Hanoi has been promoting tree growing with combined native and imported plants to diversify the shape and color of urban vegetation and beautify the city's landscape, according to the municipal People's Committee.

Specifically, Hanoi will plant 500,000 new trees for the 2021-2025 period. Among the trees to be planted this year are the orchid, Madagascar almond trees, and giant crepe myrtle trees. They will be planted either for their shade or for ornamental purposes. At present, the tree planting movement is spreading widely in Hanoi's localities.

Under the plan, more than 100,000 trees were planted in 2021 and 2022, and around 400,000 more trees are expected to be planted in the next three years. Areas, where new trees will be planted, include traffic projects, parks, and five outlying districts including Hoai Duc, Dong Anh, Thanh Tri, Gia Lam, and Dan Phuong.  

The move is part of the city's response to the Government's program to plant one billion trees in Vietnam in 2021-2025.

New trees are seen on Xa Dan Street in Hanoi. Photo: Nguyen Linh/ The Hanoi Times

Statistics from the Hanoi Department of Construction show that there are about 1.7 million trees in the city, which provide green space, help balance the ecology, and provide a fresh environment for residents. However, the green area per person in the city is only two square meters, less than a quarter of the World Health Organization's recommendation of nine square meters.

Trees and water in urban areas can help reduce air temperature by 3.3 degrees Celsius if tree coverage is 20-50% of the urban area. Urban trees can also help reduce 40-50% of solar radiation and absorb 70-75% of solar energy, according to the department.

The department has asked relevant units to draw up an annual plan to grow more trees in urban areas, industrial parks, and along roads and streets on the outskirts of the city to increase tree coverage.

The department has also set a target to remove all old, rotten, decaying ones in the city, especially in urban areas, in an effort to ensure the cityscape, traffic safety, and environmental protection.

Le Van Du, Deputy Head of the Technical Infrastructure Department under the department, said Hanoi will draw up a plan to replace old, stunted, and leaning trees that do not meet aesthetic requirements; cut down and replace dead trees that pose an unsafe risk.

"Replacing old and rotten trees to prevent possible accidents is necessary, but the trees should be carefully examined before felling. The big old trees are the iconic symbol of Hanoi, the city must take care of the trees and inspect them regularly for preservation," Du said.

To ensure safety, the city's sanitation companies should regularly check the physical conditions and pay attention to the age of the trees, he added. "The older the tree, the weaker its body and roots, and the more dangerous it is for people. Therefore, we need a proper plan to take care of trees," Du stressed.

"To prevent accidents caused by falling trees during the rainy season, it is necessary to replace trees that are too old in a scientific way. It is not difficult to assess the condition of trees with existing technologies such as ultrasound, observation, and evaluation," Du said.

As a key unit in planting trees for the city, the Hanoi Green Park Company said that from 2019, it has planted many layers of trees, including many imported trees, to create focal points in important areas, gradually improving the quality of greenery in flower gardens, parks and dividers in 12 districts.

The city has achieved the goal of planting one million trees by 2020, two years ahead of schedule.