Mr. Cao Thanh Hung stands beside an ancient crape myrtle tree in bloom. Photo: TRONG TIN
In Cho Vam commune, almost everyone knows about the three ancient Lagerstroemia trees behind the Bang Lang temple. According to the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment, these are three ancient Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers trees. All three trees are very rare and valuable, with one tree over 215 years old and the other two over 305 years old. Each tree has an average height of over 8 meters, a trunk circumference of about 4 meters (measured at a height of 1.3 meters above the ground), a distance of 9 meters between the trees, and a canopy width of about 6 meters. Notably, the canopies of each tree develop independently, without overlapping.
Mr. Cao Thanh Hung (born in 1961), Deputy Head of the Bang Lang Temple's Management Board, said that according to the elders, when the temple dedicated to Thien Y Tien Nuong was moved to its current location in 1859, the three ancient crape myrtle trees were already tall and majestic. No one knows whether the trees grew naturally or were planted beforehand, but after hundreds of years, they remain lush and bloom brilliantly every season. Mr. Hung shared: “The three ancient crape myrtle trees have been here for a very long time, blooming regularly every year. People in the neighborhood just sit and enjoy the shade under the trees; no one dares to climb them. Every day after school, the children in the neighborhood water the trees and pull weeds around the base… the care of the trees has been passed down from generation to generation.”
From a distance, the tree's vast canopy provided shade over a large area of the courtyard. From the main trunk, numerous large branches extended, so thick that a single person couldn't encircle them with their arms, forming shapes like winding dragons. The canopy was wide enough to shade hundreds of people at once. Many species of birds also nested in the high branches.
Interestingly, the three ancient crape myrtle trees have different flower colors: light purple, dark purple, and pink. “The two purple crape myrtle trees have produced offspring, with saplings growing all over the grounds of the Bang Lang temple. The pink crape myrtle tree, however, is thriving and flowering regularly, but so far it hasn't produced any offspring,” Mr. Hung said.
Having withstood the harshness of time for hundreds of years, these three ancient crape myrtle trees still possess remarkable vitality and stand tall and strong. Their massive trunks have formed hollow spaces large enough for an adult to crawl into.
According to the elders, the area where the three crape myrtle trees grow was once a hiding place for revolutionary cadres and a place to conceal documents during the resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism. Therefore, this cluster of three ancient crape myrtle trees not only has cultural and spiritual significance but also holds precious historical value for the locality. The people of Cho Vam always cherish, preserve, and care for these Heritage Trees. No one cuts them down or arbitrarily picks flowers or breaks branches. Each tree is protected by a sturdy fence.
Mr. Nguyen Van Lo (73 years old), residing in Phu Hiep hamlet, said that the shade under the ancient crape myrtle trees is very cool, so adults often come to sit and relax at noon, and children study there. Everyone is always conscious of preserving and protecting the three ancient crape myrtle trees. “The stories passed down through generations about the origins, history, and development of the three ancient crape myrtle trees help succeeding generations understand more about history and love their homeland even more. Local people, young and old, consider the three ancient crape myrtle trees an important part of their cultural and spiritual life,” Mr. Lo said.
In 2018, the Vietnam Association for Nature and Environment Protection held a ceremony to recognize and designate three Lagerstroemia trees in the Bang Lang Temple grounds as Vietnam Heritage Trees, while also implementing long-term protection measures. The recognition of these three Lagerstroemia trees as Vietnam Heritage Trees once again affirms the concern of the local government and community for environmental protection, biodiversity preservation, and the natural ecosystem. It also represents gratitude for the values left behind by previous generations.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/3-chung-nhan-lich-su-o-cho-vam-a489530.html
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