When you buy from a Vietnamese tea cooperative, three numbers shape the deal: the minimum order, the price tier your order falls into, and the lead time. At TRAVINA – Tam Tra Viet Cooperative, stock tea leaves our warehouse within 24 hours for orders under 100 kg and within 2 days for orders of 100 kg or more, with orders of one tonne and above scheduled by agreement. Private label (OEM) work starts from 20,000,000 VND per order with a 20–30% deposit. Export prices are not published: we quote each request in USD on EXW or FOB terms once we know the grade, packaging and volume, because those three factors move the price more than anything else.
| Question | Short answer from TRAVINA |
|---|---|
| Private label / OEM minimum | From 20,000,000 VND per order (quoted in VND) |
| Deposit | 20–30% of the order value |
| Stock tea, under 100 kg | Leaves the warehouse within 24 hours |
| Stock tea, 100 kg and above | Leaves the warehouse within 2 days |
| One tonne and above | Schedule agreed case by case |
| Domestic delivery in Vietnam | 3–5 days from the date the contract is signed |
| Export shipments | Add time for documents, plant quarantine and international freight |
| Price list | Not published; quoted on request in USD, EXW or FOB |
Why MOQ, price and lead time belong in one conversation
Many first-time buyers ask for a price before anything else. It is a fair question, but with tea the price is not a fixed number on a shelf. A cooperative like ours works with 90 member households farming 40.5 hectares in the Dai Tu – La Bang area at the foot of the Tam Dao range in Thai Nguyen province, and the tea we sell each year (around 120 tonnes of dried tea) comes from different gardens, different flushes and different processing runs. The same name on a label, for example “Thai Nguyen green tea”, can cover several quality tiers.
That is why we treat minimum order, price tier and lead time as one package. A small order of a stock grade can ship almost immediately at a standard tier. A large private label order in custom tins needs printing approval, a deposit and a production slot, and its unit cost depends on how many units share the fixed costs of artwork and setup. If you understand how these pieces connect, your first quotation request will be shorter and your answer will come back faster. The overview of what we supply in bulk sits on our bulk tea export and private label page; this article explains the logic behind the numbers.
How a Vietnamese tea cooperative sets its minimum order
Stock tea: small first orders are possible
For tea we already hold in the warehouse, the minimum is set by grade and packing format rather than by a single company-wide figure. Loose leaf in standard bulk packing is the simplest case. Because the goods are already processed, checked and labelled with a traceable lot number, a buyer can start with a modest trial quantity, test it with their own customers, and then scale. We discuss the exact minimum for each grade when you contact us, since a rare grade such as single-bud tea (our Dinh Tien Vua line) is produced in much smaller volumes than an everyday green tea.
Private label and OEM: why there is a value threshold
Private label work is different. Your brand, your tin or pouch, your printed label, and sometimes your blend all have to be prepared before a single pack is filled. That is why we accept OEM orders from 20,000,000 VND per order. We state the threshold in Vietnamese dong and do not convert it ourselves, because exchange rates move and your bank’s rate is the one that matters to you.
Three rules come with private label orders. First, a deposit of 20–30% confirms the order and lets us buy packaging materials. Second, the print proof must be signed off by the buyer before production; we do not print on a verbal “looks fine”. Third, goods printed with your brand cannot be returned unless there is a manufacturing defect, because they cannot be resold to anyone else. These rules protect both sides and keep the lead time predictable.
What makes the price of Vietnamese tea move
When we prepare a quotation, six factors decide which price tier your order lands in. Knowing them helps you compare offers from different suppliers on a like-for-like basis rather than comparing a premium grade with a commercial one.
1. Grade of the tea
Thai Nguyen green tea comes in several grades. Everyday grades such as Tra Bac suit tea shops, restaurants and blending. Specialty grades, Moc Cau (curled hook-shaped leaf), Non (young shoots) and the pure-bud Dinh teas, take more hand picking and stricter sorting, so they sit in higher tiers. Beyond green tea we also offer Nui Coc black tea, Dong Tam Dao oolong, jasmine and pomelo blossom scented teas, Hanoi West Lake Hundred-Petal Lotus Anther-Scented Tea, and Tra Tam Dinh in tea bags. Each line has its own cost structure.
2. Season and flush
In northern Vietnam, tea is picked from spring through autumn, with a slower winter. Spring, summer and autumn leaves differ in tenderness, aroma and yield, and they are priced differently. Spring tea is usually the most sought after, so its volume is limited and it is committed early. If your product depends on a particular flush, say so in your request.
3. Packaging specification
Bulk cartons or foil bags cost far less per kilo than retail tins, gift boxes or tea bags. Custom printing, special inner liners, or mixed assortments add material and labour. A clear packaging brief is often the single biggest time saver in a quotation.
4. Quantity
Larger orders spread fixed costs (setup, artwork, quality checks, export paperwork) across more kilos, so unit cost usually falls as volume rises. That is what “price tiers” means in practice: the same grade quoted at different volume bands.
5. Incoterms: EXW or FOB
We quote export orders in USD on EXW or FOB terms. Under the Incoterms 2020 rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce, EXW (Ex Works) means the goods are made available at our premises and the buyer arranges almost everything after that. FOB (Free On Board) means we deliver the goods on board the vessel at the named port of shipment, including export clearance. An FOB price will therefore be higher than an EXW price for the same tea, because it includes inland transport and export formalities. Always compare quotations on the same term.
6. Documents for the destination market
Each importing country has its own paperwork. Buyers in mainland China, for example, need to consider registration under GACC Decree 280 and Chinese-language labelling; we explain both in our guides on importing Vietnamese tea to China under Decree 280 and on the Chinese label for imported Vietnamese tea. Phytosanitary certificates, certificates of origin and laboratory test reports add cost and time, and the set you need depends on your market. Our current certificates are listed on the TRAVINA certificates and licences page.
Lead times, step by step
Lead time depends on whether the tea is in stock and where it is going. Here is how we schedule orders.
Stock tea leaving the warehouse
- Orders under 100 kg: dispatched from the warehouse within 24 hours.
- Orders of 100 kg or more: dispatched within 2 days.
- Orders of one tonne or more: dispatch schedule agreed with the buyer, because we plan packing and lot allocation together.
Domestic delivery
For buyers or forwarders receiving goods inside Vietnam, delivery takes 3–5 days from the date the contract is signed. Many foreign buyers use a forwarder in Hanoi or Hai Phong; in that case this is the window to plan around.
Export shipments
For export, add the time needed for documents, plant quarantine inspection and international freight. We do not promise a fixed number of days for this part, because it depends on the port, the shipping line, the destination’s border procedures and the documents your market requires. What we can do is prepare our side quickly and tell you clearly which document is waiting on whom.
Private label orders
OEM orders take longer than stock orders. The clock starts when the deposit is received and the print proof is signed. Buying packaging materials and printing usually set the pace, so the earlier your artwork is final, the earlier we can fill and pack.
Peak season: order early before Tet
The months before Tet, the Lunar New Year, are the busiest period for Vietnamese tea. Gift boxes, tins and premium grades are in high demand inside Vietnam, and printing houses and couriers fill up. Tet 2027 falls in early February. If you need private label packaging or a large volume for year-end or Lunar New Year sales in your own market, we recommend sending your request well ahead, ideally in October or November, so that packaging and lot allocation can be locked in before the rush.
October 2026 is also a good time to meet in person. Our founder, Do Huu Thuan, will be at the Tianjin trade fair in China from 25 to 28 October 2026, and the La Bang booth will be at the Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival from 30 October to 7 November 2026. Bring your packaging ideas and volume plans, and we can talk through tiers and timing face to face.
How to send a request for quotation that gets a fast answer
The fastest quotations come from complete requests. When your first message includes the points below, we can usually reply with a firm offer instead of a list of questions.
- Tea line and grade: for example Thai Nguyen green tea (which grade), Nui Coc black tea, oolong, jasmine, lotus, or tea bags. If unsure, describe the taste and price position you need.
- Quantity: per order and expected per year. Give two or three volume bands if you want tiered prices.
- Packaging: bulk cartons, foil bags, tins, gift boxes or tea bags; net weight per unit; private label or TRAVINA brand.
- Incoterm and port: EXW or FOB, and your preferred port of loading if FOB.
- Destination country and documents: which certificates and test reports your customs authority or customers require.
- Timing: the date you need goods at the port or in your warehouse, and whether it is linked to a season such as Tet.
- Samples: whether you want samples first, and the courier address.
Samples can be sent on request. The conditions, such as any sample fee and courier cost, are confirmed when you contact us. If you would like to check the origin of what you receive, our guide on how to verify genuine Thai Nguyen tea explains what to look for, and every lot carries a traceable lot number back to its growing area in Dai Tu and La Bang.
What stays the same at every tier
Price tiers change with grade, season, packaging and volume, but some things do not. Our La Bang processing facility is certified to ISO 22000:2018 (certificate GOODVN91025.FSMS). Within our membership, 17 households farming 9.7 hectares hold VietGAP certification (DVCL-VG-TT-24-19-68); we state this separately from the cooperative’s total area so buyers can see exactly which gardens are covered. Our food safety certificate is 14/2025/UBND-NNMT-TNg and the TRAVINA trademark is registered under number 542996. If your market asks for a specific certificate on a specific lot, tell us at the quotation stage so we can allocate the right tea. For wider context on Vietnam’s export volumes and markets, see our summary of Vietnam tea export statistics for 2025, and for the bigger picture on tea as a traded crop, the FAO tea markets and trade page is a useful reference.
FAQ
What is the minimum order for Vietnamese tea from TRAVINA?
For private label and OEM work, orders start from 20,000,000 VND per order, with a 20–30% deposit. For stock tea in standard packing, the minimum depends on the grade and format, and we confirm it when you send your request.
Why don’t you publish your export prices?
Because the price of the same tea name can change with grade, flush, packaging, quantity, Incoterm and destination documents. A published list would confuse most buyers. We quote each request in USD on EXW or FOB terms after we know these details.
How fast can stock tea be shipped?
Orders under 100 kg leave our warehouse within 24 hours, orders of 100 kg or more within 2 days, and orders of one tonne or more on a schedule agreed with you. Domestic delivery takes 3–5 days from the contract date; export shipments add time for documents, quarantine and freight.
Do private label orders take longer?
Yes. Private label orders start after the deposit is received and the print proof is signed, and packaging production usually sets the pace. Goods printed with your brand cannot be returned unless there is a manufacturing defect.
What is the difference between an EXW and an FOB quotation?
Under Incoterms 2020, EXW means you collect the goods at our premises and handle transport and export clearance. FOB means we deliver the goods on board the vessel at the named port, with export clearance done. FOB prices are higher because they include those steps.
When should I order for the Lunar New Year season?
As early as possible, ideally in October or November. Packaging suppliers, printers and couriers in Vietnam are at full capacity in the weeks before Tet, so early orders lock in both the lot and the delivery date.
Sources
- International Chamber of Commerce – Incoterms® 2020
- International Chamber of Commerce – Incoterms® rules overview
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Tea: Markets and Trade
Ready to plan an order? Send us the grade, quantity, packaging, Incoterm and destination, and we will come back with a quotation and a realistic timeline. You can contact TRAVINA directly, or read more about our bulk tea export and private label service first.
