In the border commune of Ba Chuc, a 300-year-old tree has become a symbol of resilience and remembrance amid a tragic past.
On Ngo Tu Loi Road, in Ba Chuc commune, An Giang province, a towering ancient oil tree stands defiantly in the middle of the street. Though its trunk is hollowed by time, the tree remains untouched - preserved by the locals as a living witness to the region’s painful history.
Ba Chuc, a border commune, holds strategic significance for Vietnam’s national defense. First-time visitors are often struck by the surreal sight of a massive tree rooted directly in the center of the road.
A 300-year-old oil tree stands in the middle of the road in Ba Chuc. Photo: Tran Tuyen
The tree rises approximately 15 meters high, with a trunk so wide it takes three to four people to encircle it. Its roots sprawl outward, layering tightly around the base like ancient ribbons.
Despite visible decay in its trunk, the tree continues to thrive, with lush green foliage crowning its upper branches.
Layers of roots envelop the ancient oil tree. Photo: Tran Tuyen
According to local residents, the tree is estimated to be about 300 years old and is seen as a “living witness” to countless events and sorrows on this borderland.
Ba Chuc is infamous as the site of one of the Khmer Rouge’s worst atrocities. In April 1978, Pol Pot’s forces launched a brutal cross-border assault on several An Giang communes. The peak of this violence was a 12-day massacre, during which more than 3,000 civilians in Ba Chuc were killed.
Some villagers believe the ground where the tree now stands was one of the sites soaked in the blood of the fallen.
As the tree grew more prominent, a Buddhist monk sought permission to build Thanh Luong Pagoda beside it. Once the pagoda was established, villagers began gathering there, forming a growing community around the site.
Over time, the ancient tree became known as a protective spirit - a "guardian deity" for the villagers. It has been strictly protected ever since. No one dares harm it, let alone cut it down.
Lighting system installed around the tree for both visibility and aesthetics. Photo: Tran Tuyen
According to local cultural officials, the tree is deeply embedded in the history, spiritual life, and beliefs of the Ba Chuc community.
“To ensure road safety, we’ve installed decorative and warning lights around the tree,” said a local cultural affairs officer, “not only to enhance visibility but also to preserve it as a symbolic landmark.”
Ba Chuc authorities are currently encouraging residents to remove illegal structures encroaching on the roadside to allow for a road expansion project at the intersection near the tree. The planned upgrade will widen the road from 2.5 meters to 4 meters over a 1.5 km stretch, with an estimated cost of nearly 3 billion VND (about 123,000 USD), funded by both the government and community contributions.
The goal is to improve traffic flow and enhance local infrastructure for economic and social development - while still preserving the sacred tree that has watched over Ba Chuc for centuries.
Vietnamnet.vn
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