Hanoi city authorities have commenced pruning nearly 1,000 milkwood trees, known locally as "hoa sua," following complaints from residents about the trees' strong fragrance. The decision came after growing public discontent with the scent, which some described as overwhelming, especially during hot weather.

The alstonia scholaris, a tall evergreen species that can reach over 10 meters in height, is a familiar sight throughout Hanoi, shading streets in the summer and producing star-shaped white blossoms in autumn. While these trees are often celebrated in Vietnamese songs and poetry for their nostalgic and romantic associations with the capital, many local residents have expressed health concerns and discomfort caused by the intense smell.

“I keep my doors and windows shut and suffer headaches and breathing difficulties because my home is near dozens of these trees,” said Tran Trung Phong, a Hanoi resident. “If it were up to me, I would replace them all.” His views echo complaints shared widely on social media and reported by state outlets. A recent poll by the state-linked newspaper VnExpress found that 80 percent of respondents supported either removing or relocating the trees.

Some residents have voiced strong opposition to the initiative. “Only those who don’t live near these trees find them romantic with a pleasant fragrance. Try it for just one day, you will hate it forever,” wrote one Facebook user, Thanh Luong, who said her bedroom is less than 100 meters from two milkwood trees and called the experience “torture.”

Conversely, others argue that the trees are a vital part of Hanoi’s identity. Lan Huong, another local, emphasized the cultural significance of hoa sua, describing them as a defining feature of the city and a welcome presence amid urban pollution. “Isn’t breathing in the scent of flowers far more pleasant than inhaling smokes from bikes and cars?” she said.

City officials acknowledged the trees’ symbolic role, calling them “a signature feature of autumn in Hanoi” that contributes to the city’s unique urban character. However, they recognized that the fragrance can negatively affect residents' health and overall quality of life. Authorities stated they are exploring options to relocate some trees to more appropriate sites and replace them with other types of greenery.

This is not Hanoi’s first attempt to address concerns over the milkwood trees. In 2019, approximately 100 were moved to the outskirts of the city. A similar relocation plan proposed in 2023 to remove 80 trees from a main street was subsequently abandoned after local opposition.

The debate around the milkwood trees highlights a broader tension between preserving cultural landmarks and ensuring public health and comfort. “It is easy to cut down a tree, but how does one go about cutting down a memory?” wrote Facebook user Loi Phan Mai, whose post received thousands of supportive reactions. “How could a hoa sua tree possibly be guilty?”