The original lychee tree of Thanh Ha continues to bear sweet fruit.
According to historical documents, the person credited with bringing lychee to Vietnam was Mr. Hoang Van Com, who lived in Thuy Lam village, Thanh Xuan commune, Thanh Ha district, Hai Duong province (now Thanh Ha commune, Hai Phong city). Mr. Com was a fruit trader. In 1870, while attending a wedding of a Chinese immigrant in Hai Phong, he tasted a type of lychee with a particularly delicious flavor. Therefore, he brought three seeds back to plant in his garden.
All three seeds germinated, but only one plant survived. Due to the favorable climate and soil conditions, the plant grew and developed well, producing sweet fruit. It is called "Thieu lychee" because this variety originates from Shaozhou (China).
When the trees matured, Mr. Com's family continued to sow seeds and graft branches so that other households in the village could plant them. In 1958, the people of Thuy Lam village presented 30 kg of lychees to President Ho Chi Minh at the Presidential Palace. He praised Thuy Lam lychees as a precious variety, very delicious, and advised the people to develop this variety.
From that time onwards, people actively propagated and expanded the planting area throughout Thanh Ha district and then Hai Duong province. The Thanh Ha lychee brand was born and became famous from then on.
Some local people who migrated to new economic zones also brought this lychee variety with them. Gradually, from that first lychee tree, the lychee not only became a specialty and staple fruit of Thanh Ha but also appeared in many other regions.
The lychee tree planted by Mr. Com is still thriving, bearing sweet fruit regularly for nearly 200 years. To show respect and gratitude to the grower and to prove the long-standing origin of Thanh Ha lychees, the people call this tree the ancestral lychee tree.
Regarding the scientific basis, in 1992 the Central Committee of the Vietnam Horticultural Association determined this to be the oldest lychee tree in the country. In 2016, the Vietnam Record Association also confirmed that the lychee tree planted by Mr. Com is the oldest lychee tree in Vietnam.
Preserve to promote its value.
Over time, the ancestral lychee tree has been carefully cared for and preserved by generations of descendants of Mr. Com. With the attention of various levels of government and relevant agencies, the ancestral lychee tree has been studied for conservation and protection of its valuable genetic resources. At the same time, the location where the ancestral lychee tree is planted has been renovated and upgraded to attract tourists from near and far to visit and experience it.
Following the merger, the local government has also actively invested in and promoted the value of the original lychee tree. This has contributed to enhancing the brand value of Thanh Ha lychee, a local specialty.
Mr. Hoang Van Luom, the fifth-generation descendant of Mr. Com, is currently the person directly caring for the ancestral lychee tree. He said that in recent years, more people have come to know about and visit the ancestral lychee tree. Through the stories of tourists, Mr. Luom learned that they want to see firsthand the first lychee tree ever planted and learn about the history of Thanh Ha lychee.
“Our family and clan are very proud that our ancestor was the one who cultivated this tree variety, which has become a local specialty. Lychee has brought prosperity to the people. Although there was a time when lychee trees were neglected, over time, thanks to the efforts of the government and the people, lychee trees have gradually regained their position and affirmed their brand. To this day, the ancestral lychee tree remains healthy and bears fruit consistently every season, as proof of the enduring value of this specialty crop,” Mr. Luom affirmed.
To preserve the original lychee tree, the local authorities have also collaborated with relevant units and scientists to assess its current growth status, analyze natural conditions, and determine the most effective care measures.
During the lychee season, the ancestral lychee tree becomes a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Everyone is eager and curious about the origins of this fruit, which is described with such beautiful words: its outer skin is like pink and purple silk, its flesh is like glass or snow, its taste is intensely sweet, and when eaten, it has a fragrant aroma, as if it were a celestial elixir.
NGUYEN MOSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/bao-ton-cay-vai-to-thanh-ha-542835.html
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