Bonsai in Asia Guide Book
Bonsai (Cay Canh) in Vietnam
by Rafael & Rachel Shemi – February 1999
The main purpose of our trip to Vietnam was mainly as tourists, and only a minor part was devoted to Bonsai activity.
Mr. John Oldland from Australia and Mr. W. Pall (Germany) provided us with useful contacts including information about the Bonsai in Asia Guide Book web site.
We also received help from Mr. Do Van Luat, a Bonsai master educated in Vietnam. We were referred to him by BCI. He is the founder of the Dong Son Bonsai School in Belgium, 1360 Chaussee de Wavre, 3-1160 Brussels. Tel & Fax: 32-2-6737549. Although the DONG SON School of Bonsai is located in Belgium, it specialises in Vietnamese Bonsai Art. There is more information, articles, styles and Local contacts on the thier website
The Vietnamese Climate is defined as tropical and subtropical. It has humid summers and relatively dry winters. The average rainfall is about 1,500 mm. Trees in pots are very common in entrances to hotels, office buildings, shops, around monuments and balconies. We were impressed by the vast Bonsai activity all over the country, especially in the big cities and their suburbs.
Most of the Bonsai in Vietnam can hardly be compared to the classic Bonsai (Japanese school). It is more like the Chinese school. It is much bigger than the Japanese average tree size and the style is not as strict. The size of the trees and pots is rather big compared with the classic Bonsai. It can probably be better defined as potted landscape trees.
The common Bonsai styles in Vietnam are:
Conifer-Cupreseus style, pruned like Araucaria trees.
Yamadori from several wild trees from the rain forests.
Animal figured trees.
Citrus (Calamondine) at this season it is full of decorative fruit.
Vast use of stone gardens (Monbo Seikei) which are sold as raw material.
Bonsai selling points are vastly spread along the main roads selling Yamadori which is sold as raw collected material at reasonable prices and Monbo Seikei stones. All Bonsai is first grown in the ground and transferred already styled to the pot shortly before selling. As communication in English in Vietnam is limited, an interpreter is required. Several Bonsai books based on classic styles were available in Vietnamese.
Hanoi
In the suburbs of Hanoi and the surrounding villages, we noticed a tremendous number of commercial Bonsai growers, several Bonsai exporters and some Bonsai associations. We met Prof. Dr. Tran Van Lai, head of Vegetable and Fruit Research Institute together with Mr. Neguyen Mai Thom and Mr. Dang Van Dong heads of the
Bonsai and Flower Department.
Trau Quy-Gia Lam Tel. 84-4– 8-276257 Fax 84-4– 8-276148 Email:
Do Van Giao, (not Visited)
Address: Le Quet Bo, Neg Van Vinh, Trinh Thuan Dist, Hanoi
Vietnam Bonsai Association (not Visited)
Address: 46 Trang Thi Street – Hanoi
Hoi-An
Many Bonsai professional and amateur are located around the cities: Hue, Danang and Hoi-An.
Bonsai (flowers & trees) Association (we did not visit or meet)
Mr. Nguyen Long, 1 Thanh Nam, Cam Chau, Hoi-An, Quang Nam, Mr Long can be contacted via his nephew (English speaking) Mr. Neguyen Guy Tho at the Hoi-An Hotel:
Tel: 84-510-861373/861445 Fax: 84-510-861636 Email:
Click on any of the pictures on this page for a better view
Ho-Chi Minh City (Saigon)
A huge number of Bonsai professionals and amateurs are evident. Bonsai is sold also in gift boxes in the duty free shops in the airport.
Meeting with Mrs. Hoang Ni – manageress of the Bonsai School based on the Classic Japanese concept. She runs the school together with her husband, who is the expert in styling. She is fluent in English. Her garden has a collection of high quality Bonsai trees.
Address: 8/2 Quoc Lo 1A, Ward Tan Thoi Nhat, District 12.
Tel. 84-8–7040016 Fax 84- 8-8910365
Meeting with Mr. Thai Van Thien, Bonsai and Seikai artist of an excellent standard, does not speak English. We met him via Mrs. Ni.
Address: 6/28 huang Lo 13, Binh Huang Hoa, Binh Chanh
Tel. 84-8–8755120
Meeting with Mr. Minh Tan, a Clasic Bonsai artist together with Mrs. Ni. His work is fairly good. Does not speak English.
Address: 247 Hoang Van Thu – P.1, Tan Binh District
We also visited Saigon Orchidex Co., a commercial Bonsai nursery and sales center near the airport. We met Mrs. Hoang Thi Thom an English speaking secretary of their Import-Export department.
The owner Mr. Dong Van Khien (which we did not meet) is also the head of the Ornamental Tree and Pet Organization.
Address: 2 Bis Truong Son Street, 1o Tan Binh District.
Tel. 84-8–8423168 Fax 84- 8-8423173
Due to limited time we did not visit the following Bonsai associations, nor all of those listed above:
Bonsai Association (not Visited)
Mr. Nai Van Bo - president, Mr. Nguyen Van De - vice president
Address: 43 Nguyen Thong St., Dist. 3 Ho-Ci-Minh City
Publishers of Periodicals Hom Canh - The Association of Orchids and Bonsai (not Visited)
247/466/57B Huynh Van Banh St, Phu Nhuan District, Ho-Chi-Minh City.
Tel: 84- 8-8442730
All of the information and pictures on this page were supplied by Rafael & Rachel Shemi
