Ancient shan tuyet tea trees in Sung Do commune, Van Chan district of the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai have been recognised as Vietnam’s heritage trees by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment. A ceremony to receive the recognition was held in the locality on September 23.

Sung Do tea complex is now home to over 100 ancient shan tuyet tea trees. The trees are grown in an area of 70 ha at an altitude of over 1,600m on Hoang Lien Son mountain range in the northern region. The favourable geography, terrain and weather conditions have been the key to the development of tea trees which produce the shan tuyet variety. The trees, along with natural landscape and cultural traits of the Mong ethnic people, are hoped to bolster ecological and exploratory tourism in Sung Do commune in the coming time, thus opening up a new development direction for locals./.