At the park located outside the Ma River dike, many types of trees, including areca palms, bamboo, and frangipani, planted along the riverbank have lost vitality, tilted, or died. A significant number of mature areca palms are particularly affected, stripped of leaves, withered, and topped, making recovery nearly impossible.

Mass tree deaths at the more than 125 billion VND park in Thanh Hoa. Video: Le Hoang

Many areas are overgrown with weeds, pathways are covered in sand and dirt, and some plots of land are used for grazing livestock. This neglected scene contrasts sharply with the park's pristine appearance when it was put into operation in summer 2025.

Local residents reported that recently, there has been almost no regular staff to care for, water, prune, or maintain the landscape, leading to an increasing number of dead trees.

A leader from the Ham Rong Ward Public Service Supply Center stated that only the temple section of the project has been handed over for management and operation. The monument area and the landscape outside the dike have not yet completed the official handover procedures.

Most of the ornamental areca palms have died. Photo: Le Hoang

According to the center's representative, despite not having fully taken over the project, after observing the dead trees, the unit requested the Thanh Hoa Province Civil and Industrial Projects Management Board (the unit responsible for the project's operation by local authorities) to instruct the contractor to monitor and care for the trees during the warranty period.

Explaining why the project was inaugurated but not yet fully handed over, the center's leader said the previous inauguration ceremony was merely a "technical completion" to serve the 60th anniversary of the Ham Rong victory in April 2025. Subsequently, the Provincial People's Committee requested further modifications and additions to some arising items, thus delaying the project's completion.

Many bamboo trees have also died or tilted due to the wind. Photo: Le Hoang

Historical documents indicate that in summer 1972, amid continuous US air force attacks on the Ham Rong - Nam Ngan area, more than 2,000 teachers, students, and university students from Thanh Hoa town, Dong Son district, and surrounding areas were mobilized to participate in reinforcing the Ma River dike against floods.

Around 9h on 14/6/1972, US aircraft unexpectedly bombed the Nam Ngan area, resulting in the deaths of 64 teachers and students, nearly 300 injured, and many missing. This is considered one of the bombing raids that caused the largest casualties at the "fire coordinate" of Ham Rong during the American War.

To honor the sacrifice of these teachers and students, Thanh Hoa province invested in building a park and memorial monument in Nam Ngan ward, now part of Ham Rong ward. The project, with a total capital of more than 125 billion VND from the state budget, was overseen by the Thanh Hoa City People's Committee and implemented over an area of more than 2 hectares.

A fallen frangipani tree lies near the Ma River bank. Photo: Le Hoang

After more than two years of construction, the project was completed with several components: a central monument made of granite weighing more than 680 tons, a memorial temple, a historical reenactment area, and a landscape along the Ma River. The project was inaugurated on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Ham Rong victory on 3-4/4/1965.

Le Hoang