The lush green of tea leaves, the pure white of flowers and the vibrant colours of traditional costumes blended with music to create a distinctive street cultural spectacle.
More than 1,000 participants, including models, artists, actors, actresses and community representatives dressed in Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) and ethnic costumes, joined the parade and performances.
Under the theme “Vietnamese tea – A thousand years of quintessence”, the event was staged as a moving artistic journey, combining visual design, fashion, music, choreography and traditional performances.
Six elaborately decorated floats served not merely as visual attractions but as six successive chapters, portraying the origins of tea cultivation, growing regions, processing traditions and the cultural values preserved across generations.
Leading the procession was the float “Thai Nguyen – Land of the Finest Tea”, featuring a giant teapot, five teacups and stylised layers of tea-covered hills. The five teacups symbolised the province's five renowned tea-growing regions: Tan Cuong, La Bang, Trai Cai, Khe Coc and Dong Phuc. The teapot evoked the tradition of offering tea, hospitality and togetherness, extending a warm welcome from Thai Nguyen to friends from near and far.
The procession continued with distinctive stories from each tea-growing region. “Tan Cuong – Sowing the seeds of famous tea” recreated the origins of the tea-growing area through the story of Doi Nam, who brought tea seedlings to the region and laid the foundations for its development. “La Bang – Mountains nurturing the aroma of tea” evoked the mountainous landscape at the foot of Tam Dao, where natural conditions contribute to the distinctive qualities of local tea. Meanwhile, “Trai Cai – Preserving the fragrance of tea” highlighted traditional processing techniques and the passing down of tea-making skills between generations.
In addition, “Khe Coc – Keeping the tea hills green” conveyed a message about protecting tea-growing areas, the production environment and community livelihoods.
Concluding the journey was “Dong Phuc – Shan Tuyet tea amid the clouds”, recreating the highland tea-growing landscape alongside the colourful cultural traditions of local ethnic communities.
Notably, each float featured a distinctive central symbol, making its story immediately recognisable. Through graceful movements, performers depicted the handing over of tea seedlings, the careful handling and harvesting of tender tea buds, and the passing of tea baskets from older generations to younger ones, bringing the stories of traditional tea cultivation vividly to life.
Designer Han Phuong, founder of the Viet Phuong Ao Dai brand, served as director of the parade to open the festival” and was responsible for designing and producing the six artistic floats.
Reflecting on the preparations, she said the greatest challenge was transforming cultural stories rooted in everyday life into expressive artistic symbols capable of making an impact in a large public space.
The creative team therefore adopted a guiding principle: floats create symbols, costumes express identity, people bring vitality, and communities extend the reach of cultural values.
The performances were designed to be concise and focused on distinctive imagery, enabling audiences to recognise the story of each tea-growing region.
The parade took place shortly after Thai Nguyen's tea culture reached an important milestone. On October 27, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially inscribed the Knowledge of Thai Nguyen Tea Cultivation and Processing on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The recognition honours the experience, knowledge and traditional practices preserved and passed down by local communities over generations. These traditions are found throughout the province, particularly in the five major tea-growing regions of Tan Cuong, La Bang, Khe Coc, Trai Cai and Dong Phuc.
The organisers also announced that the artistic floats would be displayed at the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cultural Centre after the parade, creating a space where visitors can take photographs, learn about the province's tea-growing regions and explore its cultural heritage. The display is expected to further promote local culture and tourism.
Running from October 30 to November 7, the Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival 2026 features 16 cultural, tourism, trade promotion and international exchange activities. Coinciding with the 195th anniversary of the establishment of Thai Nguyen Province, the event aims to honour Vietnamese tea culture, promote the province's tea brands and boost tourism development.
