

2. A Glimpse into the World of Lychee Trees
I adore my homeland with its lush green lychee groves.
In my hometown, lychee trees thrive in gardens, front yards, backyards, and along the roadside. As spring arrives, gentle rains awaken all living things, and the lychee tree rejoices, shedding its last winter leaves in the gentle breeze. The lychee eagerly drinks in the spring raindrops, unfurling tender shoots and leaves. And when sated with the raindrops, the lychee begins to bloom. Clusters of flowers compete to perfume the air, enticing swarms of bees.
Days pass, weeks pass, and the ground is littered with fallen lychee blossoms, yet the branches remain laden with young lychee fruits. At first, the lychee fruit and its seed are undifferentiated, a uniform white. As time passes, the seed separates, the flesh darkens. By midsummer, the lychee fruit ripens, clusters of juicy, sweet fruits await. We, the children, eagerly anticipate the sweet taste of lychee.
Come and indulge here. But as you savor the delicious flavor of the lychee fruit, do not forget that it is the lychee tree itself that provides this taste. The lychee tree works diligently, silently, to offer its essence to the world. The lychee fruit is medicinal, its seeds can be distilled into alcohol. The lychee tree does not demand rich soil or abundant water; it can thrive even in meager conditions.
Oh lychee tree, I cherish you dearly, and your noble character. A robust vitality, a carefree spirit.








6. Description of the Jackfruit Tree No. 7
Throughout our homeland, the familiar sight of the jackfruit tree greets us everywhere. But it's the jackfruit tree at the head of the village that stirs many emotions within me.
The jackfruit tree at the head of the village, nobody knows when it was planted, how many years it has lived, or how old it is. All we know is that when the children in the village grew up, the jackfruit was already there. It's a towering jackfruit tree, its trunk so thick that several children must join hands to encircle it. The roots of the tree twist and turn like snakes wriggling on the ground. The bark of the jackfruit tree is brown, rough as if preparing to shed its old coat for a new one.
The trunk is stout, tall, and branching into many limbs. Those branches sprout numerous jackfruit-bearing shoots, growing straight and close together, forming a dense canopy of cooling shade with no gaps. The jackfruit branches extend upwards, and the leaves, small like lemon leaves but longer, are a deep green. At the end of autumn, beginning of winter, the jackfruit branches shed their leaves. As the old leaves fall to the ground, people in the village gather them to fuel their fires, creating a rich blaze. But every spring, tender shoots of green jackfruit leaves sprout again. The young jackfruit leaves gradually grow larger.
In no time, the jackfruit tree is lush and green, its branches vying with each other to sprout shoots in the warm spring weather. After a while, the jackfruit begins to flower. Clusters of yellow jackfruit blossoms bloom, covering the branches completely. When the jackfruit blossoms fall, and the base of the tree is covered, that's when the young jackfruits begin to form. Then gradually, thanks to favorable weather, the jackfruits grow larger. At this point, the jackfruit's skin is brown, resembling the color of the branches. When you see jackfruits on the tree that birds have nibbled, that's when the jackfruit is ready to be harvested. The children in the village climb the jackfruit tree to pick them, laughing and chatting happily as they eat the delicious fruit. To eat jackfruit, you have to peel off that tough outer layer and put the juicy flesh inside into your mouth. Jackfruit has a thick, sweet pulp, irresistible beyond words. Inside that pulp is a small seed, like a ring. That seed can be planted to grow into a new tree.
For a long time, the jackfruit tree has been a resting place for the elderly in the village when they return from working in the fields. It's where us children enjoy the delicious jackfruits and play wholesome games of childhood. I've grown to love the jackfruit tree even more.


7. Description of the Jackfruit Tree No. 6
It can be said that the jackfruit tree in my grandfather's garden has been there for as long as I can remember. It seems like I've known this jackfruit tree for many years. The tree holds countless memories for me.
My hometown is the land of the wrapped jackfruit – Hung Yen. Perhaps that's why wherever I go in my homeland, there's never a shortage of jackfruit trees. I see the green color of jackfruit covering every corner of the rural roads. Then I also noticed that the male jackfruit trees have been closely associated with the people of my hometown for generations. Then I could see the scorching summer afternoons, when the sun seemed to pour fire. It's at this time that I can see the jackfruit trees casting cool shade for the villagers returning from the fields. It's strange when I touch the rough, brown, speckled bark of the jackfruit tree.
The jackfruit tree has been intertwined with my childhood on a long journey. And I can see that every time I go to school, the jackfruit tree spreads its shade over the road for me. When spring comes, I can also see that the jackfruit blossoms bloom all over the sky, then it seems to spread a thick layer of golden yellow covering the entire village. And the scent of jackfruit blossoms, unlike other flowers, is fragrant but you have to enjoy it carefully to feel this rustic fragrance. That's why the fragrance of jackfruit blossoms has attracted many bees to collect pollen.
Then when the sun begins to blaze over each cluster of trees, especially when I can also hear the thunderous rumble heralding the early summer rains, that's when the jackfruit gathers sweetness from its roots, its trunk, and its fruits. At this time, when the jackfruit has seeds and begins to turn glossy black, the thick pulp swells up to make the skin gradually stretch out, smoother. So when it comes to June, July, put a jackfruit on your lips, gently bite with your teeth. At this point, I can also see the skin cracking open and a sweet trickle slowly seeping into my mouth.
It can be seen that every time you go far away, and every time you miss your homeland, the people in the land of jackfruit also remember their homeland.


8. Description of the Jackfruit Tree No. 9
Next to our house, there's a little plot of land where a jackfruit tree has somehow grown over time. Compared to the giant jackfruit tree next to it, this one appears incredibly small.
Our land isn't as fertile as the soil in the plains, but my parents still manage to grow some fruit trees. Perhaps it's partly due to their diligent care that every year, the trees bear delicious fruits. Although not heavily laden with branches, they still yield enough for the whole family to enjoy. The jackfruit tree is no exception. Despite not being intentionally planted by my parents, it has grown large and bears sweet fruits.
The trunk of the jackfruit tree isn't very thick, only as wide as my calf. It's not very tall either, only reaching the second-floor balcony of our house. So, when jackfruit season arrives, I can easily stand on the balcony and pick the fruit. In spring, the jackfruit tree sprouts lush green leaves. Each leaf is long and slender. As the older leaves dry up and fall to the ground, they make way for new ones.
As summer approaches, clusters of jackfruit blossoms begin to bloom. Eventually, the flowers fall, marking the beginning of fruit formation. The jackfruit pods grow in clusters, gradually ripening until the day they are harvested. My favorite part is eating the jackfruits from our own tree. While they may not be as sweet as those from the market, and the seeds may be smaller, somehow, they taste the best to me.


9. Description of Jackfruit Tree No. 8
In my hometown, jackfruit trees are abundantly cultivated. They line the roadsides, fill the yards, and grace almost every garden. The jackfruit tree is like a familiar companion to the villagers.
The jackfruit tree is intertwined with my childhood memories. The rows of jackfruit trees provide shade along the path to school, and during jackfruit season, children gather to pick the ripe, sweet fruits, laughing and chatting joyfully.
The jackfruit tree is a tall woody plant, ranging from 10 to 15 meters in height. Its trunk is covered with brown bark, occasionally bearing small cracks and patches. The tree branches out in all directions, with numerous leaves adorning each branch. The leaves are small and symmetrical, starting out reddish-brown and gradually transitioning to a deep green color, with visible leaf veins.
Jackfruit trees begin to bloom in the warm spring weather, with tiny white blossoms forming clusters. The entire village is blanketed in the colors and fragrances of jackfruit blossoms. Pollinated by the wind and insects, the flowers give way to green jackfruit pods, adorned with tiny spines. As the pods mature, the green skin turns brown. When ripe, the clusters of jackfruit pods hanging from the tree are a delightful sight.
As villagers begin to harvest the jackfruits, they find pods as large as their fingers, with smooth, firm outer skins. The thick, juicy pulp contains black seeds, resembling marbles. Every jackfruit season, the fruits are sold at the village entrance and in markets, where people buy them for consumption or as gifts. The local jackfruits are sweet and juicy, perfect for making refreshing desserts like jackfruit and mung bean sweet soup. Jackfruits can also be dried, skin and all, to make delicious dried jackfruit.
The jackfruit tree has been deeply ingrained in my homeland and childhood memories for a long time. Its high economic value has helped improve the lives of the villagers. I hold a deep affection for the jackfruit trees of my hometown.


10. Description of Jackfruit Tree No. 10
I don't know when the jackfruit tree came into existence or who gave it its name, but I truly adore this species of tree. There's a jackfruit tree in my home, which according to my dad, is a renowned variety known for its deliciousness. The fruits are large, with thick, crunchy flesh and an intensely sweet flavor unmatched by any other variety.
The jackfruit tree in our yard is a tall, woody plant with abundant foliage, providing shade for our house. Beneath its canopy, my dad has placed a stone table and chairs, creating a convenient spot to sit and enjoy a drink. The jackfruit tree requires minimal care, yet it consistently yields fruits every year, blessing our home abundantly. The clusters of jackfruits, heavy and ripe, weigh down the branches, causing the tree to sway gracefully in the wind.
Jackfruits often grow at the top of the tree, making them difficult to reach even by climbing. We have to stand below and use hooked poles to break them off and bring them down. The seeds of the jackfruit are glossy black, resembling the black pupil of an eye, perhaps that's why it's called a 'jackfruit,' as 'nhãn' also means 'eye.' The jackfruit tree not only provides delicious, fragrant fruits and ample shade but also holds a special place in my childhood memories.
I cherish the jackfruit tree in my home, hoping it will remain evergreen and continue to bear sweet, aromatic fruits.


