On the evening of March 10, the opening night of the 9th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival took place in Buon Ma Thuot City. Attending the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, leaders of ministries, localities and more than ten thousand people from all over the country.

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Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the 9th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival. Photo: DT

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that the 9th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival is a very meaningful event, taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Buon Ma Thuot victory (March 10).

The coffee festival is not only an event to honor Vietnamese coffee beans, but also a global forum with a vision for a sustainable future of the coffee industry.

"Coffee is one of Vietnam's key agricultural products, providing a livelihood for millions of farmers. Vietnam is one of the world's leading coffee exporters. Coffee plays an important role in the country's economic and social development," said Mr. Ha.

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More than ten thousand people attended the opening night. Photo: DT

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Vietnamese coffee industry is still facing many major challenges such as: uneven quality; low rate of deep processing; products not yet diversified and suitable to tastes; increasing competitive pressure and market standards, typically the EU's Anti-Deforestation regulations; declining productivity due to climate change...

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that to improve the quality, brand and value of Vietnamese coffee, relevant parties need to share a common strategic vision on planning and building high-quality, low-emission coffee growing areas, and applying high technology to production and processing.

"The Vietnamese coffee industry is aiming for sustainable development, improving and extending the product value chain. In 2024, for the first time, coffee exports will exceed 5 billion USD, continuing to affirm its position as the second largest coffee supplier in the world, after Brazil," Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha added.

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Art performance to celebrate the opening night. Photo: DT

Ms. Huynh Thi Chien Hoa, Standing Deputy Secretary of Dak Lak Provincial Party Committee, said that the festival is an opportunity to honor coffee producers, exporters and traders. This is an opportunity for tourists and delegates to learn about the unique culture of the great forest space.

"This is the 9th time Dak Lak province has organized the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival, the biggest event of the Vietnamese coffee industry, to promote specialty coffee, boost trade and tourism in the Central Highlands region," said Ms. Hoa.

Arriving in Vietnam in 1857, coffee trees have become a unique cultural feature of the land and people of the Central Highlands, a symbol of exchange and connection between Vietnam and the world.

Up to now, Dak Lak province has contributed about 18% of export turnover. The famous brand and geographical indication "Buon Ma Thuot Coffee" has been present in more than 80 countries and territories around the world.