Each row of ancient trees on Phan Dinh Phung street with shady dracontomelon leaves, each season of white sưa trees quietly on Phan Chu Trinh street, each straight black sao tree trunk along Lo Duc street... have become deep melodies in the symphony of Hanoi's landscape - where trees not only provide shade but also preserve the vivid memories of a cultural city.
In the context of rapid urbanization, Hanoi is urgently requiring green tree planning not only to provide shade but also to create identity and nurture memories.
The city's silent "ambassador"
In the flow of creating a green, civilized and modern city, Hanoi is facing the problem of planning green trees to harmonize the environment and urban identity.
Many first-time visitors to Hanoi are impressed by the peaceful and ancient beauty rarely seen in other large cities. Streets such as Phan Dinh Phung, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hoang Dieu… are living proof of the harmony between modern urban areas and green nature. The trees here are not only ecological factors but also cultural and landscape symbols.
Ms. Minh Ha, a Vietnamese expatriate in Germany, originally from Hanoi, shared that she has been away from her hometown for a long time, but every street corner and row of trees are still intact in her memory. Hanoi is now much more beautiful, especially the streets with rows of trees in neat rows and diverse colors. Many streets have also become favorite destinations for taking photos and organizing cultural activities.
Around the world , trees are also silent but effective "image ambassadors", promoted by many cities to shape their own identity.
Like Gonçalo de Carvalho Street (Brazil) with 500 meters of magnificent Tipuana tree tunnel, purple Jacaranda Street in Zimbabwe, unique ancient Baobab Street in Madagascar or brilliant maple street by Kawaguchiko Lake in Japan...
This shows that smart green planning can turn an ordinary road into an attractive tourist destination.
Creating visual memories and identity of Hanoi
Hanoi currently has about 1.8 million urban trees. In the capital planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the specific goal by 2030 is to achieve an urban green area of about 10-12m2/person. This is not only the "lungs" but is also identified as a key factor in landscape creation and identity preservation.
In fact, Hanoi has made significant progress in recent years. Many new streets such as Pham Van Dong, Vo Chi Cong, Vo Nguyen Giap… have been planned to plant trees in a synchronous, modern and close-to-nature manner.
Rosewood, small-leafed banyan, date palm, and Bauhinia species were introduced to replace them, enriching the urban flora and improving the ability to adapt to increasingly harsh climatic conditions.
According to experts, the big challenge today is not in quantity but in the quality of green planning and the ability to create a distinctive landscape identity for each area.
Dr. Architect Pham Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Landscape Architects, said that Hanoi needs a tree planting scenario for each route and space according to the landscape characteristics and a story associated with the identity of each street.
According to him, the city needs to research and select tree species suitable for urban spaces, replace trees that are no longer suitable, and meet the requirements of landscape, environment and safety for people.
Professor-Doctor Ngo Quang De (University of Forestry) informed that Hanoi is lacking in plants that bloom in winter. The city needs to research and add tree varieties suitable for cold climates so that flowers bloom all year round, creating a vibrant landscape all year round.
Some opinions suggest that streets with large widths and open spaces should prioritize large shade trees such as lat hoa, dau rai, muong hoang yen... On small streets with narrow sidewalks, it is recommended to plant low-rise trees, climbing flowers, potted plants or bushes such as magnolia, frangipani, purple beans... to create softness and not hinder daily activities.
Some typical plants such as white tea, red tea, and dổi trees should be tested to increase the beauty and personality of the landscape.
Not only that, each season, each area should be associated with a “unique flower color” to create visual memories for the city. A “Spring Hanoi” filled with the pink of trumpet flowers, the bright yellow of peach blossoms or yellow Osaka. A “Summer Hanoi” full of romance with white sưa or bright red royal poinciana by the lake… creates a unique mark, enough to hold tourists’ feet and ignite love for the city in each resident.
From successful green tree models in the world, Hanoi can completely learn and apply creatively in its own way. Each street is associated with a symbolic flower tree. Each season is a colorful festival. Or fully exploit walking routes, old streets, riverside to build "green corridors" with unique and artistic landscapes.
In order for trees to create Hanoi’s identity, a systematic and long-term strategy is needed. Integrating tree planning into the cultural-tourism development strategy, especially programs on cultural industries and UNESCO creative cities, needs to be specified with action plans and effective inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms.
Hanoi is a UNESCO creative city, the planning of green trees is closely connected with public spaces such as parks, flower gardens, squares, public art spaces, green tourism contributing to creating a synchronous and integrated ecosystem.
In addition, there should be policies to encourage communities, social organizations, and businesses to participate in investing, caring for, and preserving the green tree system, especially in new urban areas, industrial parks, schools, and hospitals - places lacking shade and green space. Each street and residential area, if possible, can become a "green cultural unit," connecting residents' lives and urban identity.
The promulgation of the Planning for the system of trees, parks and regulating lakes until 2030, with a vision to 2050 (Decision 1495/QD-UBND), together with the adjustment of the Master Plan of the Capital until 2045 (Decision 1668/QD-TTg) has created a solid legal and planning foundation for the development of green spaces, including street trees.
In particular, the 2024 Capital Law has added many new provisions, encouraging green investment, socializing parks and preserving ecological corridors. To increase the proportion of green areas, Hanoi is focusing on key solutions, first of all, promoting the review and updating of planning to ensure consistency between zoning and detailed planning.
The plan to plant 500,000 trees in the city in the 2021-2025 period also clearly states: Research and develop solutions to develop an urban green tree system in sync with the planning, suitable to the characteristics of the area's space, meeting the requirements of urban aesthetics.
Green trees are not only an aesthetic element but also a material that connects people with their living space. The rice field tree, the autumn banyan tree, the summer royal poinciana tree… have long become images deeply engraved in the music, poetry and memories of Hanoians, as in the lyrics of musician Trinh Cong Son: Hanoi in Autumn/ The yellow rice field tree/ The red-leafed banyan tree/ Lying side by side/ Old streets, old houses…
Faced with the pressure of climate change and urbanization, choosing green living is no longer a trend but a strategic requirement. A green Hanoi - a place with shade for children to play, colorful flowers for the elderly to reminisce, and ecological corridors for sustainable development - will be the foundation for creating a humane, livable, and unique urban area./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ha-noi-dinh-hinh-ban-sac-do-thi-tu-cay-xanh-bong-mat-va-ky-uc-mua-hoa-post1050084.vnp
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