Tea culture - a central role in society

Tea has been an essential part of daily life for Vietnamese families for thousands of years, a refreshing beverage believed not only to calm and centre the mind, but to help ward off a number of common illnesses. A staple at celebrations and family get-togethers, tea and its associated rituals are intrinsically tied to concepts of hospitality, respect for one's elders, and peaceful communion with nature in Vietnam. 

Tea drinking is a fairly informal affair in Vietnam, without the complex rituals found in other countries. However, it still plays a central role in society, being served at the start of business meetings, during meals or as part of a catch-up between friends. Drinking tea is also often seen as a contemplative activity, and is frequently associated with pastimes such as poetry, gardening, or scholarly pursuits.

Tea production in Vietnam

Although tea has been enjoyed in Vietnam for thousands of years, it has only been produced within the country since the 1880s, when French colonists established the first Vietnamese tea plantations in the area around Pho Tho, northwest of Hanoi. Today Vietnam is the seventh largest global producer of tea, with much of the crop grown by independent smallholders who are contracted to sell a percentage of their tea leaves to state-owned farms or large processing plants. The rest they are free to process themselves as distinct artisanal varieties, or to sell on the open market.