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On November 28, 1959, President Ho Chi Minh penned the historic article "Tree Planting Festival" under the pseudonym Tran Luc, published in Nhan Dan newspaper, calling on the entire nation to participate in a tree-planting movement.

This simple yet profound appeal not only established a beautiful tradition but also laid the foundation for Vietnam’s journey in environmental protection and climate change mitigation over the past six decades.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính plants a tree at the launch ceremony of the "Tree Planting Festival in Eternal Gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh" (Photo: Dương Giang)

Sixty-five years since its publication, the "Tree Planting Festival" continues to hold its significance and has become a vibrant cultural legacy of the nation. It stands as a testament to President Ho Chi Minh's visionary foresight on the immense benefits of afforestation, charting the path toward a sustainable and greener Vietnam.

Great benefits

In his article "Tree Planting Festival," President Ho Chi Minh called on everyone - individuals, families, organizations, and localities, to actively participate in planting and nurturing green trees. He said "Let us organize a 'Tree Planting Festival.'"

President Ho Chi Minh emphasized "This costs little but brings great benefits" and advised "This is a long-term yet simple competition that everyone, from the elderly to children, can eagerly join."

Beyond its economic benefits, he affirmed that the Tree Planting Festival movement significantly contributes to national defense. He highlighted that if tree planting efforts flourished, the nation would have abundant lush forests, which serve as strong natural fortifications for defense.

Indeed, during the resistance war against American imperialists, lush green rows of trees along national and provincial highways, canal banks, and dikes acted as immense camouflage nets, enabling Vietnamese air defense forces to maneuver, and destroy American aircraft effectively.

President Ho Chi Minh also foresaw the close connection between afforestation, environmental and climate protection. Thus, he encouraged the people to plant trees vigorously to "block wind to support intensive rice cultivation, protect dikes, cover hills, prevent erosion, and stop sand encroachment." He said "Forests planted along coastal areas, roadsides, and within villages have shown significant benefits."

Practicing what he preached, President Ho Chi Minh personally set an example by planting trees himself. The first tree he planted was a banyan tree at Thong Nhat Park.

President Ho Chi Minh planted a banyan tree at Thong Nhat Park, marking the beginning of the Tree Planting Festival initiated by him (January 11, 1960).

Tree planting and forest development: Path to sustainability

Since the day President Ho Chi Minh initiated the movement, the Tree Planting Festival has far exceeded its original expectations. No longer limited to a Tet tradition, tree planting and afforestation have evolved into a national strategy supported by major programs.

Prominent initiatives include the "Greening Barren Land and Denuded Hills" program launched in the 1990s, which has helped restore millions of hectares of forest devastated by war and overexploitation. Additionally, the "Planting 5 Million Hectares of Forests" program (1998–2010) played a key role in increasing the national forest coverage rate to 39.7% by 2010.

The latest initiative, the "1 Billion Trees Project" (2021-2025), aims to plant 690 million scattered trees in urban and rural areas and 310 million trees in protective and special-use forests.

As of early 2024, over 770 million trees have been planted nationwide, achieving 121% of the target set for the first three years of implementation. Provinces such as Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Long An, and Gia Lai have exceeded their goals, contributing millions of trees to the collective effort.

Thanks to specific policies and actionable programs, Vietnam's forested areas and green coverage have continued to expand.

By 2023, Vietnam's forest coverage rate had reached 42%. Moreover, the tree planting movement has garnered widespread participation from organizations and individuals, including government agencies, businesses, and local communities.

Numerous programs and funds supporting afforestation have been launched, significantly contributing to biodiversity conservation, mitigating the impacts of natural disasters, and combating climate change.

Beyond its positive environmental impact, tree planting and afforestation have also boosted the forestry economy, helping to reduce poverty, stabilize livelihoods, and promote socio-economic development.

Over the past 65 years, the tree-planting movement has become a cherished tradition in Vietnamese culture.

This practice not only honors President Ho Chi Minh's legacy but also underscores the responsibility of every Vietnamese individual toward future generations.

In particular, amid increasing globalization and the escalating impacts of climate change, environmental protection has become not just a duty of the State but also an obligation for every citizen.

Each tree planted today not only provides shade but also carries the hope for a greener and more prosperous Vietnam in the future.

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