Traditional kumquat growing village in the heart of Hanoi

Tu Lien Village (Tay Ho, Hanoi) has long been famous for growing kumquat trees, providing tens of thousands of trees every Tet holiday...

The golden kumquat trees, laden with fruit, not only decorate the space during Tet, but also have feng shui meaning, symbolizing wealth and luck. However, the kumquat growing profession faces many difficulties. Harsh weather, pests and climate change have significantly affected the productivity and quality of the crops. To ensure that each kumquat tree meets the standards, Tu Lien people have to take great care from choosing the seeds, fertilizing, watering to shaping the tree. Each stage requires meticulousness and many years of experience.

Photo caption — Artist Tran Thi Phuong Thu is taking care of a bonsai kumquat tree.

Mr. Nguyen The Manh, an artisan with over 40 years of experience, shared that the secret to a beautiful kumquat tree lies not only in technique, but also in love and patience. Each kumquat tree is like a brainchild, needing to be carefully cared for every day. And artisan Tran Thi Phuong Thu has created many unique kumquat shapes such as "perfect happiness and prosperity" or "boat carrying fortune"... The creativity and ingenuity of the artisan brings a stable income, attracting many customers from all over to order kumquat trees.

We cannot fail to mention Mr. Pham Van Hung, a young man who has boldly applied modern technology to kumquat care. He has installed an automatic irrigation system and used organic fertilizers, helping to improve the quality of the plants and reduce labor. What makes Tu Lien kumquat different is the unique shaping technique. Kumquat growers do not just stop at taking care of the plants, but also turn each kumquat tree into a work of art. Each branch is skillfully bent to create a harmonious shape, in accordance with feng shui. Many kumquat trees are shaped into the shape of "long phoenix sum vay" or "phuc loc vien man", bringing many impressions to buyers. In the modern context, Tu Lien kumquat growers have been making efforts to apply scientific and technological advances to improve the quality of their crops. Many households have used automatic irrigation systems, organic fertilizers and environmentally friendly pest control measures.

In addition, to meet the diverse needs of the market, many artisans have created more products such as mini kumquat trees, bonsai kumquat trees or ornamental plants combining kumquat and peach blossoms, serving the domestic market and exporting to China, Japan...

Not only a craft village, Tu Lien is also an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

With the combination of traditional values and creative innovation, Tu Lien kumquat growing village not only preserves its unique cultural identity, but also contributes to promoting the local economy. This is truly the pride of Hanoi people and a bright spot in the cultural picture of the capital, where traditional values are preserved; at the same time, bringing fresh spring colors to every home every Tet holiday.