Loan introduces the erythrophleum fordii.

Regarding Lam Kinh special national relic site, visitors can witness a lot of artifacts and mysterious stories such as: the love story "cây đa – thị", the "smiling" guava tree, ancient gravestones. The story of the erythrophleum fordii in the main hall still contains unknown things.

Ms. Le Thi Loan, a guide in the relic site, told us about this mysterious story.

According to Ms. Loan, the Lam Kinh main hall was built right after the death of King Le Thai To (1433). He was brought back to his hometown Lam Sơn (the current location of Lam Kinh special national relic site) to be buried.

The main hall consists of three large buildings. It was built on a wide ground, 1.8m high above the yard. The ground floor was built in the architectural style of the letter Công (I), a total of 3 buildings with 19 compartments and 4 wings.

The main hall, which includes 138 columns, is a wooden structure in the central area.

Over time, the main hall deteriorated. To preserve and embellish, the reconstruction of the main hall was allowed in 2010. This place was restored to the correct scale, and old architecture. After 12 years of restoration, the new main hall was officially opened in April 2022.

According to Ms. Loan, before the construction project of Lam Kinh main hall, the tallest old erythrophleum fordii in Lam Kinh forest (about 600 years old) suddenly shed all its leaves. About half a year later, when the tree died, the construction had just been completed.

Ms. Loan also told us about something strange around here. Normally, other erythrophleum fordiis’ heartwood would be destroyed, but this tree would not. It is still solid as a block, very convenient to make a pillar for the main hall.

When the bark was removed, the core of the tree fit the stone base of the main pillar. The top of the tree fits the base of the subsidiary pillar. It is said that the erythrophleum fordii has "sacrificed itself" to restore this main hall.

“Currently, the main pillar is placed in the rear of the palace (the former king's resting place), the most sacred forbidden place with a prime location. When building 138 columns in the main hall, the main column was first built,” said Ms. Loan.

Lam Kinh main hall is the largest wooden construction in Thanh Hoa.
The delicate carved patterns in the main hall.
The timber pillar stands near King Le Loi’s bed as if it is protecting the king.
The interior of the main hall is completely inlaid with gold that is worth more than 40 billion VND.

Le Duong