Unique Heritage Trees in An Giang

Tamarind tree over 600 years old in Nui To commune (Tri Ton district)

Coming to Tri Ton, almost everyone is surprised by the ancient tamarind tree over 600 years old, often called by the locals as "Big Tamarind Tree" in Nui To commune. According to the elders, no one remembers when the "Big Tamarind Tree" was built, or who planted it or if it grew naturally. They only know that they have seen such a tall tamarind tree since they were young. The "Big Tamarind Tree" has rough skin, a width of 6 adult arms cannot be hugged, and is over 20m high. The tree's roots are large, emerging from the ground, creating many unique shapes. The tree has a very wide canopy, which can provide shade for hundreds of people. The branches above the tree are also home to many species of birds. Every year, the "Big Tamarind Tree" flowers and bears fruit regularly and abundantly.

Many people say that during the war, the “Big Tamarind Tree” helped shield and protect revolutionary cadres, soldiers and people from enemy raids and sweeps. After hundreds of years with the harshness of time and countless bullet and artillery marks on the tree trunk. But the tree still has a strong vitality and still stands tall and eternal. The “Big Tamarind Tree” is considered a treasure of the people here. Not only does it have historical and cultural value, the “Big Tamarind Tree” also creates a communal lifestyle and community cohesion among the people during their coexistence.

In their culture and spiritual life, the Khmer ethnic minority always consider the ancient tamarind tree a precious asset, a symbol of the motherland, of the village and neighborly love, as a spiritual support, protecting the peace of the village and the village. Ms. Neang Soc Phol (Nui To commune) shared: “People really appreciate the “Big Tamarind Tree” because it has been there for a long time. Everyone is very conscious of protecting and helping the tree grow. The children in the village come out from time to time to water and weed around the base… The care of the “Big Tamarind Tree” is passed down from generation to generation.”

Like the "Big Tamarind Tree", but considered the oldest Vietnamese Heritage Tree in the province, the oil tree in To An hamlet (Co To commune, Tri Ton district) has been providing shade for over 700 years. The oil tree does not have many branches, the trunk is large, over 30m high, reaching straight up to the sky. Standing from afar, you can see the shade of the oil tree shading a large yard. After hundreds of years, the bark of the oil tree is as hard as rock, covering the tree trunk... Nature has also bestowed upon the people of An Tuc commune (Tri Ton district) 2 lychee trees that are over 300 years old, but still produce strangely sweet fruit. Each lychee tree has a trunk so large that 3 people can hug it, over 15m high, with a wide canopy shading the entire yard of Svay-Ta-Hon pagoda. According to the monks in the pagoda and the people, these 2 lychee trees are very special, every year when both trees bear fruit, that year the weather is favorable, the harvest is bountiful...

Down in the plains, there is also a cluster of 3 ancient Lagerstroemia trees over 300 years old in Cho Vam town (Phu Tan district) that has just been recognized as a very rare Vietnamese Heritage Tree. No one knows when this cluster of 3 Lagerstroemia trees was planted or grew naturally, but they are very straight and evenly spaced. One of them is over 215 years old, the other 2 are over 300 years old. The tree roots are large, forming hollow pockets inside, so adults can easily crawl into them. According to the elders, the area where the 3 Lagerstroemia trees grew was once a place where revolutionary cadres hid and hid documents during the war. Therefore, this cluster of 3 ancient Lagerstroemia trees is not only important in cultural and spiritual life, but also has precious historical value for local people. All the people here cherish, protect and care for these Lagerstroemia trees.

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Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/doc-dao-nhung-cay-di-san-o-an-giang-a423227.html