Dak Lak coffee is more than a key crop or a billion-dollar export commodity; it also embodies a rich body of indigenous knowledge, nurtured and preserved across generations within ethnic communities in Central Highlands.

Farmers harvesting coffee by selectively picking ripe cherries to produce high-quality coffee.

Indigenous knowledge - the “Soul” of Dak Lak coffee

Since coffee was introduced to Central Highlands by French in late 19th century, Buon Ma Thuot and surrounding areas have rapidly emerged as the country’s largest coffee production hub.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, after more than a century closely association with coffee cultivation, ethnic communities such as Ede, M’nong, Kinh, alongside migrant groups from northern regions, have built and handed down a rich reservoir of knowledge, ranging land selection, planting, cultivation, harvesting, processing, preservation, as well as appreciation methods.

ll these elements have shaped a distinctive coffee cultural space, where labour, experience, along with emotion converge into a unique identity, deeply rooted in local traditions while retaining global reach.

Today, as coffee evolves from a strategic agricultural commodity into a cultural symbol of Vietnam on international stage, identifying, preserving, and promoting Dak Lak’s coffee knowledge has become both an urgent priority alongside a long-term strategic mission.

A foundation for industry standards

With around 90 percent of output destined for export, the coffee sector has been integrating deeply into global markets. In 2025, Vietnamese coffee reached more than 80 countries and territories, with export volume of 1.48 million tonnes valued at 8.36 billion US$. Dak Lak alone recorded 240,000 tonnes in export volume, up over 105 percent compared with 2024.

Globally, efforts to mitigate climate change impacts, particularly those linked with deforestation, are driving increasingly stringent market regulations aimed at reducing deforestation risks across supply chains. Most recently, EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires agro-forestry products, including coffee, imported into European Union to fully comply with legal requirements on deforestation-free and forest degradation-free production.

Coffee farms carefully selecting raw materials from the processing stage to enhance product value.

This also underscores that recognising coffee cultivation knowledge as National Intangible Cultural Heritage provides an important legal and scientific foundation. It affirms local farming practices align well with international standards such as Rainforest Alliance certification for sustainable agriculture. Such recognition serves as a “green passport”, enabling Dak Lak coffee to overcome technical barriers like EUDR while penetrating deeper into demanding markets.

According to Department of Agriculture and Environment, Dak Lak has for years taken a leading role in implementing programmes for high-quality coffee development, sustainable replanting alongside value chain enhancement. Since 2008, the province has launched numerous key projects; notably, its growing areas became first in the world to obtain EU’s 4C-EUDR deforestation-free certification, while 35 percent of total coffee acreage has currently been digitised.

Mr. Trinh Duc Minh, Chairman of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, noted early compliance with these regulations demonstrates strong responsiveness from provincial authorities as well as industry players. This has helped enhance credibility, value, global standing of coffee, the provincial flagship export sector. Thanks to such efforts, European Union has classified Vietnam as a “low-risk” country under EUDR implementation, with only 1 percent of imported consignments subject to inspection.

Translated by HAI LOAN