Thuong Temple, also known as Saint Tran Tu, is located on Hieu Hoa Hill (Lao Cai Ward, Lao Cai City). The temple was built during the Le Dynasty, under the reign of Chinh Hoa (1680 - 1705), to worship the Great King Tran Quoc Tuan. In 1996, the temple was ranked as a National Historical - Cultural Relic. In the complex of Thuong Temple relics, the most prominent is the banyan tree that is over 300 years old, a historical “witness” of Lao Cai land. Having an ancient banyan tree right next to the temple has become a symbol of spiritual significance, closely associated with the lives of the people for many generations. The banyan tree at Thuong Temple belongs to the banyan family. At the time of recognition, the tree was classified as a heritage tree with the largest total trunk circumference in Vietnam, with a circumference of 44 m, a height of over 36 m, and an age of over 300 years. According to research, the hairy tree is a large tree up to 30 - 35m tall, with a wide canopy, often with many trunks and secondary roots; simple leaves grow alternately, are egg-shaped or oval, have thick blades, and are covered with yellow-brown or gray hairs on both sides. “Under the shade of the banyan tree, many generations of local people have organized festivals, cultural, sports and community activities. This is a part of the childhood of many Lao Cai people,” said Ms. Duong Thi Nguyet (resident of Lao Cai ward). In 2012, the banyan tree at Thuong Temple was recognized as a Vietnamese heritage tree by the Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment. The banyan tree with hundreds of roots formed over many centuries is so large that 20 people cannot hug it. Being recognized as a Vietnamese heritage tree further enhances the historical, cultural and environmental value of the Thuong Temple historical relic site - one of Lao Cai's spiritual tourist attractions that attracts many visitors from all over. This is the first ancient tree in Lao Cai province to be recognized as a Vietnamese heritage tree and the 155th tree in the country to hold this title. Besides the large tree roots, many small roots are growing and developing to find a way to cling deep into the ground. According to local people, over hundreds of years of history, the tree's canopy has shaded a large area, while also helping to shield against storms, protecting the sacred temple and the lives of the surrounding people. By now, the tree has developed many more secondary roots and thousands of small roots surrounding it. It is difficult to distinguish between the main trunk and the secondary roots, because over time, the secondary roots have grown and attached themselves to each other to form a giant root cluster that is no different from the main trunk. The roots of the vine are extremely large in size, penetrating deep into the ground to help the plant grow and develop. Over 3 centuries of existence, the heritage banyan tree also contributes to enhancing the beauty of the Thuong Temple relic complex, attracting thousands of people and tourists to visit and worship every year. It is known that the project to restore and embellish the Thuong Temple complex, invested by the Lao Cai City Monument Management Board, with a total cost of about 47 billion VND, taken from donations and socialized funds, is now 99% complete.