As a traditional activity held before the opening of new AEON MALL shopping malls, the Tree Planting Ceremony not only marks the beginning of a new destination, but also provides an opportunity for AEON MALL to work together with local authorities, organizations, partners and the community to create shared green values from the very beginning.
At the ceremony, Mr. To Anh Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, and Mr. Mai Xuan Liem, Member of the Standing Committee of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, together with nearly 600 guests representing Japanese organizations in Vietnam, press and media agencies, local partners, and employees of AEONMALL Vietnam Co., Ltd., AEON Vietnam Co., Ltd. and AEON Delight Vietnam Co., Ltd., joined hands to plant the first trees at AEON MALL Thanh Hoa.
With the message “Sow the Future,” the trees planted today carry a meaning beyond creating a green landscape for a new development. Each tree represents a seed of life planted in the land of Thanh Hoa, where AEON MALL is beginning a new journey – growing together, building connections and creating lasting value for the local community.
Nearly 5,000 native seedlings of 18 species will be planted around the shopping mall. These include hibiscus, Wrightia religiosa, Duranta erecta, orange jasmine, Murraya paniculata, peony, Asian palmyra palm, red-leaf photinia, bougainvillea, snow mountain tree, Wrightia antidysenterica, purple ruellia, water jasmine, rice orchid, Platycladus orientalis, silver butterfly tree, yellow bells and other woody plants. The selected species are suitable for the local natural conditions and will contribute to creating a harmonious green space that blends with the shopping mall and its surrounding landscape.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Mai Xuan Liem, Member of the Standing Committee of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized: “The greatest value of this program lies not only in the number of trees planted, but also in our shared efforts to nurture respect for nature and a sense of responsibility for the environment and the place where we live.”
Mr. Mai Xuan Liem also recognized and highly appreciated the AEON Group’s continued commitment to tree planting as a long-standing tradition, as well as its approach to developing AEON MALL Thanh Hoa in line with green building and sustainable development principles. He expressed his expectation that, once in operation, AEON MALL Thanh Hoa will not only be a modern shopping mall, but also become an active member of the local community by strengthening connections with Thanh Hoa-based businesses, producers and workers, while continuing to carry out practical initiatives in environmental protection, education, culture and social responsibility.
The image of the community coming together to plant and care for the first trees also reflects how the AEON Group and AEONMALL Vietnam Co., Ltd. wish to begin their presence in Thanh Hoa: not simply by building a shopping mall, but by working together with the local community to create a space that belongs to everyone.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Kobayashi Junichi, Deputy General Director of AEONMALL Vietnam Co., Ltd., shared: “What we value is not simply the act of planting trees, but planting and caring for them together with the local community while growing alongside the land and people here. As a member of the local community, AEONMALL Vietnam hopes to build a long-term partnership and grow together with Thanh Hoa in the years ahead.”
According to Mr. Kobayashi, through the development of AEON MALL Thanh Hoa, AEONMALL Vietnam aims to achieve more than simply building a new shopping mall. The project is expected to become a place where people can shop, enjoy entertainment, connect with one another and discover new experiences, while creating more employment opportunities, strengthening connections with local partners and contributing to the overall development of the area.
This spirit of working together with the local community is reflected in the participation of partners from the fields of education, culture, healthcare, tourism, hospitality and entertainment.
Among them were Quang Thanh Primary School, represented by its school management team and 120 students; Hong Duc University, represented by its management team and 50 students; FPT Polytechnic College, represented by its management team and 40 students; representatives and employees of Sun World Sam Son and FLC Sam Son; and representatives and employees of Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital and Thanh Hoa Provincial Oncology Hospital.
The participation of students, employees, local organizations and businesses at the Tree Planting Ceremony created a meaningful image: each person contributing a small part to create a shared green space for the community.
This spirit is also a consistent part of AEON MALL’s development journey in Vietnam – developing and operating shopping malls in close connection with the communities where they are located, and working together with local communities to create sustainable long-term value.
Alongside the “AEON Hometown Forest” Tree Planting Ceremony, AEON MALL Thanh Hoa also marks a step forward in AEON MALL’s commitment to environmentally friendly development, having received LOTUS certification from the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC).
AEON MALL Thanh Hoa was assessed under the LOTUS NC V3 rating system for shopping mall projects. Pursuing green building standards is part of AEON MALL’s approach to reducing environmental impact, using resources efficiently and creating a convenient and healthy environment for visitors and users.
The Tree Planting Ceremony, therefore, is more than an activity held ahead of the opening. It is AEON MALL’s first greeting to Thanh Hoa, expressed through the planting of green seeds that will grow together with the local community and the land for years to come.