diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim b/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim
index 47bacd5..dbc108b 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/fold.vim
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ function! vimtex#fold#init_options() " {{{1
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_enabled', 0)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_manual', 0)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_comments', 0)
+  call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_section_character', '')
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_preamble', 1)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_envs', 1)
   call vimtex#util#set_default('g:vimtex_fold_parts',
@@ -234,7 +235,14 @@ endfunction
 function! vimtex#fold#text() " {{{1
   " Initialize
   let line = getline(v:foldstart)
-  let level = v:foldlevel > 1 ? repeat('-', v:foldlevel-2) . '*' : ''
+
+  if empty(g:vimtex_fold_section_character)
+    let fold_character = '*'
+  else
+    let fold_character = g:vimtex_fold_section_character
+  endif
+
+  let level = v:foldlevel > 1 ? repeat('-', v:foldlevel-2) . fold_character : ''
   let title = 'Not defined'
   let nt = 73
 
diff --git a/doc/vimtex.txt b/doc/vimtex.txt
index a4eb70a..e7bad47 100644
--- a/doc/vimtex.txt
+++ b/doc/vimtex.txt
@@ -427,6 +427,12 @@ Options~
 
   Default value: 0
 
+*g:vimtex_fold_section_character*
+
+  Use custom section symbol for folding.
+
+  Default value: ''
+
 *g:vimtex_fold_envs*
   Control whether or not to fold environments.