Da Lat's Tea Festival in December and Surrounding Areas
Da Lat's Tea Festival in December and Surrounding Areas
Every two years in December, Da Lat and Lam Dong province celebrate their tea industry: picking contests, exhibitions, tastings and plantation visits.
Every two years, in December, Da Lat and Lam Dong province host a Tea Festival that showcases one of the Central Highlands' major agricultural sectors. Picking contests, exhibitions, sports activities and tasting workshops fill 3 to 4 days of events spread across the city and nearby production zones, notably B'Lao (Bao Loc) and Cau Dat.
Why Attend Da Lat's Tea Festival
The festival offers privileged access to an agricultural world rarely open to the public: plantations, processing workshops, picking methods and Vietnamese tea preparation techniques. Since 2017, it has been paired with Da Lat's Flower Festival, broadening the program and welcoming more international visitors. The timing also coincides with the dry season on the highlands, ideal for strolls through the tea gardens.
The event remains intimate in scale: it primarily attracts producers, tea enthusiasts and Vietnamese visitors, with growing but still measured international attendance.
The History of Tea in Lam Dong Region
Lam Dong province boasts approximately 26,000 hectares of tea plantations, making it one of Vietnam's major production basins. B'Lao tea, produced around Bao Loc, has been appreciated for over 50 years on both domestic and export markets. The Cau Dat Tea Company, founded some 80 years ago in the highlands southeast of Da Lat (at altitudes exceeding 1,500 m), remains a historic player in the sector and continues to operate parcels dating back to the colonial era.
To enhance this agricultural heritage, the province established a Tea Culture Festival, whose merger with the Flower Festival in 2017 widened its audience.
What to See During the Festival
The Tea Picking Contest
This is the most-watched event. Ten teams of four local pickers compete according to strict criteria: speed, quality of young shoots harvested, precision of technique. A special "Golden Hand" award recognizes the best individual picking technique.
Exhibitions and Artistic Programs
- B'Lao children's painting contest, featuring tea garden landscapes and local culture.
- The "Fly High with the Voice of Tea Country" arts festival, blending musical performances with visual exhibitions.
- Street parades and craft exhibitions (silk, basketry, tea-derived products).
Sports Events and Popular Activities
- The tea village football tournament, featuring teams from major tea-producing communes.
- Tennis tournaments and urban activities ("Rhythms of the Young City").
- Guided tastings and Vietnamese tea preparation demonstrations.
When to Go
The festival runs every two years, typically in December, lasting 3 to 4 days. Exact dates are announced by provincial authorities several months in advance. December marks the dry season on the highlands: cool temperatures (often 10-20°C in Da Lat), low humidity, morning mists over the plantations. Pack a fleece for evenings and a windbreaker for high-altitude visits.
Practical Information
Main activities take place in Da Lat and Bao Loc, about 2 hours' drive south. Some plantation visits are free or moderately priced, others require booking directly with producers (notably Cau Dat Tea Company). Entry to most concerts, contests and exhibitions is free.
Book your accommodation several weeks ahead: the city fills up during the combined Tea Festival / Flower Festival period.
How to Get There
- Air: Domestic flights to Liên Khuong Airport (DLI), 30 km from Da Lat, then transfer by taxi, shuttle or bus (around 45 minutes).
- Bus or car: from Ho Chi Minh City (about 6 hours) or Nha Trang (about 3.5 hours), via winding highland routes.
- Train: No long-distance rail line reaches Da Lat. The simplest route is to take the train to Nha Trang or Thap Cham, then continue by bus or taxi (3.5 to 4 hours).
- Local transport: Taxis, motorcycle taxis, scooter rentals and local buses serve festival sites and surrounding plantations.
What to See Nearby
The region is ideal for an extended stay combining nature, plantations and other southern Vietnam sites. Near Da Lat, the Cau Dat plantations, Tuyen Lam Lake and the Valley of Love offer worthwhile detours. To expand your itinerary, several Vietnam sites complement a visit: the botanical garden and zoo, Buu Long Mountain and Long An, the Cai Rang floating market in the Mekong Delta, or Bà Den Mountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
No. It takes place every two years, typically in December, and is now paired with Da Lat's Flower Festival since 2017.
Most concerts, contests and exhibitions are free. Some guided plantation tours or tasting workshops may be ticketed at modest rates.
Yes. The Cau Dat and B'Lao (Bao Loc) plantations welcome visitors year-round. Guided visits can be arranged directly with producers or through a local agency.
Da Lat remains the primary hub thanks to its hotel selection. For spending more time in the plantations, Bao Loc is a more rural alternative, 2 hours to the south.
Plan Your Trip
The Tea Festival fits naturally into an itinerary combining the highlands, central and southern Vietnam. To design a tailor-made trip around Da Lat and Lam Dong plantations, explore our Vietnam travel suggestions.
Interested in this visit?
We can include it in your personalised itinerary.
