The delegation, including scientists, tea industry experts, reporters and editors from Thai Nguyen Newspaper, expressed their determination to cross the mountains to find ancient tea trees before the trip.

Yellow camellia… mountain top

Having crossed the mountain many times, we have come to the ancient tea tree on the top of Bong mountain, Minh Tien commune (Dai Tu), so we are very interested in discovering ancient tea trees in Thai Nguyen province. In 2020, the first information about the ancient tea tree on the top of Tam Dao in La Bang commune (Dai Tu) was revealed. Foresters here said that during the flowering season, in many areas on the top of the mountain, the tea flowers fall yellow in a corner of the forest, then hundreds, thousands of tea fruits appear. These flowers and tea fruits are very similar to the midland tea of ​​Thai Nguyen, making them believe that there are many large ancient tea trees on the top of Tam Dao mountain.

Tam Dao forest contains mysteries about ancient tea trees.

Based on information provided by forest rangers, in early 2025, a number of surveys were conducted by the La Bang commune authorities. Mr. Duong Van Vuong, Chairman of the La Bang Commune People's Committee, said: The survey team of La Bang commune went to the top of Tam Dao mountain range and found a population of 18 large trees and hundreds of small trees that looked very similar to tea trees.

8 hours uphill

To authenticate the ancient tea tree, we contacted Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Duy Truong, Director of the Center for Training and Research on Plant and Animal Breeding (University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen University) - the unit in charge of implementing the Project "Research, conservation and development of genetic resources of ancient tea trees in Bong Mountain, Minh Tien Commune, Dai Tu District, Thai Nguyen Province". At the same time, we contacted artisan Nguyen Thi Hai, President of Dai Tu Tea Association, President of the Board of Directors of La Bang Tea Cooperative. The delegation also included Mr. Truong Thuy Luan, Vice President of Dai Tu Tea Association, representative of Thai Nguyen Adventure tourism brand and Mr. Hua Van Thinh, Director of La Bang Tea Cooperative.

The group crossed Tam Dao mountain to find ancient tea trees.

Everyone was enthusiastic and passionate about learning about ancient tea trees, so they actively participated in organizing the trip. In particular, artisan Nguyen Thi Hai has extensive knowledge about tea and once went with the survey team of La Bang commune to the top of the mountain to find ancient tea trees. Mr. Truong Thuy Luan has experience in going to the forest, also went with the La Bang commune team and knows how to use specialized GPS to find tea trees.

The members of the delegation carried a lot of luggage.

When we knew that we intended to cross the mountain, artisan Nguyen Thi Hai warned us: To reach the ancient tea tree, the journalists must climb continuously for about 8 hours. The distance over the mountain, climbing the cliff, some sections close to the edge of the cliff are very dangerous. In addition, because the distance is long, arriving at the top is in the evening, so everyone needs to bring tents and sleeping bags to sleep overnight in the deep forest, and can only go down the mountain the next day. Along with machinery, equipment for work and personal belongings, it is estimated that each person must carry dozens of kilograms over the mountain, so the journalists need to be healthy enough to be able to go.

Although she is 60 years old, artisan Nguyen Thi Hai is still very healthy and determined to join the group searching for ancient tea trees.

Although they knew it was very difficult, hard and dangerous, with a strong determination, the group of reporters and editors of Thai Nguyen Newspaper did not give up the intention of finding the ancient tea tree. At 7:30 a.m. on a day at the end of March, the group was present at the foot of Tam Dao Mountain. Everyone wore large backpacks with full working tools, sleeping bags, and warm clothes. At nearly 8:00 a.m., the group began their journey upstream.

The path follows the Kem stream, which flows like a lyrical strand of hair.

The members of the group helped each other transport luggage through the difficult road.

And another difficulty, after more than 1 hour of climbing, the group members were exhausted, the steep slope combined with the 15kg backpack on their backs caused some members to have muscle tension, cramps, and had to drag their legs with difficulty...

The group discovered the first ancient tea tree in the Tam Dao mountain peak area.

Overcoming all difficulties, at nearly 4 pm, all members of the group reached the mountain top. Mr. Truong Thuy Luan used a GPS device and determined that this area was close to where the ancient tea tree appeared. The whole group focused on searching for the tea tree. While walking, Mr. Luan suddenly saw a tree that looked like a tea tree, so he quickly parted the leaves and walked through the forest towards it.

- Everyone, this seems to be an ancient tea tree - Mr. Luan shouted loudly.

Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Duy Truong (right) and Mr. Truong Thuy Luan survey ancient tea trees.

The whole group rushed to the tree suspected to be a tea tree. Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Duy Truong conducted a survey of the branches and leaves and concluded: This is an ancient tea tree, very similar to a precious Shan tea variety.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/cong-nghiep-ttcn/ven-man-bi-an-che-co-nui-tam-dao-thuoc-dia-phan-thai-nguyen-ky-1-hanh-trinh-vuot-nui-wlaT30TNg.html