The green lim tree, known as one of Vietnam’s “Four Precious Woods,” is highly valued for its durability and hardness, attracting illegal loggers seeking this natural treasure.

In August 2024, reporters from VietNamNet, accompanied by forest rangers and locals, explored Ba Ho forest in Di Nau, where ancient green lim trees, some centuries old, are found.

The heart of the forest reveals over 300 majestic green lim trees, each over a century old and meticulously protected as a testament to their rarity and significance.

Phung Duc Toan, Head of the Tam Nong Forest Protection Department, highlighted the importance of these ancient green lim trees, some exceeding 300 years old, deeply valued by locals.

The oldest green lim trees in the forest, with towering trunks requiring three people to encircle, stand as a symbol of heritage and mystique for the villagers.

Despite generations of care by village elders, the origins of the green lim trees remain shrouded in mystery, with the Ba Ho forest revered as a sacred place embodying the village’s legacy.

Locals voluntarily protect the green lim forest, undisturbed since a government program in 1989, ensuring the preservation of this natural treasure.

Nguyen Thi Sinh’s family has been the caretakers of 160 ancient green lim trees for almost 40 years, nurturing thousands of seedlings and collaborating with forest rangers to prevent illegal activities.

Another resident, Han Trung Lai, manages a hectare of green lim forest, home to 36 massive trees and nearly 500 young lim trees, all thriving under strict protection.

The centuries-old green lim trees in Ba Ho forest, considered a “green goldmine,” endure as a priceless gift from nature, standing as a symbol of resilience and natural beauty in the region.