Beautiful Vietnam » Hanoi
Oldest peach tree symbol for a village
  • | dtinews.vn | February 08, 2011 10:29 AM

There is nobody old enough to say for sure exactly how long a certain peach tree has been growing in Nhat Tan Village in Hanoi.

Mrs. Thuy showing the oldest peach tree in Nhat Tan
The oldest peach tree in Nhat Tan traditional peach garden

One thing that is known for sure is that it was named after a man, Mr. Linh, who is the oldest person in the village. Still, even Mr. Linh’s memory does not go back far enough to tell about the trees early days.

The peach tree, “Old Linh”, grows in the 247-square metre garden of Mrs. Cong Thi Thuy. When Thuy came to live with her husband’s family 30 years ago, the tree already looked very old. Some people guess that it may be about 40 years old.

This case is especially rare, say the villagers, because despite the trees great age, its size is not so impressive. It is much shorter than other peach trees. Often, old peach trees are attacked by insects, dying as a result.

Size and age are not the only things that set “Old Linh” apart. It has dark, rough bark, and the trunk is two or three times thicker than the trees surrounding it. There are also a great many knobs up and down the trunk. “The older a peach tree gets, the more knobs they get. It can be the result of storms. Trees one or two decades old often don’t have any,” Mrs. Thuy said.

The branches and trunk of “Old Linh” have to be supported by stakes, which surround the elderly plant, helping it stand against the wind and rain. It needs special care similar to that an old person might need. Too much water might damage the roots, and every year Thuy’s family must pile extra soil around the base of the tree.

The tree is leased out every Tet, but only to people who Thuy trusts to take proper care of it.

The offering of branches

People in Nhat Tan have a custom of offering peach branches to the tutelary deity of the village every Tet, from time immemorial. This is done to inform the deity of their achievements as well as to ask for favorable conditions in which to grow.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, locals gather at the deity’s temple for a ceremony which lasts for an hour.

For a branch to be good enough for the offering it must have fruits, flowers, buds and sprouts. The trunk must be strong and solid, with a pleasant shape.

It’s also said that in order to successfully grow peach trees, the family must set a good example: be happily married, with obedient sons and daughters.

Winds of change shake the branches

Nhat Tan has always been called the “kingdom of trees”. But the areas of the village where peach trees are still grown are being reduced by rapid urbanisation.

Years ago the village was resplendent with peach blossoms at the end of the winter, making for a picturesque scene at the end of West Lake.

Now, however, it’s not so easy to find a perennial tree in the village’s traditional peach garden. Instead, they are mostly brought in from the wild and grafted with the branches of Nhat Tan trees.

These cross-bred trees are not as attractive as the ones which used to fill the village. And only a few of these are left in the village now; the most famous being “Old Linh”.

Although growing peaches used to be the occupation of the village, and they were quite adept at coaxing the trees to flower even in cold weather, modern life is taking over here.

As with many parts of the country, old traditions are giving way to the new. Nowadays high-rise buildings are more prominent than the ubiquitous trees.

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