For decades, these pines have lined the town’s winding roads and small alleys, creating a tranquil retreat where the whispering wind and shimmering sunlight blend into a melody of memory.
Unlike the soft, dreamy pines of Da Lat or the wild forests of Mang Den in Quang Ngai, Pleiku’s pines carry a contemplative and resilient spirit, much like the people who live beneath them.
The most iconic of these is the century-old pine avenue, now considered a hallmark of Gia Lai tourism. Rows of towering trees stretch continuously along the road, offering cool shade for visitors who stroll beneath their canopy and listen to the sound of the wind weaving through the branches, a harmony that seems to echo the rhythm of local life.
Beyond their beauty, the pines hold practical importance. Planted in the late 1970s in Hoi Phu Ward, the lush forest was part of an ecological restoration effort aimed at greening barren hills, improving the local climate, and creating livelihoods for surrounding communities. Over the years, these trees have stood firm against the elements, quietly embodying the enduring vitality of the highlands.
For many residents, the pines are intertwined with personal stories. On Nguyen Van Cu Street, rows of old pines have shaded generations of Pleiku’s people, from children walking to school to couples wandering hand in hand through the mist. Some who return after years away find themselves pausing beneath the same trees, recalling the calm and innocence of their youth.
Even in loss, the trees evoke deep emotion. When a century-old pine fell during Typhoon Kalmaegi, locals mourned as if losing an old friend. Though new saplings have since been planted, it will take decades for them to grow tall enough to restore the canopy that once defined the skyline.
As the afternoon sun filters through the branches, scattering golden light across the winding roads, the pines remain steadfast, guardians of memory and identity in a fast-changing world. Their enduring green, both constant and comforting, continues to remind those who wander far that Pleiku’s heart still beats beneath the whispering leaves.
