The World Coffee Heritage Forum, themed “From diverse traditions to a shared living heritage of humanity”, has opened at the World Coffee Museum, Buon Ma Thuot ward.

Hosted by Dak Lak PPC, in coordination with UNESCO, Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture, and Trung Nguyen Legend Group, the forum provides a high-level international platform for dialogue to position coffee as a “living heritage”, fostering connections among civilisations while promoting sustainable development.

The World Coffee Heritage Forum in Buon Ma Thuot bringing together leaders and international organisations.

Addressing the opening session, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu affirmed that introducing Dak Lak’s expertise in coffee cultivation and processing to the international community not only promotes the image of the Central Highlands along with its people, but also fosters multicultural dialogue, enhances added value of Vietnam’s coffee sector, alongside gradually establishes a distinct position for Vietnamese coffee on the global coffee map.

Under the theme “From diverse traditions to a shared living heritage of humanity”, the forum received nearly 40 research papers from domestic as well as international scientists and experts, exploring coffee from multiple perspectives, including economics, society, culture, heritage studies, processing technology, global value chains, as well as sustainable development.

Discussion sessions retraced coffee’s journey across civilisations, while outlining development orientations for Dak Lak to transition from a key raw material region into a “world coffee destination”. This is associated with building a Vietnamese coffee cultural landscape towards UNESCO heritage recognition, while promoting a coffee ecosystem within the global green transition.

Delegates also shared practical models and best practices from Thailand, along with the FAO’s approach to sustainable coffee systems balancing community livelihoods and environmental protection. On that basis, presentations further clarified concept alongside criteria of “good safeguarding practices” under UNESCO, emphasising the central role of communities in preserving, transmitting, and promoting heritage, as well as potential for sustainable livelihoods when heritage is properly recognised and positioned.

PPC Vice Chairman, comrade Dao My meeting with ambassadors, consuls general from leading coffee-producing countries, along with international delegates within the forum framework.

At the forum, PPC Vice Chairman, comrade Dao My noted that the event provided multidimensional perspectives, further clarifying issues related to history, production, consumption culture, alongside preservation and promotion of coffee heritage values in the current context. It has also enabled Dak Lak to define a clearer overall orientation for safeguarding as well as promoting coffee heritage. The province will fully absorb recommendations and shared experiences to translate them into policies, guidelines, together with action programmes.

The forum takes place from April 17 - 19, 2026. Within its framework, numerous activities are organised to provide a comprehensive experience of Vietnamese coffee values, across its physical, social, spiritual dimensions, moving beyond the notion of “an agricultural product or economic sector” to be recognised as a “living heritage” associated with community identity and lifestyle.

Translated by KHUONG THAO