(Baonghean.vn) – The oldest residents of Tin Pu village, Quang Phong commune (Que Phong district) say they have seen the Barringtonia tree since they were born. The tree is about 19 meters tall, with a trunk diameter that requires two adults to embrace.
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| This extraordinary mango tree is approximately 19 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of 320 cm and a diameter of 1.6 meters. In the photo: Young volunteers taking a commemorative photo with the century-old mango tree. Photo: Hung Cuong. |
The village of Tin Pu (called "village at the foot of the slope" in Thai) in Quang Phong commune, Que Phong district (Nghe An province) is about 1km from National Highway 48D. At the end of the village, next to the rice fields, stands an ancient Barringtonia tree (also called Mung tree), towering majestically, separate from the other trees. On its trunk, from its large and small branches, strings of bright red flowers hang down, creating a beautiful and impressive sight. At the base, countless fallen flowers have created a carpet of mixed green from the young rice plants and the deep red of the Barringtonia tree.
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| Despite its age, the crape myrtle tree still produces many flowers. Photo: Hung Cuong |
The tree is about 19 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of 320 cm and a diameter of 1.6 meters. The trunk is gnarled and hollowed out over time. Mr. Luong Van Net, nearly 100 years old and one of the oldest people in Tin Pu village, said: “When I was born, the banyan tree was already like this. I asked the elders of the previous generation, but no one knows when the tree originated. They, like me, were born and saw the tree growing in the village. The elders still say that this tree must be over a hundred years old.”
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| The Barringtonia tree is located at the end of Tin Pu village, on the edge of the rice field and next to the house of Mr. Luong Van Banh. Photo: Hung Cuong |
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| The fallen blossoms of the crape myrtle tree make the rice field look like a carpet. Photo: Hung Cuong |
Mr. Luong Van Banh, 80 years old, whose house is right next to the ancient banyan tree, shared: "My family and I have been taking care of and protecting this tree for a long time. No one can say for sure exactly how old it is, but the locals all believe it's over a hundred years old."
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| The ancient Barringtonia tree stands apart from the other trees. Photo: Hung Cuong |
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| The trunk of the Barringtonia tree is covered with many parasitic plants. Photo: Hung Cuong |
According to residents of Tin Pu village, many collectors of ancient trees and bonsai traders have come to the village to inquire about buying the banyan tree, but the villagers have refused to sell it. Mr. Lo Van Phu, the head of Tin Pu village, said: “More than a month ago, someone from the North came and offered 400 million VND. The village management board held a meeting with the villagers and decided not to sell it, even if offered 1 billion VND. The village only agreed to ‘exchange’ the banyan tree on the condition that the buyer expand the 1km road from National Highway 48D into the village, build culverts so that cars can enter and exit the village, making it convenient for people's travel, and also provide 60 million VND to pay for the caretaker and buy buffaloes and cows for a feast.”
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| The banyan tree has a hollow trunk due to the ravages of time. Photo: Hung Cuong |
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| Tin Pu village, Quang Phong commune, is home to an ancient Barringtonia tree. Photo: Hung Cuong |
Mr. Phu also said that one person had agreed to the conditions set by the Tin Pu village, but was having trouble compensating two households whose land was affected by the road expansion. Therefore, after a period of unsuccessful negotiations, the visitor has not returned. "Many people have inquired about buying the banyan tree for 200, 300, or 400 million dong, but the villagers are not selling," Mr. Phu said.
Hung Cuong
