As flavorful as tea
Nestled between the Tam Dao range and the northern extremities of the arcs of the Ngan Son and Bac Son mountains, Thai Nguyen serves as a transitional zone, bridging the mountainous regions and the plains. This province is a gateway to the highlands of Viet Bac. Located just over 70 kilometers from central Hanoi, Thai Nguyen is easily accessible via a modern expressway that has significantly reduced travel time to approximately one hour. Despite its proximity to the capital, Thai Nguyen city and its surroundings retain a mystical forest atmosphere that envelops visitors in nature’s embrace. This semi-mountainous area remains relatively undiscovered, its true value only fully appreciated by those who venture to explore its unique landscapes.

Inhabited since prehistoric times, Thai Nguyen became a district during the Lý dynasty and a province during the Tran dynasty, serving as a guardian of the northern flanks of the capital Thang Long (modern-day Hanoi). Emperor Minh Mang established Thai Nguyen as a province in 1831, making it a significant administrative and military center during the Nguyen dynasty and the French colonial period. Migrants from the lowlands settled and cultivated this region, creating a unique agricultural area.

The soil in Thai Nguyen city and districts like Dong Hy, Dai Tu and Phu Luong is particularly suitable for tea cultivation, establishing Thai Nguyen’s reputation as a tea-producing region. The saying “chè Thái, gái Tuyên” (Thai Nguyen is famous for its delicious tea, and Tuyen Quang is known for its beautiful women) is well-known in Vietnam, praising the quality of Thai Nguyen’s tea and the beauty and diligence of women from neighboring Tuyen Quang province.

The vast, flat land of Thai Nguyen is an ancient alluvial terrace formed by the Cau River, which originates from Bac Kan province and flows through Thai Nguyen to Bac Ninh. However, the province’s most famous river is the Cong River, a tributary of the Cau River, originating from the Tam Dao range. This river is linked to a legendary love story about a shepherd named Coc and a mandarin’s daughter named Cong.

Modern ingenuity created Nui Coc Reservoir, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Thai Nguyen. Viewed from above, the scenery is spectacular, with green hills like emeralds floating in the clear blue water, evoking the words of a famous old song: “The sun rises, turning the legendary scene green, listening to an old story of a young couple…” (Legend of Nui Coc Lake – Pho Duc Phuong).
Thai Nguyen was the site of significant historical events that shaped modern Vietnam. In 1917, the Thai Nguyen Uprising, led by Doi Can and Luong Ngoc Quyen, marked a key moment in the 20th-century fight for national liberation. The forests of Thai Nguyen were a refuge for training anti-Japanese soldiers during the August Revolution in 1945 and held the base of the Dinh Hoa Safety Zone. This zone served as the “capital” of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s government during most of the anti-French resistance movement (1947-1954).