jofus, I agree don't dig them up...here is a couple of pics of mine that were severely damaged last Jan.09 freeze. It recovered...although it took appx. 4-5 months to start looking like a mango tree again. It will depend on the tree, temps and other factors so no guarantee it will recover...but its worth waiting to make sure. I have two lychee trees that are "severely damaged" (looks like someone used a blow torch on it) from this recent freeze but I am waiting till March to prune and see if it will recover. Today it looks like its at deaths door, but I am trying to be optimistic. Good luck and don't give up quite yet! Same tree after 5 months...taken May 09. This one sustained some freeze damage from this recent freeze but mostly foliage so far.

or your responses so far. i apologise for posting update photoes so late. My nam doc mai, as you gentleman have previously said has started new growth. I decidede to transplant it from pot to garden soil. here it is how it looks. One problem though is that the pugged branches still look touched from some kind of athracnose. Can you guys be kind to help me deal with that or should i just leave it as new shoots are coming out? any reply is appreciated>

Thanks for all the helpful comments. I love this tree and hoping to see it mature. As I planted the seed together with my kids. Here is a pic of how it looks now.

Bad pic, but it looks like you have a sooty mold problem Spray with Neem oil and a copper based fungicide. Is the plant partially shaded? This could contribute to the problem. Also, sooty mold thrives on the residue from insect damage so the Neem oil should help in a few weeks, but you might spray with some Malathion to knock out anything that is sipping on the leaves. Sooty mold won't harm the leaves in itself, but it will hurt the photosynthesis and is indicative of a bigger problem.