A 92-year-old man in a Mekong Delta province has spent most of his time on a bamboo house perched some 30 feet above the ground for eight years now just to satisfy his weird hobby and become one with nature.

Duong Van Duong is dubbed “birdman” by people in his neighborhood in Cho Moi District, located in An Giang Province.

It’s easy to find where he lives: right on the top of trees.

The elderly man spends most of his time on a bamboo house around 30 feet above the ground in his backyard, as he loves gulping in fresh air and listening to birds’ twitters.

Tran Thi Be Bay, his daughter in law, said he only climbs down for meals, before climbing up again.

Bay said a few decades ago, Duong started growing four trees to make the four pillars for his future dream house.

He began construction on his tree house in 2007, trimming bamboo poles and tying them together to build the “awe-inspiring” structure.

Despite his senior age, Duong is still moving up and down agilely and with ease.

He bragged bees are his friends, so they won’t sting him.

Bay said Duong would spend the night atop the trees but his children have managed to talk him into climbing down before dark.

Duong boasted he’s much fitter than his children think he is, which he puts down to his everyday tree mounting.

For example, the roof of the tree house needs fixing but none of his young grandchildren could help him, as they got scared out of their wits only halfway to the house, the old man said smilingly.

Bay said her father in law still catches fish in the river and he rarely sees a doctor.

Duong’s neighbors insist their children steer clear from his tree house, as they may trip, tumble from the staggering height and seriously injure themselves.

Duong’s children lamented that they had no choice but to let him have his own way, though they are well aware that the tree house poses a grave peril to himself and others around.

Duong Van Tai, Duong’s son, once reacted strongly, insisting he would fell down the four trees.

Duong sadly said he has done nothing wrong except doing some sightseeing and unwinding.

His children ached to see him upset, so they continued to put up with the house.

Luu Van Khon, chair of People’s Committee of Hoa Binh Commune, where Duong resides in, said the committee had sent staff to persuade him to remove his tree house several years ago, when the construction kicked off.

Khon added his committee will persist in their efforts to talk him out of retaining the perilously towering house./.

by VNF