In Pa Co commune of Mai Chau district, apart from 82ha of 'shan tuyet' teas grown several decades ago, there are also ancient plants aged more than 100 years, mostly in Pa Hang Lon and Pa Co hamlets. The local tea with its distinctive flavour has become a consumer preference. Besides, the ancient plants are also favourite check-in places of tourists at present.
Residents in Pa Co hamlet in Pa Co commune, Mai Chau district, harvest 'shan tuyet' tea buds from old plants.
Pa Co commune is blessed with a cool climate,
foggy and cold winter, and high humidity in forest, which are favourable
conditions for teas to grow and acquire special quality. In its Pa Hang Lon hamlet, the ancient plant
area is surrounded by forest. Villagers said most of the ancient plants here
are more than 100 years old.
Mua A Senh, a 93-year-old man in Pa Hang Lon
hamlet, said the plants grow wildly, and no one knows when they came into
being. In the past, people often picked and dried fresh buds to use as a daily
beverage and as a gift for distinguished guests. Tea has formed part of the
daily life and culture of the local Mong ethnic people for hundreds of years,
and drying tea is also a craft dating back that long.
The ancient plants in Pa Co commune belong to
the variety of 'shan tuyet', whose buds are covered with as-white-as-snow hairs
that still remain even after being dried. Taking a sip of the clear yellow
drink, people can feel its light bitter and fragrant taste with sweetness still
lingering for a long time.
Sung A Pao, a resident in Pa Hang Lon hamlet,
said that previously, tea plants grew wildly and some were even 6 metres high.
Later, realising consumers’ preference for tea from ancient plants, locals have
boosted organic practices to care for the plants. They do not use pesticide or
chemical fertiliser so as to retain the tea’s natural flavour.
Villagers have to stand on ladders to pick the
buds on the tips of high and long branches of big ancient plants. Every year, a
plant could be harvested for three times, each of which people can pick 10 -
13kg of fresh buds, equivalent to 6 - 7kg of dried tea.
Phang A Truong, a resident in Pa Co hamlet, said
with four plants about 100 years old, his family is among those having the most
ancient tea plants in the hamlet. As the plants are heritage passed down from
their ancestors, they have been cherished very much, protected, and harvested
carefully. Despite low productivity, these plants produce delicious tea with
prices of 250,000 - 300,000 VND (10.1 - 12.1 USD) per kg, bringing about high
profit for locals.
To capitalise on those ancient plants, the
farmers’ union of Pa Co commune has opened training courses to give caring
instructions to local residents. There are nearly 100 ancient tea plants across
the commune at present, generating over 200kg of buds each year and becoming a
considerable source of income for many households.
Chairman of the Pa Co Commune People’s Committee
Sung A Sia noted that ancient tea plants previously scattered across hamlets
but now, they concentrate on an area of about 6ha in Pa Hang Lon and Pa Co
hamlets. To maintain and optimise the ancient plant area, the local authorities
have encouraged people to adopt organic practices and develop a typical tea
product of the locality so as to gradually build a brand and improve product
value.
Local people across Hoa Binh province enjoyed the festive spirit of the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tet) with joy, cultural traditions, and heartfelt family gatherings.
During this Lunar New Year (Tet), residents of Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district are joyfully celebrating the arrival of spring with various festive activities. Along the main road of the commune, a newly installed solar-powered streetlight system stands out, completed just before Tet. Funded by Agribank Hoa Binh with a total investment of approximately 80 million VND (over 3,100 USD), the project has already proven beneficial. Not only does it enhance the rural landscape, but it also improves road safety and security, adding to the New Year’s cheer for the people of Vay Nua.
Nestled in Tan Lac district, Van Son commune boasts a breathtaking landscape reminiscent of a serene, poetic painting. Winding roads gracefully embrace the hillsides, enhancing the commune’s natural charm. As spring spreads its vibrant colours, the lives of local people continue to improve day by day.
The trade union of Hoa Binh province’s industrial parks has presented meaningful gifts to workers with difficulties, ensuring that they will have a warm Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's report, in 2024, the appropriate authorities regularly propagated and disseminated forest protection management, forest development, and forest fire prevention and fighting.
The Lunar New Year, At Ty, 2025 is approaching. The gardeners in the peach growing area of Toan Son commune (Da Bac) are busy transporting, bringing spring to every home. Throughout the villages, peaches are grown everywhere, gradually becoming an effective economic model to help the people have a warm and full spring with their families.
