Malabar Almond Tree in Hoi An, Vietnam – Shade of time in the heart of the ancient town

Amidst the mossy tiled roofs and yellow walls stained with time, the Malabar Almond Tree stands silently there – like a part of the soul of Hoi An.

Not as brilliant as bougainvillea, not as splendid as lanterns, Malabar Almond Tree has a rustic, peaceful and nostalgic beauty. Under the cool green canopy in summer or when the leaves turn bright red in autumn, Malabar Almond Tree contributes to creating an irreplaceable feature in the ancient space of Hoi An.


A large banyan tree provides shade on Tran Phu Street, next to the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Photo: hoians.com

Malabar Almond Tree – A Silent Witness of Hoi An

Malabar Almond Tree is a tree that has long been associated with many Vietnamese villages. In Hoi An, the banyan tree is not only a shade tree but also a part of the memories of the people of the old town, a shelter for many generations of students, a witness to the changes of the streets over the years.

There are Malabar Almond Tree that are over a hundred years old, growing next to schools, village communal houses, or in front of ancient houses. The tree trunk is rough, the canopy stretches out like an arm to protect the entire space below.

Malabar Almond Tree  – Beauty That Changes With the Seasons

The banyan tree grows well near the Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An. Photo: hoians.com

Malabar Almond Tree in Hoi An is not only beautiful because of its sturdy shape, but also because of its change with each season:

• Spring - Summer: Green leaves, casting cool shade on every street corner.
• Autumn: Leaves begin to turn yellow and red – creating a very different Hoi An, romantic as a painting.
• Late autumn - early winter: Fallen leaves cover the sidewalks, dyeing the old town in a warm red-brown color.

It was this transformation that made many tourists stop, look up, and quietly record very "Hoi An" moments under the banyan tree.

Malabar Almond Tree in the Life of Hoi An People

For local people, the banyan tree is not only a tree that provides shade and shelter from the rain, but also a part of childhood memories:

• It is a place where people gather to play marbles and jump rope.
• It is the corner of the old schoolyard, where I once hastily wrote a yearbook entry.
• It is the cool shade where grandparents sit drinking tea and telling old stories.

There are small cafes, grocery stores or old houses under the banyan tree, creating a simple and extremely familiar scene - a very real and very real Hoi An.

Malabar Almond Tree – Great Background for Old Quarter Photos

Many photographers and tourists are fascinated by the season of red leaves of the Indian almond tree in Hoi An. The streets are lined with fallen Indian almond leaves, the sunlight shining through the leaves, creating a nostalgic, profound and poetic scene.

Some prominent places with Indian almond trees in Hoi An:

• Phan Chau Trinh Street
• Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street
• Around the Chua Cau river basin
• Hoi An Central Market
• Communal house yards and old houses in the old town

Conclusion: Malabar Almond Tree – The Quiet Soul of Hoi An

While many other symbols of Hoi An are artistic and colorful, the banyan tree represents depth, memory and tranquility. It is not only a shade in the heart of the city, but also a place to anchor time, a witness to a peaceful and poetic Hoi An.

If you have the opportunity to visit Hoi An, do not just look at the shimmering lanterns or the mossy yellow walls, but stop under a banyan tree - to listen to the ancient town whisper through each leaf, and let your heart calm down in the flow of time.