Admire the 500-year-old banyan tree in Thua Thien - Hue

The ancient banyan tree, over 500 years old (some documents record it is over 600 years old) in Thua Thien - Hue is a special symbol of the ancient village of Phuoc Tich, in Phong Hoa commune, Phong Dien district. The tree was recognized as a Vietnam Heritage Tree by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment in 2015.

The fig tree is about 25m high, with a trunk circumference of 6.5m, a diameter of 1.91m and a lush canopy, spreading more than 15m from the base, covering an area of hundreds of square meters. The most special thing about this fig tree is that the trunk has been hollow for a long time, from the base to the top. This hollow part forms a natural "cave" with large lumps and unique "stalactites" inside, with many large and small "vents". The "main door" near the base of the tree is quite wide, enough for an adult to crawl through.

The star apple tree is associated with an ancient temple located right at the base of the tree, called the Star Apple Temple. Both are located right at the intersection in the center of the village, playing a very special role in the spiritual life of the people of the ancient village of Phuoc Tich. Since ancient times, every time before exams, scholars in the village often came to the star apple tree, kneeling before the temple to pray for success. The tree is not only a rare natural heritage but also a historical witness, closely associated with the ups and downs and cultural identity of this ancient village.