The Department of Construction is considering inspections and possible pruning among immediate measures, and also reducing their density.

Officials will inspect streets and neighborhoods that have a lot of the trees, especially densely populated areas, places near homes, schools, and hospitals, and where local residents have repeatedly complained about the scent.

Based on the findings, agencies will assess the impact and direct tree maintenance crews to take appropriate measures immediately. Selective pruning of flowers will also be considered.

The pruning will be done without compromising the trees’ growth, shape, or safety or using chemicals and other measures that could harm people’s health or the environment.

If milkwood trees are relocated, other species will be planted in their place to comply with the city’s green cover plans.

All changes would improve living conditions and protect public health while preserving milkwood blossoms as a distinctive feature of Hanoi, the department said.

Trees would not be moved or replaced indiscriminately or without sufficient justification, and the work would not affect the landscape or tree cover, it added.

The blossoms are a defining feature of Hanoi’s autumn and contribute to the city’s identity, the Office of the Hanoi People’s Committee said.

Milkwood trees can grow up to 50 meters tall. Their small, extremely fragrant flowers range from white to pale yellow and bloom from June to November. Their elongated fruits have tufts of white hairs.

Hanoi has some 14,400 milkwood trees on its streets. Streets with large numbers include Nguyen Du, Tran Duy Hung, Trung Hoa, Trung Kinh, Duy Tan, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Me Tri, Ho Tung Mau, and Quan Thanh.

The city has relocated milkwood trees in response to similar complaints before.

In 2019, authorities in the former Tay Ho District moved nearly 100 from Trich Sai Street along West Lake to the Nam Son landfill.