Hanoi to replace milkwood trees on Nguyen Du Street with Sao đen

Hanoi is implementing a plan to manage its urban greenery by pruning nearly 1,000 milkwood trees (Alstonia scholaris) in areas where high density causes their strong scent to affect residents. The city aims to balance the preservation of this iconic species with the quality of life for citizens.

As part of a broader urban planning proposal, the Department of Construction has suggested replacing milkwood trees with other species in specific locations to create a more diverse and manageable landscape. For instance, on Nguyen Du Street, the city plans to introduce Sao đen trees to provide sustainable shade and a different aesthetic. Other streets will see the introduction of species like Sấu, Bằng lăng, or fragrant plants like Nguyệt quế to create distinct identities for different residential and cultural zones.

Recent pruning efforts on streets such as Lê Thanh Nghị, Đào Tấn, and Trung Hòa have already begun to change the visual appearance of these areas, resulting in thinner canopies and more visible branches.