Introduction to Tea Growing Areas in Northwest Vietnam
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Tea has been produced and consumed in Vietnam for more than 1000 years. Many styles of tea including Green, Black, White, "Puerh", Oolong and more are produced in Vietnam today. Old growth, wild origin tea trees can be found in many provinces in North/ Northwest Vietnam including Sơn La, Yên Bái, Hà Giang, Lào Cai, Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Tuyên Quang and Hòa Bình. Tea in these areas is most commonly produced by people of the Dao, H'Mông and Kinh ethnicities. The purpose of this article is to give a brief introduction to the more established wild-origin tea producing areas in Vietnam. For additional information and resources on Vietnamese tea, please feel free to get in touch with us and we can point you in the right direction!
Sơn La
Located to the west and a bit north of Hà Nội, Sơn La has some great areas that produce wild origin tea. Sơn La has a border with Yên Bái to the north and Điện Biên to the west. Tà Xùa is the most well known tea producing area here. Tà Xùa in the H'Mông language roughly translates to "Tea Area' or "Tea Hill". Bản Bẹ is the most famous tea tree area in Tà Xùa. Chờ Lồng on the other side of the Đà (Black) River also has some nice tea tree gardens. Most of the tea tree areas in the greater Tà Xùa area are at altitudes of 1000-1500m. There are also some lesser known gardens at 1800m+ near the border with Yên Bái Province. The people living and producing tea in the wild origin tea tree areas in Sơn La are primarily of the H'Mông ethnicity.
Yên Bái
Located north of Sơn La and South of Lào Cai/ Hà Giang provinces, Yên Bái has a some wonderful wild origin tea areas. Most of the more well known tea producing areas are surrounding Nghĩa Lộ city with Suối Giàng being the most famous. Sùng Đô and Phình Hồ areas although less famous than Suối Giàng also produce some excellent teas and have noticeable terroir differences when compared to teas from Suối Giàng. Many of the good tea tree areas in Yên Bái are at elevations of 1000-1500m. The people living and producing tea in the wild origin tea tree areas in Yên Bái are primarily of the H'Mông ethnicity.
Hà Giang
Hoàng Su Phì
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Vị Xuyên
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Eastern Hà Giang
Hà Giang province is located to the north of Yên Bái and west of Lào Cai provinces while also sharing a border with Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in China to the north. Hà Giang province is the largest wild origin tea area by land mass and also the largest producer by volume of wild origin tea in Vietnam. The two primary tea producing districts in Hà Giang are Vị Xuyên and Hoàng Su Phì which include and surround Tây Côn Lĩnh mountain . There is also some great tea being made in some areas in eastern Hà Giang such as Lũng Phìn. Good tea tree areas in Hà Giang can be found at 1000-2000m+. The people living and producing tea in the wild origin tea tree areas in Hà Giang are primarily of the Dao and H'Mông ethnicities.
Laò Cai
Western Lào Cai
Eastern Lào Cai
Lào Cai province is located to the west of Hà Giang and east of Lai Châu provinces while also sharing a border with Honghe Hani/ Yi and Wenshan Zhuang/ Miao Autonomous Prefectures to the North. Lao Cài along and Lai Châu provinces are home to the Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range which include the tallest mountain in Vietnam, Phan Xi Păng which rises to 3,143m at its summit. The three main districts in Laò Cai that produce wild origin tea are Bắc Hà, Mương Khường and Bát Xát. The Red River runs through the center of Lào Cai province and the good tea areas are in the mountainous regions running parallel to the river. Although not as well known as some areas in Hà Giang, Yên Bái and Sơn La provinces, there is some excellent tea being made in Lào Cai with some areas such as Tả Củ Tỷ gaining in recognition in only the past few years. Good tea tree areas in Lào Cai can be found at 1000-2000m+. The people living and producing tea in the wild origin tea tree areas in Lào Cai are primarily of the Dao and H'Mông ethnicities.
Lai Châu
Phong Thổ
Tam Đường and Sìn Hồ
Lai Châu province is located west of Lào Cai and north of Sơn La, Yên Bái and Điện Biên provinces. Lai Châu has a border with Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in China to the north. Lai Châu and Lào Cai provinces are home to the Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range which include the tallest mountain in Vietnam, Phan Xi Păng which rises to 3,143m at its summit. There are many areas along the Hoàng Liên Sơn Mountain range that include some lesser explored wild origin, old growth tea tree areas. Many wild varietal (non-Sinensis) tea trees can be found at elevations above 1800m here. There are 3 primary districts in Lai Châu that produce wild origin tea; Phong Thổ, Sìn Hồ and Tam Đường. Good tea tree areas in Lai Châu can be found at 1000-2000m+. The people living and producing tea in the wild origin tea tree areas in Lài Châu are primarily of the Dao and H'Mông ethnicities.
Điện Biên
Điện Biên province is located to the west of Sơn La and Điện Biên provinces while also sharing a border with Phongsaly province in Laos to the west. The most popular wild-origin tea producing areas in Điện Biên province are located in Tủa Chùa district directly south and then west of the Đà river. Many teas produced here are said to have similar characteristics to teas from Phongsaly, Laos, and Yiwu, China. Many of the good tea tree areas in Điện Biên can be found at 1000-1500m. The people living and producing tea in the wild origin tea tree areas in Điện Biên are primarily of the H'Mông ethnicity.