HÀ NỘI — More than 200 meticulously shaped bonsai trees and 300 different species of roses are on display at an exhibition at Thăng Long Rose Park in Hà Nội’s Thanh Trì District.

Thirty bonsai artisans from Hà Nội gathered at the opening ceremony of the exhibition yesterday, and shared experiences on cultivating the ornamental trees.

Đào Mạnh Hùng, director of Thăng Long Rose Park, said the event aims to create an “interesting playground” for nature lovers in the city and give bonsai growers a space to to meet each other and share their passion for this horticultural art.

“In the past, only rich people could afford bonsai and other ornamental plants. But nowadays, everyone can buy or cultivatge one. This event is a meaningful one because it inspires people to live closer to nature."

“In the face of rapid urbanization, it’s very good that Thăng Long Rose Park can contribute to preserving the green space of Huỳnh Cung Village in Thanh Trì District,” said Lưu Minh Trị,  president of the Thăng Long Ornamental Plant Art Association and president of  the Thăng Long-Hà Nội Cultural Heritage Association.

Trịnh Thuận Đức, senior specialist at Biology Landscapes of Việt Nam, said the art of growing bonsai appeared in Việt Nam 900 years ago. There are also differences in how different cultures approach the art, he said.

Đức explained that while the Japanese bonsai is closely attached to the Zen philosophy with no specific themes, Vietnamese bonsai has different stories to tell.

When planting and shaping their trees, Vietnamese growers are inspired by individual feelings as well as relations between people, including friendship, love between family members, and the energy of Vietnamese people, he said.

“Each bonsai has a specific meaning,” Đức said.

Pointing to a miniature phi lao (casurina) tree, he said: “This tree is already 30 years old. And here it represents the life story of an individual. Its rough tree-trunk shows that the person suffered a lot, but the green leaves on the top of the tree shows that he continues to flourish in life and contributes his energy to it.”

Located in Huỳnh Cung Village, Thăng Long Rose Park has been a favoured destination for rose lovers in the capital.

With a total area of around 45,000sq.m, it is the largest park of its kind in the city, and houses thousands of rose plants, including over 300 world famous varieties.

The bonsai exhibition will run until May 15 at Thăng Long Rose Park. Visitors can buy the trees on display. — VNS