HANOI — City authorities in Hanoi began pruning the capital’s milkwood trees on October 16 in response to widespread complaints about their strong fragrance, which residents have described as overwhelming and disruptive. The action aims to reduce the intensity of the scent produced by the trees’ white, star-shaped blossoms.

Hanoi is home to more than 14,400 Alstonia scholaris, commonly known as "hoa sua" in Vietnam. These tall evergreen trees are a familiar sight, shading city streets during the summer and blooming in autumn with highly fragrant flowers. While the blossoms have long been celebrated in poetry and music as symbols of Hanoi’s charm, many residents have recently voiced dissatisfaction with their overpowering smell.

“The smell is so overpowering that it becomes unpleasant, especially when the weather is hot,” said Tran Trung Phong, a 56-year-old Hanoi resident who suffers headaches and breathing difficulties due to the proximity of milkwood trees to his home. “If it were up to me, I would replace them all,” he added. His views echo those expressed on social media and in official media reports, where a poll indicated that approximately 80% of respondents favored either removing or relocating the trees.

In response to these concerns, Hanoi’s municipal authorities announced plans to prune up to 1,000 trees along 13 streets over the coming weeks. The city also stated it would consider relocating certain trees from densely populated areas and replacing them with other types of greenery. A previous attempt to move 80 trees in 2023 was halted following public objections, although about 100 milkwood trees were relocated to the city outskirts in 2019.

Despite the complaints, some residents emphasize the cultural and aesthetic importance of the milkwood trees. Lan Huong, a Hanoi local, pointed out that the trees form a signature part of the city’s identity and contribute a natural element to an otherwise polluted environment. “Isn’t breathing in the scent of flowers far more pleasant than inhaling smoke from bikes and cars?” she said. Many express nostalgia for the trees, which are also planted across central and southern Vietnam as a symbol of Hanoi’s atmosphere.

Authorities have acknowledged the impact of the trees’ strong smell on residents’ health and daily lives but have also recognized their emblematic status. Social media posts have reflected a divided public, with some lamenting the proposed changes. One widely shared sentiment questioned how a tree, deeply intertwined with personal and collective memories, could be faulted for its fragrance.

As Hanoi proceeds with the pruning program, the city faces the challenge of balancing public health concerns with the preservation of its cultural heritage and urban greenery.