Hanoi's famous flowers are driving residents mad with their smell
THE star-shaped white blossoms of Hanoi's milkwood trees have inspired songwriters and lovers, but city authorities began cutting them back on Friday after an outcry from residents over their "overpowering" fragrance.
Hanoi's renowned milkwood trees, known for their star-shaped white blossoms, are causing residents great distress due to their overwhelming aroma. These evergreen trees, which can grow over 10 meters tall, are a common sight throughout much of Asia and hold a special place in Vietnamese culture. However, the city's famous trees have become the subject of controversy as many residents find the scent too strong and unpleasant, particularly during hot weather.
Tran Trung Phong, a 56-year-old resident, said that he has to keep his doors and windows closed in order to avoid the strong fragrance, which also triggers headaches and breathing difficulties. Similar complaints have been made across social media platforms and have been reported in state-run media, prompting authorities to take action. On Friday, Hanoi officials began a campaign to prune around 1,000 trees from 13 streets in an effort to reduce the intensity of the smell.
A poll conducted by state-controlled online newspaper VnExpress found that 80% of respondents supported removing or relocating the trees. While some residents, like Lan Huong, argue that the trees are an integral part of Hanoi's identity and provide a welcome touch of nature in the polluted city, others like resident Thanh Luong insist that the trees' scent is unbearable.
She said that living just 100 meters away from two trees is a "torture" and it is easy to cut down a tree but how does one go about cutting down a memory?
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
