The Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival 2026 runs from 30 October to 7 November 2026 in Thai Nguyen province, northern Vietnam, about 80 km north of Hanoi. TRAVINA – Tam Tra Viet Cooperative takes part together with La Bang commune, where our tea gardens and processing facility are. During the festival we invite buyers, tea lovers and visitors to taste our tea free of charge and, if you have time, to come and see the gardens in La Bang. This page summarises the official programme reported by Vietnamese media and explains how to meet us.
What the festival is
The full name is the International Tea Festival – Thai Nguyen 2026, organised by the Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee under the theme “Thai Nguyen – the first famous tea”, according to Vietnam Television (VTV, 1 October 2026). It is the province’s first large tea festival in eleven years and coincides with the 195th anniversary of the founding of Thai Nguyen province on 4 November. An international press conference was held in Hanoi on 1 October with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the opening ceremony, the organisers plan to announce the inscription of Thai Nguyen’s knowledge of tea growing and processing on Vietnam’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Main programme, 30 October – 7 November 2026
The schedule below follows the province’s festival plan and press reports up to 8 October 2026. Times may change close to the date, so please check the organisers’ announcements before you travel.
| Date | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct, 17:30–18:30 | “Bringing the Tea” street parade | City centre to Vo Nguyen Giap Square |
| 30 Oct, 19:45 | Opening ceremony, heritage announcement, fireworks | Vo Nguyen Giap Square |
| 30 Oct – 7 Nov | “Tea Street”, product displays, tea cuisine | Square and Phan Dinh Phung walking street |
| Until 7 Nov | Tea tasting with public figures | Five tea areas, including La Bang |
| 1 Nov (planned) | International Tea Forum, trade promotion and signing | ESG Valley Tea Culture Centre |
| Until 8 Nov | Vietnam Master Tea contest, final at the Square | ESG Valley and the Square |
| 7 Nov, evening | Closing ceremony | Vo Nguyen Giap Square |
Sources: the festival plan published by the Thai Nguyen Department of Justice, and reports by VTV, Van Hoa newspaper and Saigon Giai Phong newspaper on 1 October 2026.
Beyond the square: the tea areas
The festival does not stay in the city centre. Vietnamese press list five tea areas and craft villages hosting activities, including La Bang at the foot of the Tam Dao range, next to Nui Coc lake. A “heritage train” runs from Hanoi to Luu Xa station in Thai Nguyen, connecting to five themed tours; one of them passes the Cau Da tea hills, the La Bang tea area and Nui Coc lake, according to The Thao & Van Hoa newspaper (7 October 2026).
For buyers, this is the useful part. In the square you can taste many teas in one evening; in the gardens you can see what makes a lot good or bad: the soil, the cultivar, the picking standard and the hands that roast it.
Meet TRAVINA during the festival
We are one of the units taking part with La Bang commune. Our stand location and tasting hours will be added to this page once the organisers confirm them. During the festival you can:
- Taste our teas for free: bud tea, Moc Cau green tea, Six-No clean tea, Nui Coc black tea and our lotus tea.
- Visit the gardens in La Bang: walk the rows, try picking one bud and two leaves, and see withering and pan-firing at the processing line.
- Talk business: bulk and private-label supply, gift sets and samples. Our bulk tea export page explains how we work with importers.
“Six-No” is our own production commitment with partner households: no chemicals, no pesticides, no chemical fertiliser, no colouring, no bleaching and no preservatives. It is not an organic certification, and we say so to every buyer.
Plan your trip
- From Hanoi: Thai Nguyen city is about 80 km away; La Bang is a further drive west towards the Tam Dao range. The heritage train is an option during the festival.
- One day: morning in the gardens, lunch in the village, afternoon at the Tea Street in the city.
- Two days: add the opening night on 30 October or the International Tea Forum on 1 November.
- Weather: late October evenings in Thai Nguyen are cool; bring a light jacket.
Our tea tours page describes half-day and full-day visits, and our article on the Dai Tu – La Bang growing area gives altitude, harvest calendar and garden details.
About TRAVINA
TRAVINA – Tam Tra Viet Cooperative works with 90 member households on 40.5 hectares of tea gardens in Dai Tu – La Bang, Thai Nguyen. Our La Bang garden area holds VietGAP certification and our La Bang processing facility is certified to ISO 22000:2018. Just before the festival, our founder will also be in Tianjin, China, from 25 to 28 October; see TRAVINA at Tianjin 2026. Read more about us or view our certificates and licences.
Frequently asked questions
Is the tasting really free?
Yes. Tasting at our stand and in the gardens during the festival is free. Garden visits for groups should be booked in advance.
Can foreign visitors join?
Yes. We can arrange English support for garden visits; please tell us your group size and preferred date.
Can we buy tea to take home?
Yes, our teas and gift sets are available at the stand and at the cooperative.
Can we discuss export orders during the festival?
Yes. We quote EXW in US dollars, based on quantity, and can prepare samples for you to take home.
Plan a visit or a meeting: contact us through our contact page with your dates and what you would like to see.
