A city among centuries-old trees in Mekong Delta

A view of the city center in Ward 1, seen from above, reveals towering trees with wide canopies that cover a large portion of the urban space.

Tra Vinh City currently boasts over 14,463 shade trees along 87 streets. Covering an area of 68 square kilometers with a population of around 115,000, the city has an average green space of over 29 square meters per person, approximately 10 times the national urban average.

The trees along the streets are individually numbered for monitoring and growth history purposes.

In March 2024, IQAir, a Swiss global air quality monitoring agency, ranked Tra Vinh third among the 15 cities with the cleanest air in Southeast Asia and the cleanest in Vietnam. According to local officials, the city is also recognized as the greenest in the country.

An ancient dipterocarp tree stands at the intersection of Hung Vuong and Le Loi Streets, in front of the provincial People's Committee headquarters.

City Urban Department officials conduct regular inspections of these trees.

Currently, the city employs two teams with about 100 staff members dedicated to monitoring and pruning trees for safety. Each year, Tra Vinh allocates 20 billion VND (approximately 850,000 USD) for tree care, inviting experts from the Netherlands and Australia to assess and develop maintenance solutions for the ancient trees.

Both sides of Le Thanh Ton Street are lined with tall, straight ancient dipterocarps providing ample shade.

While 19 Thang 5 Street features rows of tamarind trees with trunks so wide it takes one to two people to embrace them.

In Ward 8 lies Ang Pagoda, the oldest in the province, built in 990. Surrounded by a forest of trees, the city hosts 12 Khmer pagodas, all of which are adorned with abundant greenery. Seen from above, these pagodas resemble miniature forests, contributing to the city's fresh and cool atmosphere.

Adjacent to Ang Pagoda is the Ba Om Pond cultural and natural landmark, spanning over 300 hectares. The site consists of three main parts: the pond (15 hectares), the surrounding embankments, and the ancient forest that encircles it. The pond's surface is clear and dotted with lotus and water lilies.

The pond is bordered by undulating sandy mounds covered with centuries-old dipterocarp and star trees.

Many of these trees have roots protruding above the ground, creating unique and fascinating shapes.