Over-600-year-old diospyros persimmon trees in the central province of Thanh Hoa have been recognised as the national heritage tree.

The Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) and the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a ceremony to receive the certification at the Ho Dynasty Citadel, Vinh Hoc district on April 24.

Grown in the Xuan Giai village, Vinh Tien commune, Vinh Loc district, an ancient village which has a close connection to the formation and ending of the Ho Dynasty and the Ho Dynasty Citadel, the over-20-metre trees were also served as shelters for the country’s soldiers during the resistance wars.

The heritage recognition will aid the conservation of the trees and promote the province’s cultural heritage value, particularly the UNESCO recognised World Cultural Heritage Site of Ho Dynasty Citadel.

The province recently opened an additional display house of the Ho Dynasty Citedal in Vinh Loc district to introduce the beauty of eight world heritages in Vietnam together with 12 heritage sites in the world to public and international friends.

The event offered a chance to promote the unique values of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, while intensifying linkages and tourism development between the local site and other world heritage sites in Vietnam.-VNA