Phong Lai Commune, Thuan Chau District (Son La) is located right at the foot of Pha Din Pass, a place blessed with favorable climate and soil, known as the "land of green tea".

Phong Lai is the commune with the largest tea area in Thuan Chau district with 750 hectares of tea, the two main types of tea are Oolong tea and green tea. Due to the suitability to the local terrain, soil and climate conditions, along with the application of strict technical procedures for planting, caring, harvesting, producing and processing, tea products grown in Thuan Chau district have many differences and advantages over tea from other localities, with a natural green color, light aroma and a rich, mild taste.

Tea trees have firmly established their position as a key crop in socio-economic development, improving the lives of people in Phong Lai commune. Up to now, the Thai, Mong, Kinh ethnic groups... in villages such as Pa Chap, Khau Lay, Thu Vu... have actively developed and expanded the tea growing area. Thanks to tea trees, Phong Lai people, especially Mong people, have abandoned backward customs and practices, and settled down. Along with growing fruit trees, people focus on intensive tea cultivation. Tea fields are increasingly expanding on the hillsides, becoming the main source of income for the ethnic people here. Tea trees have helped people's lives become more and more stable and developed.

In particular, to promote potential and strengths to meet the requirements of international integration, in recent years, many companies, enterprises, and cooperatives producing and trading tea have joined in cooperation, guiding tea growers in Phong Lai to apply advanced and modern technology from planting, caring, and processing according to VietGAP standards, ensuring that production materials meet food safety standards. Typical units are: Than Nga Agricultural Products Company Limited, Thu Dan Tea Company, Phong Lai Tea Cooperative... Thanks to this cooperation, the economic efficiency obtained from tea production and trading activities has been significantly improved.

Through many ups and downs, up to now, tea trees in Phong Lai have proven to be one of the main crops contributing to sustainable poverty reduction. Farmers here always pay attention to tea trees by investing in new varieties, applying scientific and technical advances to intensive cultivation, renovating and planting new trees and building brands.

People of Phong Lai commune harvest tea.

In addition, the vast green tea fields along with the fragrance of the Northwest mountains and forests attract many domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy and check in. The image of women carrying bags on their shoulders, their hands nimbly and skillfully picking tea buds has also attracted the curiosity and interest of tourists who want to learn and experience the tea production method. Thereby, more and more foreign tourists love the culinary products of the Northwest in particular and Vietnam in general. The tea trees of Phong Lai commune have contributed significantly to promoting the tea drinking culture, a very unique cultural feature of our country, to visitors from all over the world.

Tea trees are developed, bringing a large source of income for people.

The Thuan Chau District Race route passes through the tea hills of Phong Lai commune.

Tourists experience tea picking at the tea hill in Phong Lai commune.

HCurrently, Phong Lai has 2 tea products that meet the provincial 4-star OCOP standard, including Oolong Tea of ​​Thu Dan Tea Company Limited and Trong Nguyen Tea of ​​Binh Thuan General Production, Trading and Service Cooperative.

Phong Lai tea products have not only built their own brand but are also increasingly developing in the market and becoming one of the key, typical products under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program; helping Phong Lai escape poverty and thereby become the most economically developed commune in Thuan Chau district, Son La province.

According to: Economic & Beverage Electronic Magazine