Fodor's Expert Review Heritage Tree

On the outskirts of the main street in Mai Chau, there is an ancient tree with historical significance. The Thai people say that their ancestors planted the tree 1,000 years ago when they first immigrated to Vietnam. In the war with the Chinese, many women were beheaded and their heads hung in the tree to serve as a warning. For this reason, many villagers believe that the tree is full of souls that must be respected. A small pagoda used to stand next to the tree, but it was destroyed in the American war. The tree became a heritage site in 2006 and is home to a small shrine.