Cham Island Festival – Season of the Red Cotton Tree 2024: Celebrating Heritage and Natural Beauty
Cham Island in Quảng Nam Province is renowned for its pristine beauty, clear blue waters and white sandy beaches, and ancient red cottonwood trees, which hold significant historical and cultural value. In 2014, the Vietnam Heritage Tree Council recognized a red cottonwood tree on Hòn Lao Island, over 100 years old, as a Vietnam Heritage Tree. In 2015, a cluster of three ancient red cottonwood trees at the Tình Stream Slope, estimated to be between 155 and 250 years old, also received this prestigious title.
Cham Island Festival – Season of the Red Cotton Tree 2024
In the lively atmosphere of the red cottonwood season, Tân Hiệp Island Commune (Quảng Nam) will host the Cham Island – Red Cottonwood Season Festival 2024, from July 19th to 25th. A special highlight of this year’s festival is the ceremony to acknowledge the traditional red cottonwood hammock weaving craft as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Cham Island during the red cottonwood season is a breathtaking spectacle, adorned with vibrant red blossoms covering the island. Along with its natural beauty, the festival offers visitors unique cultural experiences. Diverse activities such as traditional boat races, coral summer camps, photo exhibitions, night markets, and more will occur throughout the festival. Notably, the opening ceremony on the evening of July 21st will be a lively gala featuring captivating performances, attracting visitors participating in the one-day Cham Island group tour.
The red cottonwood flowers bloom from April to July, embellishing the island and signaling the hammock-making season for the locals. To create the world-famous red cottonwood hammocks, local fishermen select straight, smooth-barked red cottonwood trees for their fibers. According to the islanders’ expertise, trees with a circumference of approximately 20-30 cm and a radius of 3-5 cm are most suitable.
Separating the red cottonwood bark is a task that requires both dexterity and strength. People often use rocks to separate the bark, then hold it firmly with their feet and peel it lengthwise. From these bark fibers, skilled artisans create traditional hammocks, imbued with the island’s cultural heritage.
The red cottonwood hammock weaving craft has been intertwined with the lives of the people of Cham Island for generations. The red cottonwood bark is harvested in the summer, and then skillfully woven into durable and beautiful hammocks by the village artisans. Being recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage is a significant event, affirming the value of this traditional craft.
The Cham Island – Red Cottonwood Season Festival is not only an occasion to celebrate the island’s natural beauty and traditional culture but also an opportunity to promote Cham Island to domestic and international tourists. This, in turn, contributes to the sustainable development of tourism and the preservation of the local cultural heritage.
