Kumquat village hectic as Tết approaches
Symbolising prosperity, the kumquat tree is selected by most Vietnamese families to adorn their houses during Tết.
As Tết (Lunar New Year) festival nears, Tứ Liên Village – the “capital of kumquat trees” in Hà Nội’s Tây Hồ District, is bustling as growers offer their ornamental kumquat trees to the market.
Symbolising prosperity, the kumquat tree is selected by most Vietnamese families to adorn their houses during Tết.
From the end of December and the beginning of January, Tứ Liên villagers start their busiest time of year as they have to trim and tend the ornamental trees for the most important festival of Vietnamese people.
When the kumquat fruits start turning yellow, the trees are transferred to the pots best satisfying the customers’ taste.
Being known for the traditional job of ornamental kumquat tree plantation, the village currently has about 400 households cultivating the trees with a total area of up to 20 hectares.
According to the growers, this year’s warm weather has helped kumquat fruits ripen nicely.
Quỳnh Trang, owner of a kumquat farm in Tứ Liên Village, has been cultivating and trading kumquat trees for nearly 30 years. Her garden has about 200 trees, all with fruits turning yellow.
“The price of kumquat trees hasn't changed much compared to last year. In my garden, depending on the size and shape, the trees are priced from VNĐ1.5 million to VNĐ6 million (US$61-250), including pot," said Trang.
“The current favourable weather is ideal for kumquat trees to evenly bear ripe, nice and vibrant yellow fruits,” she added.
According to owner of Nam Thuỷ kumquat farm, Nguyễn Thành Nam, who has been in the ornamental kumquat business in Tứ Liên Village for six years, the prices this year vary significantly, ranging from VNĐ500,000 to VNĐ7 million ($20-290).
“To supply ornamental kumquat trees for the Lunar New Year, I, like any other grower, have put a lot of effort and labour into taking care of the trees throughout the year. Working hard all year round, but harvesting just once a year, so all of us hope for a bountiful season," Nam said.
Clay pots crafted in famous pottery villages such as Phù Lãng and Bát Tràng are chosen carefully by customers to match nicely with the ornamental trees.
To meet the diverse preferences of customers, many garden owners in Tứ Liên Village have introduced various types of kumquat arrangements this year such as kumquat in flower vases, jars, trays and kumquat bonsai.
