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| Mr. Hoang The Hung trimming the branches of a tamarind bonsai at the nursery |
Trees - A part of “Hue’s soul”
Within Hue’s heritage spaces, trees are not merely shade providers or decorative touches. They are “green witnesses”, casting shadows over Can Chanh Palace, enveloping Tu Duc’s Tomb with fragrance, standing solemnly in the Royal Courtyard of the Imperial Citadel. Parasol trees, cycads, laurels, yellow apricots, white frangipani… are part of Hue’s consciousness - where nature and architecture blend into the depth of culture.
Yet time and climate change are taking their toll. Many centuries-old trees, fruit trees, and ornamental plants in Hue’s monuments are deteriorating, aging, or collapsing during storms, with some rotting due to pests and disease. Without timely replacement by new specimens of the same species, shape, and characteristics, the risk of disrupting the landscape and losing part of the “soul” of these relics is tremendous.
Fully aware of the ecosystem’s value, Hue Monuments Conservation Center has persistently carried out the propagation of rare trees from the very specimens within the heritage sites, serving replanting, replacement, and long-term preservation.
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| Dredging the lake bed for lotus planting |
At the Nursery Team of the Center’s Environmental Landscape Department, this journey of “nurturing memory” begins with quiet, meticulous work: selecting grafts, cuttings, and seeds from mother trees of fine form, healthy growth, and high historical value. Precious species such as parasol trees, champak, magnolia, frangipani, podocarpus, and fruit trees such as lychee, longan, and jackfruit are propagated by different methods to ensure correct species and preserved identity.
The propagation and care area is located in Van Thanh, where the conditions of soil, water, light, ponds, and great skills converge. In addition, Cu Thanh Tomb serves as the zone for growing large trees before they are transplanted to relic sites. Each sapling, once mature, is numbered, its origin and planting schedule recorded, and its future location assigned. This data system gradually forms a digitalized database of heritage trees, enabling scientific and precise management.
“We see propagation as a way of replanting part of Hue’s memory. It is not just any new tree, it must be the right species, in the right place, harmonizing with architecture and traditional feng shui meaning,” shared Mr. Hoang The Hung, Head of the Nursery team.
At Van Thanh nursery today, there are about 15 species with nearly 3.000 saplings and 2.000 finished and semi-finished ornamental plants. In 2024 alone, nearly 1.000 shade trees were replanted in parts of the protective belt around Thieu Tri’s Tomb.
Along with trees, the nursery also propagates white lotuses and koi fish - symbolic elements of the Imperial Citadel’s ponds. After Thieu Phuong Garden was restored, the ancient royal gardens such as Vinh Phuong and Co Ha are next in line for revitalization, step by step regaining the beauty of former imperial gardens.
Connecting nature and memory
“Every tree chosen must have the right form, placement, and symbolic value,” said Mr.Hung. The parasol tree, symbol of monarchy, is planted in the Imperial Citadel, the king’s residence and court. Cycads, symbols of longevity, are often symmetrically planted before temples or tomb steps. White frangipani, with its delicate fragrance, is placed in tranquil areas such as corridors or palace ponds.
“We have maps of each monument and its corresponding trees. When a tree shows signs of decline, the technical team surveys, evaluates, and replaces it with a propagated counterpart,” Mr. Hung added.
Thanks to proactive propagation, many areas in the Imperial Citadel, Gia Long’s Tomb, Tu Duc’s Tomb, and Dong Khanh’s Tomb now have timely replacements with young trees, ensuring that the spaces remain green and retain their traditional “Hue character”.
Under the harsh August sun, Do Thanh Ty, a nursery worker, and his team still seize the early morning and late afternoon hours to water the plants. “During the day, we prepare flower pots for decorating heritage sites ahead of the September 2nd - National Day celebrations. The workload is heavy, but every time I see the trees growing stronger and flowers blooming beautifully, I feel happy,” Ty shared.
“We hope that not only the people of Hue, but also visitors, will experience a vivid sense of conservation and restoration, from architecture to greenery. Every canopy is part of the heritage, and must be protected”, said Mr. Hoang Viet Trung - Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center.
These trees not only cool the space, but also extend the memory of a land that has endured countless ups and downs. And through propagation and planting of these precious species, Hue’s heritage is being made “alive”, greener, more sustainable, for today and for generations to come.