Phong Tho, a border district with China in the northwestern province of Lai Chau, is home to over 8,000 ancient tea trees, the largest number of such trees in the region.
The ancient tea trees, which are several hundreds years old, grow on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range at an altitude of about 2,000 metres above sea level. (Photo: VNA)
LaiChau (VNS/VNA) ﷺ- Phong Tho, a border district with China inthe northwestern province of Lai Chau, is home to over 8,000ancient tea trees, the largest numberof such trees in the region.
The ancient trees areconcentrated mainly in six communes - Mo Si San, Si Lo Lau, Pa Vay Su, Tung QuaLin, Sin Suoi, Ho, and Hoang Then. Mo Si San commune,about 80km from Lai Chau city and over 2,000m above sea level, has more than1,700 trees, some of which are up to 900 years old. The unique climate andsoil conditions of the commune gives the drink made from these ancient teatrees a distinctive flavour. In Mo Si San, villagers harvest tea only once a year, from lateFebruary to April, when the ancient trees yield the best quality leaves.Additionally, due to the year-round cloud cover and low temperature at highaltitudes, the trees here can only produce new leaves during this time of theyear. A specialty of theregion is the wild Shan Tuyet tea that grows at altitudes from 2,000-2,500mabove sea level. These trees are considered treasures and have been nurtured bythe Dao ethnic community in Mo Si San. The leaves of Shan Tuyettea always have a fine and thick layer of hair, which when dried turns white,resembling a layer of snow. Phong Tho district has boasted four tea products - white, black,yellow and green tea. Among them three are ancient tea products - Shan Mo SiSan black, yellow and green tea have been recognised as a high qualityspecialty of Lai Chau province. With prices rangingfrom 2-3 million VND (81-122 USD) per kilogramme, the dried wild tea leaves have brought significant income tolocal farmers. According to Nguyen Canh Duc, deputyhead of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Phong Tho district,a project for the development and protection of ancient tea trees has beenimplemented in the region.
The district hassuccessfully planted 25 hectares of new tea trees of ancient varieties in Hoang Then commune, whilecontinuing to preserve the existing 8,000 ancient tea trees./. .
A ceremony was held in Suoi Giang commune, Van Chan district, the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai on September 20 to honour ancient tea tree, as part of the Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Week.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
The ancient tea trees, which are several hundreds years old, grow on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range at an altitude of about 2,000 metres above sea level. (Photo: VNA) 
