Retired policeman Le Minh Thuong, 74, from central Nghe An province, hason several occasions refused to sell off his five ancient golden appletrees (diospyros decandrs Lour) for over 7 billion VND (340,000 USD).
Last year, the Vietnam Association for Nature andEnvironmental Conservation, a Hanoi-based non-governmental organisation,identified the trees as being around 670 years old.
Among the five trees, the largest measure up to 14 metres in height while the rest come in at around 6 metres each.
Thuong explained that, as the trees are "invaluable family treasures",considered witnesses to both family and local history, they have to bepreserved for future generations.
According tofamily annals, Le Van Hoan, the first Le ancestor to settle in the area,was a commander in the army of Le Loi (1384-1433), known as Le Thai To,Emperor of Vietnam and founder of the Le Dynasty.
Seeing the golden apple trees blossom, even in harsh weather, Hoan wasinspired to bring his family from central Thanh Hoa province to Nghe Anprovince and build a new village.
Before everybattle, commander Hoan would pray standing beneath his trees, to whichpeople came to attribute many victories.
Thuong toldthe story of how, during the American war, local residents and soldiershad taken shelter underneath the trees.
"The treesare the pride of the Le family," Thuong said, adding that, since thetrees were first aired on the TV programme "Strange things in Vietnam"in 2007, curious visitors from around the country had flocked over tosee them.
Phung Quang Chinh, a member of the VietnamAssociation for Nature and Environmental Conservation, said thatancient trees of at least 200 years of age and domestically-grown treesof at least 100 years are given the title of "Vietnam Heritage Tree" forpurposes of biology, culture and history.
The initiative, first launched last October, forms part of national environmental protection efforts.
The association confirmed that, while it will offer technicalassistance in identifying the age of trees and their historical/culturalvalue, all related efforts will be voluntary.
To date, the association has received around 300 application forms with more than 100 trees having been recognised.
Le Thi Thao, vice chairwoman of the Tay Ho district People's Committeein Hanoi, said that 14 of the district's trees have receivedrecognition as "Vietnam Heritage Trees", helping to improve localawareness in preserving cultural/historical relics and protecting theenvironment.
"Nursing trees is now not only thebusiness of local authorities, but of the whole community," Nhat TanWard People's Committee vice chairman Nguyen Xuan Truong said. /.
Last year, the Vietnam Association for Nature andEnvironmental Conservation, a Hanoi-based non-governmental organisation,identified the trees as being around 670 years old.
Among the five trees, the largest measure up to 14 metres in height while the rest come in at around 6 metres each.
Thuong explained that, as the trees are "invaluable family treasures",considered witnesses to both family and local history, they have to bepreserved for future generations.
According tofamily annals, Le Van Hoan, the first Le ancestor to settle in the area,was a commander in the army of Le Loi (1384-1433), known as Le Thai To,Emperor of Vietnam and founder of the Le Dynasty.
Seeing the golden apple trees blossom, even in harsh weather, Hoan wasinspired to bring his family from central Thanh Hoa province to Nghe Anprovince and build a new village.
Before everybattle, commander Hoan would pray standing beneath his trees, to whichpeople came to attribute many victories.
Thuong toldthe story of how, during the American war, local residents and soldiershad taken shelter underneath the trees.
"The treesare the pride of the Le family," Thuong said, adding that, since thetrees were first aired on the TV programme "Strange things in Vietnam"in 2007, curious visitors from around the country had flocked over tosee them.
Phung Quang Chinh, a member of the VietnamAssociation for Nature and Environmental Conservation, said thatancient trees of at least 200 years of age and domestically-grown treesof at least 100 years are given the title of "Vietnam Heritage Tree" forpurposes of biology, culture and history.
The initiative, first launched last October, forms part of national environmental protection efforts.
The association confirmed that, while it will offer technicalassistance in identifying the age of trees and their historical/culturalvalue, all related efforts will be voluntary.
To date, the association has received around 300 application forms with more than 100 trees having been recognised.
Le Thi Thao, vice chairwoman of the Tay Ho district People's Committeein Hanoi, said that 14 of the district's trees have receivedrecognition as "Vietnam Heritage Trees", helping to improve localawareness in preserving cultural/historical relics and protecting theenvironment.
"Nursing trees is now not only thebusiness of local authorities, but of the whole community," Nhat TanWard People's Committee vice chairman Nguyen Xuan Truong said. /.
