In villages of Binh Dinh, there are many old trees which have been living for hundreds of years in nature, witnessing many historical upheavals. These century-old trees have become deeply meaningful symbols to generations of local residents.
Secular trees – soul of the villages
The most famous of all ancient trees in Binh Dinh is the 200-year-old tamarind tree at Quang Trung Museum, which appears in an ardent folk-song: “Here is still alive the ancient tamarind tree and remains the remnants of the old Truong Trau (Betel) wharf (where people traded betel leaves in Tay Son times). Although we don’t become lovers ….”
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Old kapok (ceiba) tree stands next to the communal house of Vinh Thanh village
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The tamarind tree has attracted many visitors to come to watch and enjoy its “historical shade”. Inspired by the invaluable old tree, many artists composed beautiful verses like “Under the shadow of the ancestors/ I vaguely count my age. How diminutive and ordinary the age of mine in comparison to the greatness of the history. Relics of war are seemingly like the ancient tree. With its shade of peace and calm...” (Standing under the old tamarind tree at Quang Trung Museum, written by Nguyen Thanh Xuan). People from different localities usually ask for the tamarind seeds as symbols of “good will” to show their respect to the glorious history.
At Tra Thung village in My Chau commune, Phu My district exists a banyan tree with a lifespan of centuries. The ancient tree has become a spiritual emblem, seeing historical ups and downs and having a close relation with the locals.
At the yard of Nghi Thuong temple in Kim Chau village, Binh Dinh town also stands another lofty old banyan tree. Its main trunk is so big that it takes 5-6 people around; its heavygreen foliage casts shadows to nearby roads.
“When I was still a young boy, the tree had already looked giant. My father told me that it had dated before my great-great-grandfather. The tree is probably around 200 years old”, said Pham Du, 90, the village’s eldest.
Those who have ever visited the relic of the communal house of Vinh Thanh village in Phuoc Loc commune, Tuy Phuoc district definitely see an old giant kapok tree at a height of 30-40m (98-131 feet) with very a big main trunk.
“There used to be three ancient tamarind trees near the communal house. What a pity! They no longer exist now because of natural disasters and human acts. Only the old kapok tree survives. It may be at the age of centuries. Even my grandfathers didn’t know exactly when it had started to grow”, said Tu Bau who is living next to the communal house.
The kapok tree partly creates an ancient atmosphere for the communal house and has become a familiar symbolic figure to the villagers over many generations. In addition, there are another secular trees all over the province, such as over-150-year-old banyan tree at Ha Ri village (Vinh Hiep commune, Vinh Thanh suburban district), century-year-old hopea odorata trees at front yard of Long Song Monastery (Phuoc Thuan commune, Tuy Phuoc district).
To be recognized as heritage
With the centuries of life expectancy, ancient trees in Binh Dinh are worth the better preservation.
“We planned to do a statistical survey on the ancient trees all over the province in 2005 and summit then a project of preserving them to the provincial People’s Committee for approval. Yet, the plan has been confronted with many obstacles so far…,” said Nguyen Duy Quy, Chairman of Binh Dinh Province Association of Ornament Animals and Plants.
Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) has recently launched a scheme to conserve Vietnam’s heritage trees. Accordingly, an ancient tree must be between 200 to 300 years old in term of wild tree or over 100 year old in case the tree is intentionally grown.
Moreover, the tree must go with specific historical and cultural characteristics of the localities. After receiving the proposals from the localities, Board of Heritage Trees will assign its experts to measure biological parameters of the trees to identify their age. Once they are recognized as heritage trees, VACNE will partly cover costs and provide technologies of ancient tree care as in special tree maintenance.
At present, the Heritage Trees Scheme of Vietnam is being carried out in Hanoi and expectedly expanded to other localities nationwide then. Binh Dinh’s secular trees, hopefully, will be categorized as the heritage trees.
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