Golden symbols of Lunar New Year: Hoi An “kumquat capital” comes alive
DNO - As Viet Nam’s Lunar New Year draws near, Cam Ha kumquat village in Hoi An, Da Nang awakens into a vibrant tapestry of colour, fragrance and anticipation.
Rows of emerald-green trees heavy with golden-orange fruit stretch across the sandy fields, while farmers move carefully among them, fine-tuning shapes and ripeness for the most important season of the year.
For visitors, this is one of the most captivating moments to experience a living Vietnamese tradition. Traders from across Central Viet Nam are already arriving, inspecting trees, negotiating prices and placing early deposits, a familiar ritual that signals Tet is just around the corner.
The festive mood peaked with a kumquat tree festival on January 28 - 29, 2026. Held annually in the days leading up to Tet, the festival celebrated the centuries-old craft of kumquat cultivation and invites visitors to immerse themselves in the cultural heartbeat of a traditional Vietnamese village.
Kumquat trees occupy a special place in traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year customs. With glossy leaves, symmetrical canopies and clusters of ripe fruit, they are more than decorative plants.
Each element carries meaning: vitality, abundance, prosperity and harmony for the year ahead. During Tet, kumquat trees grace homes, hotels, shops and public spaces across the country, becoming one of the most recognisable symbols of Vietnamese spring.
Cam Ha’s reputation as the “kumquat capital” of Central Viet Nam is rooted in both nature and human artistry.
The village’s sandy soil provides ideal growing conditions, while generations of skilled growers have mastered the delicate techniques of pruning, shaping and nurturing trees into living works of art. Many of the most prized specimens take years of careful cultivation to perfect.
Beyond its festive charm, the kumquat festival helps local farmers connect with buyers, supports the consumption of kumquat trees during the Tet season, and encourages younger generations to continue the traditional craft.
The village’s profile has been further elevated since Hoi An joined UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network in 2023 in the field of crafts and folk art.
This Tet season, Cam Ha’s kumquat gardens - covering more than 272,000 square metres - are expected to supply over 104,000 large potted trees, around 23,000 smaller pots, and 145,000 seedlings.
For travellers seeking an authentic Tet experience, Cam Ha offers a rare glimpse into the artistry, symbolism and festive spirit that define the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.