Villagers Protect Centuries-Old Konia Trees

Why this is here: Cụ Hà Văn An, at 81 years old, remembers playing under the konia trees as a child and helping to collect fallen fruit for a sweet, fatty kernel inside.

In Hòa Mỹ, Vietnam, residents safeguard roughly 20 konia trees—some over 300 years old—as treasured heirlooms. These Irvingia malayana trees thrive in Bình Định province, a rare sight given the species typically grows in Vietnam’s Tây Nguyên highlands and across Southeast Asia. Many trees stand nearly 30 meters tall, with one trunk requiring three people to encircle it.

Villagers have built small shrines at the base of the trees, viewing them as spiritual symbols connected to community life. Stories circulate of those who attempted to cut down the trees and experienced misfortune, reinforcing their sacred status. When building a sports field, the community adjusted the design to avoid disturbing three konia trees.

Though the trees provide fruit and shelter for wildlife, their numbers have diminished due to land development. Residents maintain an unwritten agreement to protect the trees, but many now show signs of age, disease, and insect damage. Local authorities plan to assess the trees and consider a centralized conservation effort, potentially linking it to community-based tourism.