{"id":2381,"date":"2024-02-07T12:35:28","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T12:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/tourism\/cay-loc-vung-tu-que-ra-pho"},"modified":"2026-01-19T08:21:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T08:21:38","slug":"the-barringtonia-tree-from-the-countryside-to-the-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/news\/the-barringtonia-tree-from-the-countryside-to-the-city","title":{"rendered":"The Barringtonia tree \u2013 from the countryside to the city."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My childhood stretched along the branches of my hometown rivers, along the wild l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng trees lining the breezy dikes. Back then, I didn\u2019t know the tree had such a beautiful name. The children in my village simply called it by its familiar name\u2014the Chi\u1ebfc tree.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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From Wild Greens to the City<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I often wondered why a wild-growing tree could bear such proudly elegant flowers\u2014pure white petals blooming in cascading clusters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember in the past, around the second lunar month, when the tree sprouted young leaves, people in my village would pick them to eat with braised fish or use them to wrap b\u00e1nh x\u00e8o. The slightly astringent taste of the leaves made meals more intriguing. The young leaves were purple, glossy, and full of moisture. Thanks to these wild greens, in the remote countryside where food was scarce, laborers found renewed strength after simple yet satisfying meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some dishes were prepared more elaborately, such as salads made from young leaves mixed with lime juice and peanuts. Because the young leaves had a mildly bitter taste, whenever the tree sprouted new foliage, it became an excuse for mothers to make b\u00e1nh x\u00e8o and other delicacies to enjoy with the leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng tree comes in two varieties: white-flowered and red-flowered. The white-flowered variety has larger blossoms. However, regardless of color, each type possesses its own proud and elegant beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The sesame tree \u2013 from countryside to city<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Today, as living conditions improve, people gradually eat less of these once-beloved leaves. No longer needing to venture into distant fields or forests, one can now find this tree everywhere\u2014from cities to rural areas\u2014standing in home yards as a symbol of luck and prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though \u201cdomesticated,\u201d when the season comes, the l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng tree still sheds old leaves and produces tender new shoots. Watching the tree sprout fresh leaves, I am reminded of my childhood days herding buffaloes across fields and working the land; of meals eaten in the fields under blazing sun or pouring rain, with nothing but cold rice, sesame salt, and tender leaves; of my mother, bent with age, clutching a handful of leaves while preparing meals, praising their deliciousness over and over\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n

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The tree shades an entire courtyard<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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General Information about the Tree<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng tree is one of the most valued ornamental trees, belonging to the genus Barringtonia, with the scientific name Barringtonia acutangula. It is commonly grown in moist coastal regions of South Asia and Northern Australia. In Vietnam, the tree thrives throughout the country from south to north. It is part of the \u201cThree Blessings\u201d group, which includes the fig tree (symbolizing happiness), the l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng tree (symbolizing prosperity), and the cycad (symbolizing longevity). Because the word \u201cl\u1ed9c\u201d (fortune) appears in its name, many people plant it in their yards not only for shade but also to attract wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a sturdy hardwood tree. Its leaves are lance-shaped, and its flowers come in two colors\u2014white and red\u2014blooming in clusters that hang like elegant chains. The flowers typically bloom from March to August, during which time the tree bursts into full blossom and releases a gentle fragrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symbolic Meaning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng tree symbolizes wealth, prosperity, good fortune, and abundance. It also represents family harmony and unity, reflected in its lush canopy and clustered blossoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its large, sturdy trunk symbolizes strong willpower, while the tree\u2019s longevity signifies long life for family members. At the same time, the l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng tree brings a sense of peace and security, warding off misfortune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Common Types in Vietnam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many varieties with different characteristics, but in Vietnam, three common types are typically seen: red-flowered l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng, white-flowered l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng, and rau v\u1eebng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red-flowered l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the most commonly planted variety. It features captivating red flowers accompanied by a light fragrance. The species originates from wetland regions in South Asia, Northern Australia, the Philippine archipelago, and Queensland Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Vietnam, due to its red blossoms and auspicious name, it is widely chosen as an ornamental tree for home gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Barringtonia tree \u2013 from the countryside to the city.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White-flowered l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This variety bears striking white flowers that bloom in clusters, making it a popular choice for landscaping and garden decoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White crape myrtle flowers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sesame plant<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This type is commonly grown in southern Vietnam, particularly in mangrove areas and along coastlines. It is mainly planted for shade, with a lush canopy. Notably, the tree bears fruit directly from its branches rather than from flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to traditional Eastern medicine, the tree has neutral properties and a mildly sweet taste. Its aromatic seeds are believed to be effective in treating physical weakness and premature graying of hair. Additionally, the fruit is used to treat coughs, asthma, and eczema, while the bitter roots are valued for their anti-inflammatory and heat-clearing properties.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The crape myrtle flowers covered the corner of the yard in red.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Mekong Delta Culture<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My childhood stretched along the branches of my hometown rivers, along the wild l\u1ed9c v\u1eebng trees lining the breezy dikes. Back then, I didn\u2019t know the tree had such a beautiful name. The children in my village simply called it by its familiar name\u2014the Chi\u1ebfc tree. From Wild Greens to the City I often wondered…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1338,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[653],"tags":[825,826,827,828,829,830],"location":[],"class_list":["post-2381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-cay-loc-vung","tag-cay-loc-vung-tu-que-ra-pho","tag-hoa-loc-vung","tag-hoa-loc-vung-do","tag-hoa-loc-vung-trang","tag-rau-rung"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2381"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2397,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381\/revisions\/2397"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2381"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanhoamientay.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=2381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}