machines blend with the rich fragrance of fresh tea. Each batch is processed with meticulous care, preparing for an export shipment to the Middle East. Moving slowly through the soft haze, Do Viet Trung, Director of Tan Uyen Tea Joint Stock Company, inspects every stage, lifting a handful of tea to gently “taste” its deep, distinctive aroma.
Do Viet Trung has invested more than VND 40 billion in the company’s tea-processing system. Photo: Duc Binh.
Trung’s journey with tea began in 2021, when the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), together with the Lai Chau Provincial People’s Committee, implemented an investment promotion program. At that time, Trung attended as a representative of the Lai Chau Business Association. He listened to the development orientations for tea cultivation and witnessed many tea hills abandoned because farmers lacked stable buyers, prices were low, and the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted production.
“People were discouraged, abandoning many good tea areas. Traders suppressed prices, and factories couldn’t consume all the raw tea. It was both a challenge and an opportunity for me”, Trung recalled.
From that moment, he nurtured the dream of developing premium specialty tea for export to West and Central Asia. With nearly 10 years of experience in agricultural supplies, he knew exactly where his “gold mine” was and how to unlock its value. Together with his technical team, he surveyed and established a raw-material region of nearly 1,000 hectares, linked with more than 600 households in Khun Ha Commune (former Tam Duong District) and Tan Phong ward.
Nader Alam (left) visits the factory to evaluate the tea quality. Photo: Duc Binh.
By putting farmers at the center, the company’s technicians developed cultivation protocols, rejuvenated old tea gardens, and trained households in fertilization, leaf care, and pest management to maximize yield. Trung calculated: “One hectare of tea can produce up to six harvests a year, around 6 tons per harvest. If properly cared for, with a purchase price of VND 5,200 per kilogram, farmers can earn nearly VND 200 million a year, with around VND 100 million in profit after expenses”.
The company supplies fertilizers and plant-protection products, and farmers pay only at year-end. Contracts last for five years and come with multiple incentives, encouraging farmers to produce confidently and consistently.
Pham Thi May’s life has improved significantly thanks to tea. Photo: Duc Binh.
Pham Thi May, a resident of Tan Phu Nhieu hamlet, Khun Ha commune, has worked with the company since early 2024. She currently cultivates 3 hectares of tea, earning nearly VND 300 million per year. “Before, techniques were mostly word-of-mouth. When tea was sick, we just sprayed something, and quality went down. Now technicians guide us directly, from fertilizing to pruning, so the plants are healthier and yields have clearly increased”, May said.
Not only May, more than 600 linked households receive standardized technical guidance. The company also connects agricultural experts to help tackle emerging plant diseases and commits to purchasing all tea produced. “As long as farmers follow the protocol, the company buys everything”, Trung affirmed.
Bringing Lai Chau tea to the Middle East
With a stable raw-material region and the unique flavor created by Lai Chau’s cool climate and large day-night temperature swings, foreign partners began taking interest. Nader Alam, Director of Abdul Hadi Kouchi Ltd (Afghanistan), learned about the company through friends and went directly to Tan Uyen Tea’s factory to try the tea. “Afghan people enjoy tea with a natural herbal fragrance, mild astringency, and sweet aftertaste. When I tasted Lai Chau tea, I knew I had found the right product,” Alam shared.
Lai Chau tea has reached the right market with increasingly stable value as it enters the Middle East. Photo: Duc Binh.
His company now purchases around 1,500 tons of tea per year from Trung’s company, distributing it to 34 provinces of Afghanistan, with a retail price of about USD 3 per kilogram.
However, the journey to bring Lai Chau tea to Afghan consumers hasn’t been easy. Vietnam has no direct shipping route; the goods must travel from Hai Phong Port, transit through Iran, then continue to Afghanistan. Despite high logistics costs and long transport times, Trung and his partners remain committed. “We believe quality will open the way for the market”, Trung asserted.
Currently, in addition to exporting to Afghanistan, Tan Uyen tea is also exported to China at VND 12,000 – 15,000 per kilogram. The company is developing premium green tea lines and convenient tea-bag products to expand its domestic market.
According to Bui Huy Phuong, Director of the Lai Chau Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province has more than 10,500 hectares of tea, with 8,400 hectares in commercial production. Average yield is 7 tons per hectare, producing over 58,000 tons of fresh tea buds annually. About 7,000 hectares (67% of total tea area) are linked with buyers through formal production – consumption contracts.
Lai Chau tea is exported directly or through entrusted shipments in large bags, reaching traditional markets such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, China…
*Currency exchange: USD 1 = VND 26.386 – Source: Vietcombank, November 18, 2025.
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