Rare and valuable yellow cypress wood is listed in the Red Book in only 2 countries, Vietnam has 1,000 trees.

This species of tree was first discovered in the Bat Dai Son mountain range, Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province in 1999.

Loại gỗ quý hiếm chỉ 2 quốc gia có, riêng Việt Nam sở hữu tới 1.000 cây - Ảnh 1.

The Vietnamese golden cypress (Xanthocyparis vietnamensis), also known as the Vietnamese golden cypress, is one of the rarest and most unique tree species in the world . With only about 1,000 trees in Vietnam and only one in China, this tree not only has biological value but is also a symbol of resilience and natural beauty.

The Vietnamese Golden Cypress was first discovered in the Bat Dai Son mountain range, Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province in 1999. Outside Ha Giang, small populations have also been found in Cao Bang and Tuyen Quang. Notably, in April 2012, a single tree was reported from the Mulun Nature Reserve in Guangxi province, China. This further emphasizes the rarity and preciousness of this species.

The Vietnamese Golden Cypress is a small to medium sized tree, growing to 10-15m in height. The trunk is round and straight, with reddish-brown to greyish-brown bark. It is particularly common in inaccessible or difficult-to-reach areas on steep limestone mountains. The wood of the Golden Cypress is golden brown, fine-grained, extremely hard and has a strong aroma. The excellent quality of the wood, combined with its use in East Asian cultures, has made this species extremely rare.

The Vietnamese Golden Cypress has been classified as critically endangered in the wild (EN) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The main threat comes from indiscriminate logging. The wood of this tree is sought after for making houses, feng shui items and handicrafts, leading to a serious decline in the number of large, well-growing trees.

In addition, habitat loss due to deforestation is also an important cause. The development of infrastructure and the expansion of agriculture have reduced the forest area where golden cypresses live.

Facing the risk of extinction, the Vietnamese golden cypress is classified in Group IA of the List of Endangered, Precious, and Rare Forest Plants and Animals. This means that all exploitation and trade are strictly prohibited. Scientists and governments are working hard to protect and propagate this species.