The Bui family’s ornamental plant business

The story of the Bui family’s ornamental plant cultivation begins in the early 20^th century, when the ancestors of the Bui family artisans were the first to become familiar with the craft of growing and shaping bonsai trees. Initially, the ornamental plant business consisted only of manual labor performed by farmers, such as planting ornamental plants in gardens and creating decorative plants for their homes. However, thanks to their skill and love for plants, the art of bonsai cultivation gradually evolved into a form of artistry, and the Bui family became one of the most renowned families in this field in Ninh Binh province. In particular, the Bui family in Lai Thanh commune (Ninh Binh province) - a family with a long tradition of cultivating ornamental plants - is exemplified by the Bui Dinh Hai family, which has had three generations of provincial and national-level artisans.

One of his sons, Bui Quang Vi - a national-level ornamental plant artisan has achieved great success thanks to his dedication, passion and extensive knowledge of ornamental plants. In addition, Mr. Vi also participated in social welfare work not only in his local area but also in many other provinces, and with the blood flowing in his veins, many of his grandchildren continue to follow in the profession of Mr. Hai.

According to artisan Bui Quang Vi, the third generation of the Bui family, the art of cultivating ornamental plants has been passed down from generation to generation. “My grandfather was the first to be creative in shaping bonsai trees. In those days, bonsai trees were simply trees in the garden, but he started shaping them”. “By our generation, the profession had become an art”, Mr. Vi shared.

To date, the bonsai garden of artisan Bui Quang Vi boasts a diverse range of trees, including four ancient styles such as: dragon-shaped, upright, cascading, and horizontal styles. In addition, there are many bonsai trees created by the skillful hands of this artist himself.

Continuously innovating

The distinctive feature of the Bui family’s ornamental plant artisans is the combination of plant care techniques and the art of shaping. Each of their bonsai trees is not simply a beautiful bonsai but a work of art, each bearing its own unique mark. In order to create a perfect bonsai tree, the artisans of the Bui family must go through a long and extremely meticulous process.

According to artisan Bui Dinh Hai (PV, 95 years old this year), shaping bonsai trees requires immense patience. “A bonsai tree can take from 3 to 5 years to complete”. We have to take care of each branch, shaping it to achieve the most beautiful form without harming the tree’s natural growth”, Mr. Hai shared. Each bonsai tree should not only be beautiful but also possess a soul, reflecting the heart and soul of its creator. The pine, fig, or eucalyptus trees are carefully tended and shaped by the Bui family into unique forms, carrying profound meanings about strength, resilience or the softness and grace of nature.

Growing plants indoors enhances the aesthetic appeal of a home, plants also hold significant meaning in terms of feng shui. In feng shui, plants can neutralize negative influences in the home. Therefore, carefully selected plants that align with the homeowner’s feng shui and are placed in the right location within the house can help eliminate negative influences, contributing to wealth and good fortune for the homeowner, Mr. Hai further shared.