What's special about the 'treasure' lychee tree in Bac Ninh?

TPO - The over 100-year-old lychee tree in Phuc Hoa commune, Bac Ninh province, is considered a "treasure" of the locality. Not only is it a fruit tree, but it has now become a popular check-in spot every summer, with over 1,000 visitors coming to see and take photos on peak days.

In the early days of the early lychee season, the road leading to Thai Hoa village, Phuc Hoa commune, Bac Ninh province is packed with people. Cars line up along the roadside, groups of tourists eagerly seeking out a special "treasure" of this land famous for lychees: the ancestral lychee tree, over 100 years old.

Standing under the tree's canopy, which resembled a giant umbrella, many couldn't hide their astonishment. The trunk was gnarled and so large that it would take 3-4 people to encircle it. Clusters of red and pink lychees hung heavily from the branches, covering the tree from root to tip.

Tourists enjoy taking photos with the ancient lychee tree in Phuc Hoa commune.

Ms. Trinh Thi Lan, residing in Bac Giang ward, Bac Ninh province, said that although she had eaten Phuc Hoa lychees many times, this was the first time she had seen the famous century-old lychee tree of the area with her own eyes.

"It looks even more impressive in real life than on social media. The tree is huge, and it's laden with fruit. I was surprised that a lychee tree could live for over 100 years and bear so much fruit every year," Ms. Lan shared.

The owner of this special lychee tree is Mr. Duong Duc Chung. When talking about the ancestral lychee tree, Mr. Chung proudly says it is a "legacy" that his grandfather left to his descendants.

"I've seen this lychee tree standing tall in the garden since I was a child. Now it's over 14 meters tall, with a canopy about 30 meters wide," Chung recounted.

The original lychee tree is laden with fruit from root to tip.

According to Mr. Chung, the tree belongs to the U Hong early-ripening lychee variety, one of the famous lychee varieties of the Phuc Hoa region. What's special is that this lychee tree has never had a crop failure. Every year it yields several hundred kilograms of fruit.

“This year the tree yielded about 600 kg of fruit. On average, it yields about 500 kg per year. The lychees from this original tree are tastier and sweeter than those from other trees in the garden, with small seeds and thick flesh,” Mr. Chung said.

What surprised many people was that caring for the century-old lychee tree wasn't particularly special. The family still tended to it using the same routine as other lychee trees in the garden. The biggest difficulty was that the tree was so tall that harvesting the fruit from the top was quite laborious.

More than just a fruit tree, the original lychee tree has now become a popular photo spot every summer. On peak days, Mr. Chung's family welcomes over 1,000 visitors who come to admire the tree and take pictures.

Visitors from within and outside the province come to see the original lychee tree.

"From morning till night, there are visitors coming to see the tree. On average, about 600-700 people come each day. Sometimes, even late at night, groups of visitors from far away come to admire the ancestral lychee tree," Mr. Chung said.

According to the People's Committee of Phuc Hoa commune, this is the oldest lychee tree in Bac Ninh province, over 100 years old. The tree originated from the former Hai Duong province, now part of Hai Phong city, and was later brought to Phuc Hoa and has thrived there to this day.

The special appeal of the ancestral lychee tree lies not only in its rare age but also in the brand value it brings to the Phuc Hoa lychee growing region.

Therefore, this year, Phuc Hoa commune is holding its first-ever auction for the right to harvest the fruit from the ancestral lychee tree belonging to Mr. Duong Duc Chung's family. This information quickly attracted the attention of the public and businesses.

Granting the right to harvest the fruit from the original lychee tree to the successful bidder.

The auction was lively, with nearly 20 organizations and individuals participating. The starting price was 50 million VND, and it was continuously pushed up as many people wanted to own the right to harvest the lychee yield from the famous century-old tree.

As a result, a business in Bac Ninh province successfully bid for the right to harvest all the fruit from the original lychee tree this year for 100 million VND.

This figure surprised many people because the tree's yield is only a few hundred kilograms of fruit. However, according to local leaders, the greatest value lies not in the quantity of fruit harvested, but in its significance in promoting the brand.

The auction of the right to cultivate the original lychee tree contributes to promoting Phuc Hoa lychees.

The auction of the right to exploit the original lychee tree is considered a special highlight in the series of activities to promote trade and consumption of Phuc Hoa lychees in 2026. This will contribute to enhancing the local lychee brand, attracting tourists , and creating a strong media effect.

Beneath the canopy of the ancient tree ablaze with ripe red berries, people continue to flock there. They come not only to admire this special lychee tree, but also to feel the enduring vitality of a "witness" that has been connected to the lychee-growing region of Phuc Hoa for over a century.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/dieu-dac-biet-ve-cay-vai-thieu-bau-vat-o-bac-ninh-post1845821.tpo