VietNamNet Bridge – Building ‘blockhouses’ by concrete or iron fences are among measures to protect sua trees (Dalbergia tonkinensis Prain) in Vietnam.



The sua tree (Dalbergia tonkinensis Prain) has been listed as an endangered flora species in Vietnam and is on the international red list. Sua timber is rare and valuable, and as per local myth, can be used for spiritual purposes and treatment of some diseases in China.

Guards of the Phu Ly flower garden in Ha Nam province build concrete amour around over 20 sua trees of over 10 years old.

Meanwhile, the management board of Choa Temple in Bac Ninh province set up a guard team to protect the ancient sua tree of hundreds of years old 24/7. This measure has been implemented for several years, after a big branch of the tree was chopped down in a stormy night by thieves. Earlier, some Chinese traders offered to buy the tree, at the price of a billion dong.

Chu Dong Tu temple in Hung Yen province has several ancient sua trees, which were several times chopped down by thieves. These trees are now protected by iron cages.

In Hanoi, where dozens of sua trees were cut down by thieves in recent years, sua trees were now protected by both concrete and iron ‘amours.’ However, these amours have been removed because they were said to make streets ugly.

At the Hanoi Botanical Garden, ancient sua trees are protected by barbwire.

Ancient sua trees at Go Dong Da, Hanoi, is guarded 24/7 by at least tens of guards.



Kien Trung