Ancient tree root worth $1.5mil in Soc Trang Province

VietNamNet Bridge – A man in the southern province of Soc Trang owns a unique ancient root with a circumference of 30 meters weighing about 30 tons.

VietNamNet Bridge – A man in the southern province of Soc Trang owns a unique ancient root with a circumference of 30 meters weighing about 30 tons.

Mr. Mai Kien in Soc Trang City bought the root of an ancient almond tree at the Phung Tuong Temple in Song Phung Commune, Long Phu District, Soc Trang Province for VND35 million ($1,700) and is turning it into an artwork.

Based on the tree rings, it is estimated that the tree is from 450 to 700 years old. The tree was about 40m tall.

Mai Kien displays the giant root in a newly-built house. He hired several workers and artisans to clean and polish the root to make it an artwork, with religious themes.

He has spent nearly VND2 billion ($100,000) on the tree. He said he would have to invest an additional VND30 billion ($150,000) to turn the dry root into an artwork. This process may take several years.

Some companies and businessmen have offered from several to VND30 billion ($1.5 million) to buy the root, but he has refused.

"It is probably my destiny to see and buy this ancient root and I do not want to leave it,” he said.

Some pictures of the giant root:

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