More than 400 ‘super bonsai’ trees gather in Quang Ngai, including one valued at 6.3 billion dong

More than 400 bonsai works have gathered at Pham Van Dong Square in Quang Ngai for an expanded ornamental-plant exhibition running from Sept. 7 to 15. The event combines a display, a fair and exchanges among ornamental-plant enthusiasts.

Visitors began arriving as artists brought in the final trees. Some stood for dozens of minutes, studying the roots, trunks and branches before discussing each tree’s form. Most of the exhibits were made from familiar varieties, including duối, sanh, khế and pine.

Local enthusiasts have jokingly called this year’s event the “return of native sanh,” referring to a variety that once represented a strength of Quang Ngai’s artisans. The variety received less attention in the ornamental-plant market for years, but growers across Vietnam have shown renewed interest in it over roughly the past two years.

This exhibition is dominated by large bonsai, with many trees having root bases measuring up to a meter around. Huynh Minh Giu, chairman of the Quang Ngai Ornamental Plants Association, said the artists had brought their most dedicated works. Among the hundreds displayed, the sanh trees “Kim nghê vọng nguyệt” and “Thạch nham cổ mộc” have drawn particular attention. Their owner values them at 3.4 billion and 6.3 billion dong. Long-time growers assess bonsai not only by size or age, but also by form, roots, trunk maturity, branch balance and years of care and shaping.

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The exhibition has brought together very beautiful trees. The artists brought the works they cared about most.