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Typhoon Yagi, which swept through Hanoi on September 9th, not only caused material damage but also inflicted deep wounds on the hearts of the capital's residents. Over 25,000 trees were uprooted, including many ancient trees – living symbols of time and memory – leaving many feeling sorrowful and regretful. The image of an elderly man contemplating beside a fallen tree in X.Lan's painting, speaking for many, expressed this pain and garnered strong empathy from the community.
X.Lan, whose real name is Nguyen Vu Xuan Lan, was born and raised in Hanoi. Her simple drawings evoke familiar images from the old Hoa Hoc Tro (Student's Flower) weekly magazines. Her drawing, captioned "After the storm. Our city lost a piece of its soul," depicts a poignant moment: an old man placing his hand on a tree felled by the storm, as if trying to hold onto something remaining from a past that had been intertwined for many years. Just a few hours after being posted, the drawing received nearly 7,000 likes, along with numerous comments sharing similar feelings of sadness.
The inspiration for the painting is a touching true story about the banyan tree on Phan Dinh Phung Street belonging to Mr. Cuong Vante's family. "In 1972, my father personally planted a banyan tree at the entrance to our alley as a birthday gift for my mother. The tree is still commonly known by the locals as 'Mr. Cuong Vante's Banyan Tree'..." shared Ms. Trang Lam Anh, Mr. Cuong Vante's daughter.
The 52-year-old banyan tree was a birthday gift that Mr. Cuong personally planted for his wife 52 years ago. The tree had been a companion to his family and many other families on Phan Dinh Phung street for more than half a lifetime. It witnessed the growth of generations of children and grandchildren and was a symbol of family love and memories. When the tree fell, his family came together to say goodbye, gathering the remaining branches and leaves as if trying to hold onto precious memories. For them, it was not just an ancient tree, but a part of their past that had been swept away.
The couple took their last photo by the fallen banyan tree.
The storm not only swept away property and possessions, but also carried away a part of Hanoi's soul – ancient trees, some decades, even centuries old, that had witnessed the capital's many ups and downs. These trees provided more than just shade; they were memories and images intertwined with every street corner and every family. When these trees fell, the loss was not only material but also spiritual.
Artist X.Lan understood and shared that pain through her painting. For her, each fallen tree is a wound that is difficult to heal in the hearts of the people. However, she hopes that this loss will make people more aware of the importance of protecting the city's trees and natural heritage.
The trees have witnessed countless ups and downs of the capital city.
According to statistics from the Hanoi City Infrastructure Management Center (Hanoi Department of Construction), Hanoi's system of shade trees is incredibly rich, with 175 species belonging to 55 plant families. Across 12 districts, there are currently more than 8,000 ancient trees, including those with a minimum age of 50 years or a trunk diameter of 50 cm or more at a height of 1.3 m. The most common species include Terminalia catappa, Lagerstroemia indica, Terminalia chebula, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus microcarpa, Dalbergia tonkinensis, Terminalia catappa, Cinnamomum camphora, Acacia mangium, Aquilaria sinensis, Dioscorea opposita, Spondias mombin, Dalbergia tonkinensis, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, and Delonix regia. While awaiting Hanoi's recovery and regeneration of lost green spaces, the community will continue to share and connect through memories and love for trees – the living symbols of the capital city.
