A vast forest of ancient tea trees - some over 100 years old - has been discovered atop Ta Dung Mountain in Dak Nong province, covering an area of approximately 300 hectares with an estimated 28,000 trees, according to officials at Ta Dung National Park.

On May 3, Khương Thanh Long, Director of Ta Dung National Park, confirmed that the rare tea forest is now the subject of a provincial-level research project titled “Native tea species of Ta Dung National Park.”

Long explained that the initial discovery occurred around 20 years ago, when local forest dwellers stumbled upon several unusually large tea trees. At the time, they did not realize the vast extent of the tea population in the area.

“Current data shows the tea forest spans 300 hectares, with about 28,000 individual trees. Some trees reach up to 25 meters in height and have trunks as wide as 40 centimeters. Most are very old, with many over a century in age,” Long said.

Due to a lack of funding in the past, no official survey had been conducted until recently. Park rangers occasionally brewed tea from the leaves during forest patrols and found that Ta Dung tea has a notably bitter taste, yet is fragrant and delicious once brewed.

Located nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, Ta Dung National Park covers over 20,000 hectares and is known for its rich biodiversity. The park boasts more than 1,400 plant species, including 89 endangered species and 59 listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book. Valuable medicinal plants like lan kim tuyến (Anoectochilus), nấm ngọc cẩu (Balanophora), and lingzhi mushrooms (Ganoderma) thrive here.

Ta Dung is also home to approximately 650 animal species, with 70 classified as endangered, and 61 recognized in the national Red Book, including rare birds and mammals.

In addition to its forest biodiversity, the park features a stunning 6,000-hectare lake system with dozens of islands, earning it the nickname “Ha Long Bay of the Central Highlands.”

With its cool, clean air, breathtaking landscapes, and unique cultural elements, Ta Dung National Park is becoming an increasingly popular destination for ecotourism and nature lovers seeking off-the-beaten-path experiences in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Hai Duong