Hanoi orders urgent review of densely planted milk flower trees

On October 14, Truong Viet Dung, vice-chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, instructed the municipal Department of Construction to work with local authorities and relevant agencies to review streets and residential areas where densely planted milk flower trees affect residents’ daily lives.

The department was asked to propose relocating some trees to suitable locations and planting other species to replace them, while preserving the city’s landscape and following approved urban greenery plans.

The move aims to improve living conditions and protect public health while preserving the milk flower tree’s distinctive place in the capital’s identity.

Milk flowers are closely associated with autumn in Hanoi and contribute to the city’s character. However, on some streets, the trees have been planted so densely that their strong fragrance during the flowering season has affected residents’ health, daily activities and quality of life.

Hanoi has about 14,400 milk flower trees spread across roads and urban areas.

Streets where the trees are found include Nguyen Du, Tran Duy Hung, Trung Hoa, Trung Kinh, Duy Tan, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Me Tri, Ho Tung Mau, Quan Thanh, Dao Tan, Nguyen Khanh Toan, Quang Trung, Thuy Khue, Cua Bac, Lac Long Quan, Le Van Luong, Le Quang Dao and Hoang Quoc Viet.

Under the proposed approach, any changes would be based on surveys of individual streets, taking into account tree density, distance from buildings, tree health and the impact on local communities. Residents’ views would be an important factor in deciding which measures are appropriate.

The guiding principle is to preserve healthy trees and long-established avenues with cultural and landscape value, rather than felling or relocating trees on a large scale. Changes would be considered only where existing planting arrangements are clearly unsuitable, in accordance with regulations and technical requirements.

For trees that are moved, authorities would identify suitable receiving sites and arrange care and monitoring after replanting. Where conditions permit, additional shade trees would be planted in line with the characteristics of each street and the city’s greenery plan, without reducing urban green space.

In 2019, Hanoi authorities also relocated numerous milk flower trees from several streets to the Nam Son solid waste treatment complex.