(From L) A nun from Da Nang joins Bill Gates, his girlfriend Paula Hurd, and tea artiste Hoang Anh Suong for a tea meditation session on Ban Co mountain peak in Da Nang on March 6, 2024. Photo courtesy of Hoang Anh Suong’s Facebook page
Da Nang plans to start tea meditation tours to Mount Ban Co, where American billionaire Bill Gates learned the traditional art of making tea while holidaying in March.
The Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches Management Board, which has been tasked with creating the tour, said visitors would learn the art of making and enjoying traditional tea in the style of the ancient upper class under the guidance of a master.
Besides savoring tea, visitors can also spot rare red-shanked douc langurs and take in panoramic views of the city from the mountain top.
It hopes to attract affluent visitors interested in experiencing Vietnamese culture and tea ceremonies, the board added.
Following Gates’ visit, Ban Co quickly gained recognition on the global tourism map, drawing interest from foreign visitors.
Gates and his girlfriend Paula Hurd spent 80 minutes learning about Vietnamese tea and meditation on the mountain peak along with artisan Hoang Anh Suong.
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A fairy chess board on top of Ban Co mountain in Da Nang’s Son Tra Peninsula. Photo by Read/Nguyen Dong |
Standing 700 meters above sea level, Ban Co Mountain is the highest point on the Son Tra Peninsula.
Vietnam’s tea culture is deeply rooted in history and the country is considered a cradle of world tea culture along with China and Japan.
It is home to vast old tea gardens in the provinces of Ha Giang, Son La, Yen Bai, and Lai Chau, with some tea bush dating back 500-600 years.
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