The 23-year-old starfruit tree has attracted attention for its wide canopy that covers a corner of a yard. Under the canopy, a family can be seen together, eating and chatting.

The video was posted with the caption: “My father said the best thing he ever did was growing and taking care of of the starfruit tree in the middle of our yard."

The 27-second video has attracted 1.3 million views, 44,000 “likes” and thousands of comments.

“The starfruit tree is so beautiful. It will be great to hang red lanterns and flashing lights on Tet days”, said one commenter.

 “I can imagine the scene of the whole family gathering around the dining table on the Eve of Tet, under the cool green star fruit tree. The tree, plus the cold air of the North, are exactly Tet features," said another.

Chu Van Bang, 34, from Thanh Hoa, who posted the video, told VietNamNet that the tree was planted by his father in 2002 in his hometown in Hoang Hoa district in Thanh Hoa province.

“The tree flourished for a few years, then gradually withered. My father cut down the entire canopy, leaving only the root. A few years later, the tree suddenly revived, sprouting green buds, and growing branches and leaves,” he said. 

“Wherever the canopy grows, my father cuts down branches. Gradually, after more than 20 years, the canopy has spread as wide as it is now,” Bang said.

Bang's starfruit tree, which, covers a corner of the 30 sq m yard, blooms and bears fruit all year round. During the fruiting season, the tree is always full of fruit, and his father often shares the fruit with the children in the neighborhood.

Some people come to ask for tree cuttings and take them home to grow.

"When my father planted the tree in the yard, some people warned that there would be many worms and many leaves falling off. But now all of them love the tree and find it so beautiful. It helps ease the summer heat,” he said.

Neighbors, especially those with diabetes, often come to my house to ask for starfruit to eat because this fruit is delicious and cool," said Bang.

Over the years, Bang has never encountered starfruit worms, only occasionally rats and birds coming to eat the starfruit.

Thanh Minh