CVCEC meets Vietnamese tea artisan Nguyen Ngoc Tuan in Toronto

Tuan, who describes himself as a “wanderer,” has spent more than 30 years promoting Vietnamese tea culture. His work has taken him from Hanoi to Ta Xua and Lung Phin in northern Vietnam, to southern Vietnam and eventually to North America.

Seated at a traditional tea table with clay teapots, accompanied by the dan nguyet, or moon lute, Tuan spoke about more than brewing techniques. He described tea as a practice of patience, stillness, connection and reflection.

One question continues to guide his work: “Why is Vietnamese tea so exceptional, yet the world has not fully recognized its true value?”

For Vietnamese communities abroad, CVCEC said, tea is a reminder of home and a way to keep cultural traditions alive across generations.

CVCEC thanked Tuan for the conversation and invited people in Canada to follow its upcoming cultural programs.