Brian Jeffrey
“The tree stands in our hometown. Despite its age, it continues to bless the Nguyen Phan family with a season of delightful, abundant fruit, serving as a heartwarming reminder of our roots and childhood memories,” shared Dung, 52, originally from Da Nang and currently residing in HCM City.
He has shared pictures online of the impressive lychee tree occupying a corner of the yard, which quickly captured the interest of many.
The modest home in Hoa Nhon, located in Da Nang’s Hoa Vang district, belongs to Dung’s parents and features the tree planted by his great-grandfather. It remains vibrant, providing shade over the entire yard.
Annually, the tree produces ample fruit with a sweet, refreshing flavor that “lingers delightfully with every bite,” according to Dung.
“My great-grandfather, born in 1855, would be 170 today. He planted this tree during his youth,” he reminisced.
A major storm once broke a significant branch, but the tree endured. Although Dung’s parents’ home has seen several renovations, the lychee tree stands strong, untouched.
“I was born when the tree was already a part of our lives, offering us its shade. My childhood revolved around it—climbing its branches with friends to catch cicadas, enjoying family meals in its cool shade, and gathering with relatives to pick lychees,” he recounted.
“Even my children appreciate this tree,” Dung remarked.
Out of his parents’ eight children, six now live and work in HCM City while two remain in Da Nang. For special family occasions, everyone gathers at the parents’ home, with the tree serving as the central meeting point.
During the lychee season, Dung returns to his hometown to harvest fruit alongside his parents, then transports it back to HCM City to share with kin and friends. He fondly remembers a poignant moment when a distant friend, receiving a gift of red lychees, placed them on an ancestral altar and wept, overcome with homesickness.
“There were years when the tree’s yield was unpredictable: some years it flourished, others it didn’t bear any fruit. But recently, it has been consistently fruitful,” Dung noted.
This year, the harvest has been remarkably plentiful. For Dung, it serves as a gentle reminder to those afar: “This summer, don’t forget to return home.”
“Each lychee season, the red fruits hang heavily like a mother’s welcoming arms awaiting her children. While time alters many things, the tree stands firm—a silent guardian preserving the essence of home,” Dung expressed.
