Seeing a 1,500-year-old "treasure" in the middle of Hai Phong countryside

Dot Son Pagoda in Quan Bo village, Cap Tien commune, Tien Lang district, Hai Phong is one of the Buddhist places that was introduced to our country very early. According to the remaining steles and legends in the area, Dot Son Pagoda was built around the 5th - 6th century. The pagoda was originally named Chuyet Son, and in the 10th century it was renamed Non Dong Pagoda. In the 15th century, during a visit to Non Dong Pagoda, King Le Thanh Tong wrote a poem here and it was recorded in the pagoda's stele. Later, the pagoda was renamed Dot Son Pagoda and has kept that name to this day.

Associated with the history of Dot Son Pagoda is the Bodhi tree, which was brought from India by monks from their homeland and planted about 1,500 years ago. The Bodhi tree is located right next to the Quan Bo village field, like a "historical witness", protecting the people in the area.

The Bodhi tree has a diameter of nearly 2 m, its thousand-year-old roots emerge from the ground, with a diameter of about 5 m.

About 1.5 m from the base of the tree, the large branches spread out in all four directions. Each branch is strong and mossy after more than 15 centuries of existence with the earth and sky.

From the roots to the branches of the great Bodhi tree, the roots and leaves are rough, bearing the traces of time.

Originating from India, the Bodhi tree at Dot Son Pagoda has longer, larger and thicker leaves than the Bodhi tree leaves commonly found in Vietnam. When ripe, the Bodhi fruit has a dark red skin and a sweet taste.

The Bodhi tree's canopy extends evenly around the base, spreading out in a raspberry shape covering an area of about 300 square meters. On holidays, New Year's, and the 1st and 15th of every lunar month, local people and visitors from near and far stop under the Bodhi tree, offer incense to Buddha, and pray for peace.

On March 15, 2015, the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, in coordination with local authorities and people, organized a ceremony to recognize the Bodhi tree as a Vietnam Heritage Tree. The ceremony was attended by the Embassy of India in Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment

After being recognized as a heritage tree, the Bodhi tree was entrusted to the people of Quan Bo village to look after and care for. Over the years, the local people have always cared for and protected the tree as a thousand-year-old "treasure".