Coming to Yen Son to hear the scent of tea “tell stories”

For generations, in the heart of the midland region of the ancestral land, Yen Son (Yen Son Commune, Thanh Son District, formerly part of Phu Tho Province) has been fragrant with the scent of tea. Stretching along the winding hillsides at the foot of Thu Tinh Mountain, the lush green tea hills stand as living proof of a once-difficult land that is now thriving.

Where tea hills awaken with the dawn

At 5:00 a.m., as the fog still blankets the path, we follow Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh from Team 2 of Mo Hamlet, Yen Son Commune. With a pineapple sack tied around her waist, she ascends the tea hill. Her calloused hands nimbly pluck each tender tea bud in the rustling breeze, like a whisper shared between the earth and sky.

Every morning, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh is present in the tea garden early.

“We’ve been growing tea here for a long time, at least 30 to 40 years,” Ms. Anh shares, her hands still moving skillfully as she picks each bud, “one bud, two leaves,” as if her fingers were gliding across piano keys.

In the past, tea was grown only on a small scale and scattered, but today it is cultivated more systematically, following clean production processes from the tea garden to the tea table.

The people of Yen Son have been attached to tea trees for the past 30-40 years.

Yen Son has long been known as one of the cradles of Vietnam’s tea industry. Every hill and patch of soil here carries the imprints of generations of tea growers. Beyond traditional green tea, locals have now mastered the art of making scented teas and fermented black teas, catering to the increasingly diverse market demands.

Mr. Dinh Van Tinh, Vice Chairman of the Yen Son Commune People’s Committee, shared, “Tea is the main crop in Yen Son. Thanks to the temperate climate and the particularly suitable red-yellow feralit soil on shale, Yen Son tea has a distinctive flavor and consistently high quality, establishing a strong reputation for this land.”

The young, tender tea buds have given Yen Son tea its distinctive flavor and longstanding reputation.

These tender tea shoots contain ideal levels of tannins and other natural compounds, creating a unique flavor profile. When brewed, Yen Son tea produces a clear yellow-green hue, reminiscent of the morning sun. Its aroma is gentle, pure, and not harsh but subtly seductive. Most notably, the tea offers a rich taste with a lingering sweet aftertaste that stays on the palate. This distinctiveness is the result of the harmonious blend between favorable natural conditions and the time-honored farming experience of Yen Son residents.

The hands of Yen Son people move gracefully, picking tea buds as if playing a delicate melody on piano keys.

A land and people growing stronger each day

Gone is the image of hardship and modesty often associated with tea farming in the past. Today, Yen Son people approach tea cultivation with a fresh mindset: Sustainable, clean, and safe production. From native varieties to high-quality hybrids, locals receive both technical support and practical knowledge passed down through generations. They carefully select, plant, and fertilize using organic products, minimizing the use of harmful chemicals. Many households have even adopted drip irrigation systems and mulch coverings to retain moisture during dry seasons.

The people of Yen Son now grow tea with a new, forward-thinking mindset.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen, owner of a tea processing facility in Yen Son, noted, “Producing clean tea isn’t just about selling at a higher price—it’s also about protecting our own health. In the past, we sold mainly to wholesalers, but now the market requires standardized processes and safety certifications. If we don’t adapt, we’ll be left behind.”

According to statistics, the entire Yen Son region now boasts around 300 hectares of tea cultivation. Of this, Yen Son Tea Company manages approximately 218 hectares in partnership with local households. The remaining 100 hectares are independently developed and maintained by local farmers. Most of this tea area lies within the former Yen Son Commune and several hamlets of the former Tinh Nhue Commune.

The region also has over a dozen tea processing facilities that meet food safety and hygiene standards. Many households have joined the provincial OCOP (One Commune One Product) program. Some pioneering producers have introduced modern techniques, such as fluidized bed drying, vacuum pressing, and eco-friendly packaging, forming a closed production chain from the garden to the cup.

Tea cultivation is contributing to Yen Son’s continued prosperity.

For the people of Yen Son, tea is the primary crop and a source of a stable, prosperous livelihood. According to recent assessments, there are currently no poor or near-poor households among tea growers. Thanks to tea, Yen Son is gradually flourishing. Sturdy new houses are sprouting amid the green hills, tangible evidence of progress.

Take Mr. Nguyen Van Thu’s family in Mo Hamlet, for example. With around five hectares of tea, each harvest yields about six tons, fetching an average price of VND 4,000-5,000 per kilogram of fresh buds, resulting in a solid income. Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hop’s family owns two hectares of tea and lives almost entirely on the tea hill year-round. As they harvest from one end, new green buds are already sprouting from the other, etc.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hop’s family in Mo Hamlet owns two hectares of tea, generating a substantial income.

Despite the many challenges, the people of Yen Son remain steadfast in their journey of transformation through tea. These hills are not just a means of livelihood, they are turning Yen Son into a truly livable countryside. A place where the bond between people and land is nurtured through the age-old tradition of tea cultivation.

Tea trees are gradually turning Yen Son into a truly livable countryside.

As the morning sun rises and bundles of freshly picked tea are carried from the hills to the drying workshops, one can envision a bright future for Yen Son, one not only fragrant with tea but also rich with hope and the vibrant pulse of a midland region rising anew. There, around a cup of shimmering, aromatic tea, we sit with humble farmers and quietly listen to stories of a land and its people growing stronger with each passing day.

Manh Hung