Hanoi to consult residents on managing milkwood pine trees

Hanoi authorities are launching a public consultation process to address concerns regarding the intense scent of milkwood pine trees (hoa sữa) in densely populated areas. The city's Technical Infrastructure Management Center, under the Department of Construction, will survey residents near schools, hospitals, and residential zones where the fragrance has been reported to affect daily life.

Rather than a mass relocation of the trees, the city plans to evaluate each location individually to balance public health and living conditions with the preservation of urban identity and landscape value. Residents will be given options to maintain the trees as they are, continue regular care, prune specific flower clusters to reduce scent dispersion, or relocate certain trees to more suitable areas.

In the immediate term, management units will prioritize selective pruning of flower clusters and branches to mitigate the scent without harming the trees' health or appearance. Long-term strategies may include relocating trees in unsuitable locations and planting alternative species according to urban greenery planning.