Cultivating bonsai trees creates a stable source of income.

Driven by his passion for bonsai trees and ornamental plants, Huynh Van Manh, residing in Tay Son 2 hamlet, An Bien commune, has gradually built his own unique path and become known to bonsai enthusiasts both within and outside the province under the name "Bonsai Manh".

Mr. Huynh Van Manh shapes a plum blossom tree. Photo: Bao Tran

In front of the time-worn wooden house, the rhythmic clicking sound of pruning shears echoed. Bending down to a bonsai bonsai tree being shaped, Mr. Mạnh squinted, carefully trimming the stray branches. His sun-tanned, calloused hands, hardened from farming and tending to the trees, nimbly bent the young branches with wire. At 15, Mr. Mạnh was fascinated by the bonsai trees and ornamental plants in his family's garden. Back then, he would often stand for hours watching his grandfather shape bonsai. From pruning and wire wrapping to shaping, Mr. Mạnh quietly observed and then imitated. “I was so fascinated then. I saw that my grandfather's work gave each tree a soul, so I tried to copy him. Sometimes I ruined the tree or bent the shape incorrectly, but he kept reminding me, and gradually I learned how to do it,” Mr. Mạnh recounted.

Born into a farming family, Mạnh's childhood was spent in the fields. But after each day of working in the fields, the young man would busy himself with the bonsai trees placed around his house. Besides the experience he learned from his grandfather, Mạnh also independently researched through social media, bonsai groups, and instructional videos to improve his skills. According to Mạnh, bonsai cultivation is not something that happens "overnight," but rather a journey of meticulousness and patience over many years. "It's difficult to say exactly how long it takes to perfect a bonsai tree. Some trees take about 2-5 years, but some trees take almost 10 years to cultivate and still aren't satisfactory. The value of a bonsai lies not only in its shape and style but also in its 'age.' That's the sense of antiquity that emerges through the rough bark, the winding trunk, and the wood grain bearing the marks of time. Each tree has its own shape and soul, so the bonsai artist must know how to observe and create according to each tree," Mạnh said.

In recent years, besides selling directly, Mr. Manh has also utilized social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok to post photos, record videos, and livestream to introduce his products and connect with bonsai enthusiasts everywhere. From an initial hobby, bonsai has gradually become a stable source of income for the young man. His garden currently boasts many varieties of apricot blossom trees, priced from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions of dong, with the busiest period leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year). Mr. Manh shared: “More and more people are pursuing the bonsai profession, and the competition is higher than before. Therefore, in addition to carefully tending to the tree's shape, bonsai practitioners must also know how to promote their products through social media to reach customers. Furthermore, I cater to current tastes with compact potted trees, suitable for urban spaces, while still maintaining the antique charm and spirit of traditional bonsai. Yellow apricot blossoms have long been associated with Vietnamese culture, and I believe this profession still offers many opportunities for those who are truly passionate.”

Besides developing his business from bonsai, Mr. Manh is also actively involved in local affairs as the Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union branch in Tay Son 2 hamlet. He is always ready to share his experience in caring for and shaping bonsai trees with other young people who share his passion. Ms. Thi Hong Nhanh, Secretary of the An Bien Commune Youth Union, said that Mr. Manh is a model Youth Union member in the locality, actively participating in Youth Union activities and proactively developing his business through bonsai cultivation. This is a suitable path for rural Youth Union members and young people to learn from, utilizing their passion and available resources in their hometown to start their own businesses.

Late in the afternoon, Mr. Mạnh was still diligently working on his unfinished bonsai trees. From the passion of his childhood, this young man is gradually building his own path, preserving and promoting the art of bonsai in a rural area still steeped in the spirit of the rice paddies.

BAO TRAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/vun-bonsai-tao-nguon-thu-on-dinh-a486748.html