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Community of Vietnam's oldest trees recognized as national heritage

Monday, March 31, 2014
The ancient fig trees in Do Son twon of the northern port city of Hai Phong have been recognized as heritage trees of Vietnam.
There is no historical record or any legend about when these trees were planted. Each tree has its own name. They cling to the Ngoc mountainside to develop and shelter villagers from storms and bombing during the war.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
This tree is over 1,000 years old. Its diameter is 8m at the root. Local people call it the “Tree God”. It is one of the 17 ancient fig trees that were recognized by the Vietnam Association for Protection of Nature and Environment (VACNE) national heritage.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
Mr. Do Van Minh, a local official introduced the hatch of a secret trench dug by guerrillas under the two fig trees during the war or resistance against the French. The hatch is now covered by rock and leaves.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
Minh and his colleagues were tasked with measuring and surveying the ancient trees.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees 
This tree, named “Khe” is more than 800 years old, 20m high, 1.4m trunk diameter. Its trunk is hollow and can accommodate two adults. In the war of resistance against the French, the tree became a secret bunker to shelter guerrillas.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
The “Ba Vai” tree is also over 800 years old, 20m high and trunk diameter of 1.8m. The tree has a strange form. Its whole roots are on the ground.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
The roots of the “Vai” fig tree are black like stone. Mr. Hoang Dinh Binh, Chair of Do Son District said that the number of ancient fig trees would have been higher if they were not destroyed by war and chopped down by local people to build houses.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi De, 85 years old, said the fig tree named “Bup” was burned by the French. "If it was alive, it would have been the biggest fig tree," De said.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees 
The fig tree named “Coc”, which is about 800 years old, over 1 meter in trunk diameter.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
Most of the trees are covered by moss and parasite trees.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
Though they are nearly a thousand years old, the trees still yield fragrant fruit.
fig trees, do son, heritage trees
Next to the population of ancient fig trees of 120 to 1,000 years old, there are hundreds of fig trees of under 100 years old.
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