Chiềng Sơn commune, a border area in Sơn La province, with its unique advantages in land and mild climate, has been effectively developing the economy from tea cultivation – a traditional industrial crop – while continuously innovating and enhancing its value to suit both domestic and international markets. In recent years, tea cultivation has not only been a "green gold mine" improving the lives of the people but has also become a symbol of sustainable economic development and a driving force for socio-economic development in the border region.

Farmers in Chiềng Sơn commune are harvesting tea.

From afar, Chieng Son appears to be covered in the vast green of tea hills, creating a beautiful and vibrant natural landscape. Across the hillsides, the sounds of laughter and conversation blend with the sounds of harvesting, as skillful hands nimbly pick each tender tea bud – the precious ingredient for producing delicious tea products. For the people here, tea is not only a source of livelihood but also a source of pride, representing economic development and a deep connection to their homeland.

Mr. Truong Vinh Linh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chieng Son commune, emphasized: "Tea trees play a key role in the agricultural economic structure of the commune, creating a stable source of income and improving the lives of the people. The People's Committee of the commune has been implementing comprehensive solutions to sustainably develop tea cultivation, such as encouraging the application of organic and VietGAP-compliant tea planting and care processes, attracting investment from businesses and cooperatives, and supporting processing and consumption of products with long-term guaranteed purchase contracts."

The advanced tea production system of Chieng Ve Tea Joint Stock Company.

Currently, Chieng Son has established a tea-growing area of ​​nearly 340 hectares, with an annual production of nearly 5,000 tons of fresh tea leaves. The price of fresh tea leaves remains stable at 5,500 to 6,000 VND/kg, contributing to the peace of mind and long-term commitment of the people to tea cultivation. From Nam Den village, the harmonious blend of the lush green of fruit orchards and verdant tea rows, like soft silk ribbons embracing the hillsides, further highlights the image of this fertile and potentially rich land.

Mr. Hoang Van Tuan, a typical farmer in Nam Den village, shared: “My family cultivates nearly 8,000 m² of Shan Tuyet tea, yielding about 15 tons per year, with an income of over 70 million VND from tea cultivation. Recently, many households have invested in modern machinery such as tea cutting machines to save labor and increase productivity, contributing to improved economic efficiency.”

One of the key factors contributing to the success of Chieng Son tea is the formation of a closed production chain, from growers to processing businesses and the consumer market. Companies and cooperatives in the area not only undertake the role of purchasing and processing, but also provide technical and financial support to farmers. A typical example is Chieng Ve Tea Joint Stock Company, which has proactively advanced fertilizer to growers and encouraged the utilization of by-products from livestock and crop farming to lower production costs and improve economic efficiency.

Mr. Nguyen Van Khiem, Director of Chieng Ve Tea Joint Stock Company, said: “The company maintains a raw material area of ​​over 300 hectares, mainly with Shan Tuyet tea variety. We are committed to purchasing the entire tea production at a stable price of 6,000 VND/kg. To meet the increasingly high demands of the market, the company has invested in modern processing lines, improving product quality, enhancing working conditions for employees, and increasing labor productivity. After harvesting, the tea is transported promptly to the factory, ensuring a strict production process to create high-quality products for export to demanding markets such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Japan, and South Korea.”

The coordinated efforts between local Party committees and authorities, along with the dynamism of businesses and the people, have created a remarkable leap forward for tea cultivation in Chieng Son. This is not only an effective economic development model but also contributes to protecting the ecological environment, preserving the cultural traditions of the border region, and building sustainable new rural areas.

Looking to the future, Chieng Son aims to expand tea cultivation areas in a clean, environmentally friendly manner, applying high-tech science and technology in production and processing to improve product quality, thereby expanding export markets and diversifying tea products. The commune also focuses on technical training, technology transfer, and developing production and consumption linkages to ensure stable income and improve the lives of its people.

In Chieng Son, tea plants are not merely an economic crop but have become a symbol of change and the strong development of a border commune. Through this, tea cultivation contributes to improving living standards, maintaining border security, and creating momentum for sustainable socio-economic development in this challenging yet potentially rich region.

Thus, from a traditional crop, tea in Chieng Son has become an economic "lever," building a unique brand and value, while contributing to enhancing the position of this border commune on the map of sustainable agricultural development in Son La province in particular and the whole country in general. The efforts of the people, the government, and businesses are affirming that tea is the core of development, a source of livelihood, and a sustainable economic driving force for Chieng Son today and in the future.