Sow passion, reap success

At the age of 69, when many people have chosen to retire with their children and grandchildren, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoc (in Tan Lap hamlet, Tan Thai commune, Dai Tu) is still busy with his business, with charity trips and also with his role in inspiring the elderly to start a business. For him, this is the motivation to continue living a useful life.

Thanks to his passion, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoc has achieved many successes in the ornamental plant growing profession.

Born in Ha Nam , a former officer in the fisheries sector, Mr. Hoc has a career journey associated with famous lakes and rivers. In 1976, he left Thac Ba Lake (Yen Bai) for Thai Nguyen to contribute to the development of aquaculture in the province, then worked in this profession at Nui Coc Lake. He worked in the province's fisheries sector for 12 years, then moved to work at the People's Committee of Tan Thai Commune (Dai Tu) until his retirement.

After retiring, Mr. Hoc did not choose to live a leisurely life in his old age but started a "second life" from small bonsai pots. It started out as a hobby during his visits to his hometown in Nam Dinh , but then that passion grew, "took root, sprouted" into a career for him.

“I started just because I saw the beautiful tree and liked it. But when many people asked to buy it, I realized I could live with it with all my heart and mind,” Mr. Hoc shared.

Deciding to learn the craft properly, Mr. Hoc hired artisans to teach him the techniques; he personally traveled to famous tree growing areas to learn and collect unique tree shapes. Just like that, each potted tree, each bonsai shape in his garden became more sophisticated, rich in artistic value and increasingly known to customers everywhere.

Currently, Mr. Hoc's garden has more than 200 trees, many of which are valuable and worth hundreds of millions of dong. In particular, in 2020, he attracted attention when he successfully sold a royal-shaped tamarind tree for 1 billion dong. In some years, the income from the garden reached 4-5 billion dong - a figure that proves the innovative thinking of a man in his sixties.

For Mr. Hoc, each tree shape is a philosophy of life, a lesson in perseverance and serenity. “Bending the tree every day is also a time for me to bend myself, learn patience, and keep my mind calm in the midst of a bustling life,” he said with a gentle smile.

In addition to the ornamental plant business, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoc also diligently collects many types of precious wood.

Each tree shape and each bend not only requires technique, but also represents patience, meticulousness and perseverance, the values ​​that make up a person’s character. And perhaps thanks to that tranquility, despite his old age, he still wakes up early every morning to take care of each tree as a way to nourish his mind and train his intellect.

Thanks to that “patience”, Mr. Hoc not only creates sustainable economic value, but also builds a rich spiritual life. The billion-dollar garden is therefore not only an asset, but also the result of an admirable life journey - where material and spiritual values ​​are sublimated. This is also a valuable lesson for all generations: true wealth begins with a strong inner self and a patient attitude towards all changes in life. With his experience, in recent years, he has also supported his children in managing a rice seed trading company based in Long An province.

Not only enriching himself, Mr. Hoc also always thinks of ways to spread values ​​to the community. For over 10 years, he has regularly participated in local volunteer activities, supporting poor students and disadvantaged families with a total donation of more than 100 million VND each year. He also participates in the Dai Tu District Senior Business Club as Vice Chairman, actively sharing experiences and inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit of the elderly.

Among the carefully trimmed bonsai pots, Mr. Hoc enthusiastically talked about trees, about jobs and about living a decent life. Not everyone can start a new career after turning 60. But he did it, not only with determination but also with a desire to live a useful life and create value until the end of his life.

In him, people see more than a "bonsai artist" or a "successful businessman" - he is a living example of a spirit that transcends age, persistently pursues passion and constantly spreads love.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202505/geo-dam-me-gat-thanh-cong-b9a09c8/