Should coconut trees be grown along Ho Chi Minh City streets?

The canal-side roads in the southern Vietnamese metropolis now measures a total of 500km in length, thanks to the city’s dense river system, the Vietnam Coconut Association said in a proposition submitted to the municipal administration.

“If a coconut tree is planted on every five meters along the canals, we can grow a total of 100,000 trees,” the document reads.

The association thus suggested that the canal-side streets, as well as those newly built, have coconut trees along their sides to “create beautiful and environmentally-friendly landscapes that are typical to Vietnam’s southern region.”

Coconuts are also among the rain- and storm-resistant plants, so they will help protect the city in case of foul weather, according to the association.

The trees can be easily planted on almost every type of soil, and do not require much effort to tend, which will thus result in business effectiveness, it said.

The agency in charge of urban greening will be able to save costs in having employees to take care of the coconut trees, and instead can even gain economic benefits by selling the coconut fruits.

The Vietnam Coconut Association thus suggested that coconut trees be planted along the two sides of Tau Hu Canal in District 8 on a trial basis to test the effectiveness of its plan.

The association will also to hold seminars on the economic values of coconut trees and listen to public feedback.

The Ho Chi Minh City administration has asked the Department of Transport to collaborate with the Green Park Co. Ltd. and scientists to study the feasibility of the plan.

The plan has been greeted with mixed response from members of the public immediately after it was announced on Friday.

Supporters say the trees will bring shades and environmentally-friendly beauty for the city, whereas others are worried that accidents may occur as the coconut fruits can fall into the head of passers-by.

But the Vietnam Coconut Association stated in the proposal that they have a scientific method to prevent the coconut trees from producing fruits if the administration wishes to do so.