Bustling Tu Lien traditional kumquat village in high season

At this time of year, watering kumquat trees requires special attention to keep them healthy, lush, and vibrant. With the dry weather in the last month of the year, kumquat trees need plenty of water.

In Hanoi's Tay Ho District, Tu Lien Bonsai Village is busier than ever a month before  Tet, as farmers prepare to harvest the kumquats they have tended all year. 

This is the last stage before the kumquats are offered for sale.

Hoang Luan, a farmer from Tu Lien, explains that this is the most important time for kumquat growers.

"Every year, depending on the weather, we have to tend to the kumquat trees to ensure they are ripe in time for Tet. With Tet falling a month earlier than usual this year, we have to speed up our tree care," he said.

From giant kumquat pots to miniature display jars, Tu Lien's kumquats have undergone constant shape refinement and design diversification over the years to meet consumer expectations.

Tu Lien Bonsai Village, located on the shores of Hanoi’s iconic West Lake, is renowned for its kumquat farming, spanning over 100 hectares. Photos: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times

Large supplies of bonsai trees are delivered to the capital market from this traditional artisan village in the very center of the city.

About 400 farming households in Tu Lien cultivate kumquats on 80% of their 20 hectares of farmland.

Tu Lien kumquats are known for their eye-catching shape, intense vitality, and range of prices that make them affordable to a wide range of consumers.

At this time of year, watering the kumquat trees requires close attention to ensure they remain healthy, lush, and vibrant. With the dry weather in the final month of the year, kumquat trees need plenty of water.

Typhoon Yagi, which struck the region, severely damaged the kumquat trees near the Red River. However, forward-thinking farmers saved a large number of trees that are now ready to supply the market by moving many of them to higher ground.   According to Dao Van Tuan, a kumquat grower, a beautiful kumquat tree has several key characteristics: a well-shaped tree and a mix of yellow and green fruits of uniform size, complemented by lush green leaves, flowers, and buds.

Alongside peach blossoms and ochna trees, kumquat trees are a staple of Vietnamese households during the Tet holiday. A fruit-laden kumquat tree brightens a home, especially in the cold northern winter, symbolizing fertility and prosperity for the year ahead.