For many years, longan trees have become a typical feature of Hung Yen province and contributed to the increase in the value of agricultural production. Hung Yen still preserves ancient longan trees aged hundreds of years old....
The 300-year-old longan tree in Hien's communal house
The longan tree has a lifespan of more than 300 years, located in the relic cluster of Hien pagoda and Hien communal house in Hong Chau ward (Hung Yen city). In the past, scientist Le Quy Don used to describe this kind of longan in the book "Phu Bien Tap Luc" published in 1776: "Every time I put it in my mouth, there comes an aromatic taste like the holy water".
Venerable Thich Thanh Son, Head of Hien Pagoda said: “Every year, at the beginning of July on the lunar calendar, when the longan is ripe, people will pick up the fruit to offer to Buddha and the tutelary god. Not only in the harvesting season, but also every day, there are tourists from all over the province and other part of the country visiting the relics, watching and giving an exclamation of surprise to the longan tree”.
On October 10, 1992, longan trees were identified as over 300 years old by Vietnam Gardening Association. The longan tree was honored and protected the original gene source for conservation and development; more importantly, to each Pho Hien citizen, the longan tree image was kept in mind and passed down for generations to come so that whenever Pho Hien people go, they will remember and introduce their home products to other friends in all regions.
The 100-year-old longan tree is Hong Nam commune
Located in Hung Yen city, Hong Nam commune is considered as the "capital" of the province with lush green longan gardens having an area of over 200 hectares. Generous nature bestows the fertile alluvial soil on this land where the longan tree rooted and existed for hundreds of years. Currently, the whole commune estimated that there are about 300 - 400 longan trees with a life expectancy of over 100 years. In particular, the ancient longan area along the dyke has 155 trees now has been attached the conservation sign; the rest are old longan trees planted in the household gardens, pagodas, and churches. Big trees with huge shadows where sunshine is hard to go through has become the ideal stop for those passing by at noon in the summer.
Ancient longan tree in Tam Nong communal house
The communal house of Tam Nong village, Hung Dao commune (Tien Lu district) is home to two special ancient longan trees with thick wrinkled bark featuring the time imprints. The main branches of the winding tree are like dragons. The tree canopies are very wide and the shade is cool down to a corner of the yard. Fresh green buds rise from the old tree trunk.
This year, thanks to the favorable weather, these two longan trees are fruitful in which one longan tree yields over 400 kilos of fruit and one yields about 140 kilos of fruit. The longan fruit of the two old longan trees is not as big as the newly hybridized varieties, but the quality of the fruit is good with thin shells, thick pulp, small seeds, sweet taste and mild aroma.
Recently, the management, conservation and exploitation of the value of the longan in general and the ancient longan trees in particular have been implemented by all levels and branches of Hung Yen province. However, the preservation is still difficult because many old trees are barren; some are rotten and broken branches. On the other hand, due to negative effects of humans leading to tree death, destroy, resulting in the risk of losing the special values of ancient longan varieties.
While the development of many new longan varieties in Hung Yen province brings various types, flexible cultivation season and different level of quality to meet consumers' needs and improve economic efficiency, the ancient longan trees become culture and pride of people of Hung Yen province which is famous for its longan specialty, carrying the sweetness of the reclaimed land period.
