The event is co-organised by the Hue Tourism Department, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre and partner units, with support from the Viet Nam Tea Association (VITAS) and the ASEAN Tea Organisation (ATO).
The three-day festival, held from December 10 to 12, features a diverse programme, including the opening ceremony and a symposium titled Tea in the Flow of Culture and Creativity; a tea exhibition showcasing products ranging from traditional brews to modern creations such as bubble tea, tea cocktails, tea-based cosmetics and tea-pairing dishes; and the Teatender–Modern Tea Mixing competition promoting the local Truoi tea as a contemporary Vietnamese specialty.
The festival also includes artistic tea performances, cultural exchanges, a wellness-themed session Drink Tea – A Journey of Reconnection, and a re-enactment of the royal Ngu Tra Hoang Cung ritual. The closing ceremony will be accompanied by the artistic programme Nguyet Vu Tra Hoa.
The opening at Cung Truong Sanh served as a striking highlight, with a live-stage setting designed as a lush tea garden at the heart of the heritage site. Nature, ancient architecture and performance art blended to create a vivid tableau that evoked the refinement of imperial traditions while embracing the spirit of a modern cultural festival.
According to the organisers, the event goes beyond promoting an agricultural product, positioning itself as a cultural journey that honours Vietnamese tea art and supports the development of wellness tourism in Viet Nam.
Hue Tourism Director Tran Thi Hoai Tram noted that the festival aims to connect Vietnamese and international tea artisans, inspire innovation and establish a signature annual event that enhances Hue’s cultural identity and global tourism appeal.
