♦ PhD. Nguyen Quang Anh

 

Biological resources

Hanoi City, with its geographical location in a tropical monsoon climate zone, fertile soils, a dense river network, and many large lakes, has rich and diverse biological resources. The following typical ecosystems can be found here:

- Ba Vi low- and mid-elevation mountain ecosystem

- Soc Son low-mountain ecosystem

- Huong Son – Quan Son limestone mountain ecosystem

- Dong Mo – Ngai Son ecosystem

- Planted forest ecosystem

- Grassland and shrub ecosystem

- Agricultural ecosystem

- Urban residential ecosystem

- Rural residential ecosystem

Within these ecosystems, there are many plant and animal species that are characteristic of Vietnam’s tropical monsoon nature and have high biodiversity value. Typical of Hanoi City are the Ba Vi low- and mid-elevation mountain ecosystems, characterized by tropical broadleaf forests. There is also the limestone mountain ecosystem in Huong Son Commune. Hanoi’s lake ecosystems have been and continue to serve as places preserving historical, cultural, and artistic values, as well as rich biological resources. The City’s systems of crops and livestock are continuously supplemented and diversified in the process of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries production.

Vegetation

The flora of Hanoi City includes all six divisions of vascular higher plants found in Vietnam’s flora, comprising 1,747 species (including some subspecies, varieties, and forms), 865 genera, and 215 families. The flora of Hanoi City represents 100% of the plant divisions, approximately 71% of the total families, 39% of the total genera, and 17% of the total species of Vietnam’s national flora.

 

 

Map of Ecosystems of Hanoi City ^[1]

According to survey results by the Vietnam Association for the Conservation of Nature and Environment, the flora of Hanoi City includes 53 rare and endangered species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (2007). Among them, 13 species are classified as endangered, such as Pinus massoniana, Cypress, Fokienia hodginsii, Dalbergia tonkinensis, Aristolochia debilis, Dendrobium nobile, and Dendrobium nobile... There are 36 species classified as potentially endangered, such as Juniper chinensis, Pterocarpus indicus, Triangular-leaved fig, Ironwood, Shorea spp., and Rau sang (Melientha suavis), etc.

The vegetation of Vietnam in general, and of Hanoi City in particular, has very diverse uses. It is an important natural resource serving people’s production activities and daily life. The main uses include:

- Plants provide wood and firewood for production and daily life. Forests on limestone mountains in the Huong Son - Quan Son area have some valuable timber species such as Trai and Dalbergia tonkinensis, etc. Ba Vi National Park has rare species such as Cypress, Juniper chinensis, and Fokienia hodginsii, etc.

- Medicinal plants: These are useful plant species with relatively high diversity. Notable examples include Dang sam (Codonopsis), Bo cot toai (Drynaria fortunei), Lan mot la (single-leaf orchid), and Binh voi tuber (Stephania spp.), found in Ba Vi National Park and the Huong Son historical–cultural site. Rau sang (Melientha suavis) from Huong Pagoda is a famous local specialty of Hanoi.

- Plants providing essential oils, resins, fragrances, tannins, fats, oils, and dyes.

- Plants providing fibers and raw materials for paper production.

- Plants providing raw materials for weaving crafts, handicrafts, and construction materials. Notable species include Sua (Dalbergia tonkinensis), Oak (Quercus spp.), and Green ironwood (Lim xanh).

- Ornamental plants used for landscaping, shade, and hedges.

- Ancient trees are often associated with historical, cultural, and traditional heritage sites, as well as legends, temples, and pagodas. They can be regarded as priceless assets, not only in terms of natural landscape but also in their cultural and spiritual value to the Vietnamese people. Typical examples include the seven Muom trees at Voi Phuc Temple, which have been recognized as Vietnam Heritage Trees. The row of Ruoi trees in Duong Lam Commune of Son Tay Town (from July 01, 2025, Son Tay Ward) is, according to legend, the place where Ngo Quyen, in the early 10^th century, once tied elephants while preparing forces for the national restoration.

Animals

The fauna of Hanoi City is quite rich, comprising 891 species belonging to 154 families and 45 orders. Among them, vertebrates include 382 species, 112 families, and 36 orders, with several rare and valuable species such as the Chinese pangolin, giant flying squirrel, small-clawed otter, Chinese egret, red-breasted parakeet, hill myna, common myna, gecko, and flagfin sardine. Invertebrates comprise 320 species belonging to 42 families and 9 orders. In addition, there are 76 species of phytoplankton, 59 species of zooplankton, and 54 species of benthic animals.

Valuable genetic resources

According to 2013 statistics from the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the city possesses a large number of genetic resources (131 plant species and 1,357 cultivars), especially specialty crop genetic resources that need to be conserved and developed. The food crop group includes 8 crop types and 378 cultivars (with 143 rice cultivars and 122 maize cultivars). The industrial crop group includes 7 crop types and 208 cultivars (including 63 soybean cultivars and 75 peanut cultivars). The vegetable crop group includes 36 crop types and 472 cultivars (notably 81 pumpkin cultivars and 52 bottle gourd cultivars), with particularly valuable specialty genetic resources such as Huong Pagoda rau sang, Thuong Tin potato, and Hoai Duc cockscomb mustard. The flower and ornamental plant group comprises 41 plant types and 81 cultivars (including 15 chrysanthemum cultivars). The medicinal plant group includes 17 plant types and 27 cultivars. The fruit tree group consists of 22 plant types and 191 cultivars (including 72 pomelo cultivars and 26 orange cultivars).

 

 

Hanoi City has 23 valuable genetic resources of specialty crops. Among them, fruit trees account for 14 genetic resources, including Me Linh red pomelo, Dak So Buddha’s hand citron, Hoai Duc Buddha’s hand citron, late-ripening longan of Ha Tay, Huong Tich apricot, jackfruit, Son Da custard apple, and Ba Vi custard apple, etc. Vegetables include 7 specialty genetic resources, such as Lang basil, Huong Pagoda Rau sang (Melientha suavis), Dong Du pickling mustard, and Hanoi moi mustard. Ornamental flowers and plants include 2 specialty genetic resources: Nhat Tan peach and West Lake lotus.

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 [1] Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Map of Ecosystems of Hanoi City.