"The founder" of Go Moc ornamental plant craft village

Early in the morning, when the dew still lingers on the leaves in the shady garden in Go Moc residential area (Quyet Thang ward), the thin but agile figure of Artisan Do Ngoc Phung appears among the bonsai trees. At the age of 81, he still regularly spends most of his day taking care of each pine tree, bonsai pot or ancient bonsai starfruit branch, the trees that have accompanied him for many years.

Mr. Do Ngoc Phung (left) often shares experiences in taking care of bonsai with people around him.

Born in Yen My (Hung Yen), a land of traditional agriculture, Mr. Phung soon had the desire to change his life through farming. In 1976, he got married and moved with his wife to Thai Nguyen to start a business. In the early years, he and his wife worked hard on the fields, growing rice and tea, but the economic efficiency was not enough to nurture their big dream.

In 1981, through the introduction of some fellow countrymen, Mr. Phung began to learn about bonsai growing. In the context of scarce information, he did not hesitate to travel back to his hometown or to each artisan's house in Ha Nam and Nam Dinh provinces to learn the profession. Wherever there was a talented person, he would seek out and ask to learn, even staying for a whole month just to learn how to bend a tree or shape the roots to match the "soul" of the tree. For Mr. Phung, each tree shape was a lesson, a challenge of perseverance and love for nature.

In 1990, he officially started his career as a bonsai grower on Go Moc land. More than 1 hectare of his family garden gradually became a “botanical museum” with hundreds of rare bonsai species, worth from several hundred thousand to billions of dong. Many of the trees were so unique that in the early 2000s, he once sold a bonsai tree in exchange for a Honda motorbike - a valuable asset for any family at that time.

Mr. Phung’s garden currently has hundreds of types of ornamental plants, from banyan, fig, pine, Indian laurel, bougainvillea, old roses to rare species with Japanese bonsai art. Many trees are over 30 years old, shaped into the styles of “Ngu Phuc Lam Mon”, “Long Giang”, “Nu Hoang”…

Not only is it a place to display unique artistic trees, the garden is also an “open classroom” for members and young people who love the profession to come and learn and exchange experiences. The bonsai trees here are not simply products, but also living works, expressing the spirit, passion and philosophy of the artisan.

Despite his old age, Mr. Do Ngoc Phung still devotes great passion to the profession of ornamental plants.

Not stopping at developing his personal economy, Mr. Phung also has the desire to spread the ornamental plant profession to the community. In 2013, he established the Go Moc Ornamental Plant Craft Village, gathering more than 30 households in the profession. Up to now, the craft village space has expanded, reaching more than 10 hectares with a variety of plants and flowers, many of which are displayed at major local and provincial events.

At the same time, as Chairman of the Quyet Thang Ward Ornamental Plants Association and Member of the Executive Committee of the Provincial Ornamental Plants Association, Mr. Phung is not only a person who inspires the profession but also inspires the community spirit.

Every day, he regularly visits the members’ gardens, giving advice on how to care for plants, grow seedlings and help them find outlets for their products. Under his guidance, Go Moc Ornamental Plant Craft Village has gradually formed its own unique characteristics, where art blends with the economy, creating jobs for hundreds of local workers.

Despite his remarkable achievements, Mr. Phung does not avoid the current limitations. He shared: We do not have a master plan, and have not created a highlight in the craft village space. Many households still do things on their own, and have not yet joined together to develop together. However, instead of complaining, he sees this as an opportunity for the next generation to continue to improve, bringing the craft village to new heights.

With his persistent and valuable contributions, Mr. Do Ngoc Phung was honored as the Ornamental Artist in 2015 and received many certificates of merit from various levels and sectors. These titles not only recognize him personally, but are also a reward for his dedication and quiet but intense dedication to the profession.

In the lush green space of Go Moc craft village today, perhaps every tree and every flower bud is a living witness to the old artisan's persistent journey. He not only "gave birth" to the craft village, but also breathed life into a purely agricultural countryside. And then the young shoots of the green economy are growing day by day, thanks to the hands, heart and mind of the respected "captain" - artisan Do Ngoc Phung.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202508/nguoi-khai-sinh-lang-nghe-sinh-vat-canh-go-moc-fe804fc/