On November 30, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) hosted the "GEN TEA 2025 – Ignite the Soul of Tea, Spark the Youth Spirit" competition. Aimed at honoring Vietnamese tea culture and inspiring creativity and entrepreneurship among the youth, the competition created a nationwide startup playground for students centered around tea. The event was also a key activity within the framework of the World T.E.A Fest 2025 International Tea Festival and part of the series commemorating the 20th anniversary of the “Doanh Nghiệp & Thương Hiệu Nông Thôn” (Rural Enterprise & Brand) Magazine.
After two weeks of the online competition round, the organizing committee received over 100 entries from students nationwide, featuring many unique and highly feasible ideas. The judging panel selected the top 16 outstanding teams from various universities across the country, including Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Trung University (Gia Lai), Van Lang University, FPT University (Da Nang), Foreign Trade University (Hanoi), Swinburne University (Ho Chi Minh City), among others. Immediately after the results were announced, the top teams were paired with mentors who accompanied and supported them in refining their startup projects. These mentors—experienced experts, journalists, entrepreneurs, and leaders—provided consultation to help the teams address gaps in their startup plans.
Dr. Bui Hong Dang, Vice Chairman in charge of the University Council of HUIT, presented appreciation gifts to the experienced mentors who accompanied the contestants.
Mr. Nguyễn Nam Thắng – Editor-in-Chief of the Rural Enterprise and Brand Magazine, presented bouquets of flowers in honor of the competition's judges.
The opening ceremony began with inspiring speeches. Mr. Nguyễn Nam Thắng, Editor-in-Chief of the Rural Enterprise & Brand Magazine and Head of the Organizing Committee, highlighted the significance of Gen Tea as a bridge between heritage and innovation: the competition not only seeks startup projects but also carries the mission to preserve, honor, and reinterpret Vietnamese tea culture through youthful creativity. On behalf of the university, Dr. Bùi Hồng Đăng, Vice President in charge of the University Council of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT), expressed pride that HUIT was chosen as the host venue. He reaffirmed the university's commitment to continuing its support and providing practical conditions for students to test and realize their ideas.
In competition, the atmosphere in the auditorium was vibrant with debates, presentations, and rebuttals from the teams.
The main competition rounds took place on November 30, featuring three key stages. The top 5 outstanding teams will advance to the experience round and receive final awards at the World T.E.A Fest 2025 International Tea Festival in early December 2025. The Gen Tea 2025 competition offers a total prize pool worth up to 300 million VND, including cash prizes, project development support packages, gifts, and vouchers from sponsors.
Among the teams that made a strong impression at this year's competition, the "Nhẩn Nha Với Trà" team from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) excelled in securing a spot in the final top 5 with their project: "Vietnamese Tea – Decoding the 'Pain Points' of Raw Export and a Comprehensive Standardization Strategy to Enhance Value and Reach International Stature.” With a practical perspective on the bottlenecks in the tea industry and a proposal for a modern yet sustainable standardization roadmap, the team demonstrated sharp thinking, deep analytical capabilities, and the serious entrepreneurial spirit of HUIT students. This achievement is not only a source of pride for the students but also reaffirms the university's role in nurturing innovative ideas that are connected to cultural values and the current development needs of the Vietnamese tea industry.
The competition not only helped spread the value of Vietnamese tea in a modern spirit but also opened a journey for green, sustainable startup dreams to sprout from the very leaves of our familiar tea.
With the mission of finding, supporting, and accompanying the startup ideas of the tea-loving younger generation GEN TEA, the competition serves as a creative platform. It fosters entrepreneurial thinking, enriches practical experience, and empowers participants to break through personal limits, transforming ideas on paper into valuable, real-world projects that continue the story of Vietnamese tea culture.