Sa Dec Bonsai Museum: A promising direction for artisan Nguyen Phuoc Loc

When visiting Sa Dec, tourists often immediately think of the vibrant flower and ornamental plant gardens. However, if you're looking for a place of profound contemplation, the Sa Dec Bonsai Museum of artist Nguyen Phuoc Loc (born in 1972) is a must-see destination.

This place is not only an art exhibition but also a testament to a successful entrepreneurial story and a passion for elevating Vietnamese bonsai.

A PLACE WHERE THE ARTISTIC VALUE OF BONSAI CONVERGES

Located approximately 5 km north of the center of Sa Dec ward, the Sa Dec Bonsai Museum (No. 156, Provincial Road DT 848, Khanh Nhon hamlet, Sa Dec ward, Dong Thap province) attracts visitors with its novelty and scale. Upon entering the museum, visitors experience a spacious atmosphere, a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle outside.

Tourists visit the Sa Dec Bonsai Museum owned by Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc.

Ms. Tran Phuong Ly, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, couldn't hide her impressed feelings after the visit: "The garden is quite large, and the tree shapes are incredibly unique and interesting. I especially liked the national record-breaking 'Oldest pair of ornamental tamarind trees in Vietnam,' with its special shape that can't be found anywhere else."

Indeed, without seeing it firsthand, it's hard to imagine such a large and impressive bonsai museum in the heart of Sa Dec. With over 1,000 works (including 4 national record-breaking pieces), this is not just an exhibition area, but also a convergence of many values ​​of Southern Vietnamese bonsai art, a unique cultural space that adds to the beautiful landscape of Sa Dec Flower Village.

With pride and a deep understanding of the craft, Master Bonsai Artist Nguyen Phuoc Loc often personally leads tours, enthusiastically introducing the name, style, and story behind each piece. This richness has transformed the Sa Dec Bonsai Museum from just a place of admiration into a destination with profound educational and inspirational value regarding Vietnamese bonsai art.

Artisan Nguyen Phuoc Loc stands beside his artwork, "The oldest pair of ornamental tamarind trees in Vietnam".

Born and raised in a family with a tradition of trading ornamental plants, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc has had a passion for plants since his youth.

With his skillful hands and inquisitive nature, he not only inherited but also developed his family's business.

The milestone that made his name in the bonsai world was in 2013, when the precious pair of ancient tamarind trees he collected was recognized as the oldest pair of tamarind trees in Vietnam, with an estimated value of 1 million USD.

Building on this success, he continued to invest, collect, and create more valuable bonsai works, and his greatest achievement is the establishment of the Sa Dec Bonsai Museum, which is as large as it is today.

PRESERVING AND DEVELOPING THE TRADITIONAL CRAFT

As a seasoned artisan, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc frankly acknowledges that Vietnamese bonsai is still in its "initial stage" on the international map.

He pointed out that the biggest challenge is that bonsai is not yet recognized as a key economic sector, production is still small-scale, driven by personal preferences, and lacks professionalism.

The Sa Dec Bonsai Museum currently displays over 1,000 bonsai works.

This is in stark contrast to countries like Japan, Taiwan, or Thailand, which have long established a well-structured bonsai ecosystem.

However, artisan Nguyen Phuoc Loc asserts that Vietnam possesses many unique advantages such as: a favorable climate that shortens the time required to cultivate bonsai trees from 20 years (in Japan) to about 10 years; and many rare native tree species such as the dwarf fir, cypress, and mountain fir... endemic species that are being sought after by many international artisans – "natural treasures" – if exploited properly.

Furthermore, Mr. Loc stated that the international market is experiencing a shortage of bonsai artisans. With its young and skilled workforce, Vietnam has the potential to become a major supplier of bonsai artists to the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Loc himself has sent many students to Japan and Taiwan for work and study, opening up promising new avenues for the next generation.

To realize that potential, artisan Nguyen Phuoc Loc is focusing on training. The Sa Dec Bonsai Museum regularly organizes courses ranging from basic to advanced levels.

Artisan Nguyen Phuoc Loc poses for a photo with tourists next to his artwork, "A pair of ornamental cypress trees originating from Southern Vietnam, crafted using the tetrahedral sun and moon method, achieving a unique record value in Vietnam."

Mr. Loc emphasized: "The bonsai craft cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. This is a profession of emotion, of the hands, and also a career opportunity with good income, from 500,000 VND/day for beginners if properly trained."

Having previously served as Chairman of the Ornamental Plants Association of Sa Dec City (formerly) and as a National-level Ornamental Plants Artisan, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc believes that with coordinated efforts between the government, associations, and professionals, Vietnamese bonsai art can absolutely reach world-class levels.

He concluded: "A bonsai tree can yield very high economic value if it is developed in the right way."

With a passion for preserving and developing the art of bonsai, artisan Nguyen Phuoc Loc is quietly building a "bonsai temple" not only for himself, but also for future generations - those who love beauty and understand the soul of Vietnamese trees.

M. NHAN

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/bao-tang-bonsai-sa-dec-huong-di-trien-vong-cua-nghe-nhan-nguyen-phuoc-loc-a233999.html