Mr. Kinh is the first individual in Vietnam to own a national treasure. Currently, he has 5 national treasures in hand including: 3 bronze drums, 2 bronze bells of the Dong Son cultural period. In addition, there are many other antiques, such as the sword bar with the dragon of King Ham Nghi, the sword bar with the phoenix of Queen Nam Phuong... And Mr. Kinh is also a "player" with an expensive painting collection, including lacquer paintings by author Dinh Van Dan - who was greatly influenced by Indochina fine arts.
Talking to the Lao Dong newspaper reporter, Mr. Kinh Hoa, when he was in the position of business, always said "very awake" about the profitability in business, the investment of trillions of dong in planting flowers to be profitable, but when talking about Indochina art, about antiques, about historical culture, Mr. Kinh revealed "artist quality" when telling the way he sensed the beauty of paintings, the beauty of the ancient, the ancient artist, he said in front of the Ancient Ancient, " Chicken skin because of its preciousness ”.
There has been a lot of information about his journey to own 5 national treasures. He once said that there is a special mental connection with antiques and considers it his mission. There will be many people curious about this...
- someone once asked me, after I was in the hand of a Chinese glass drum, did I feel different in my life? Indeed, I suddenly felt everything smooth.
Before, I had envisioned the difficulties and obstacles in the process of owning national treasures, but when I had the first treasures, everything went smoothly and smoothly, everyone was surprised because I could do everything so smoothly.
After that, other treasures came to me one by one, even so quickly that... I had no money to buy. I just try, as my ancestors told me, sometimes I borrow enough to buy. I do not intend to buy for trading, I know that the antiques of Dong Son culture are very valuable, and it is difficult to buy with money.
With the support of like-minded people, experts who are good at researching and trading antiques, I was able to open my own museum to display 5 national treasures, and the antiques that I had collected, everything was very convenient.
It turns out that within 5 years, I have owned 5 national treasures. But I have had the help, suggestions, and support of many experts who have knowledge of this field over the past 50 years.
At the beginning of the story, he said, he came to the national treasure very ... accidentally and somewhat innocent. It was the first bronze drum, he bought it because he was so much to his friend, he paid them 1.2 million USD, then used a 3 -guard car to take him home. When he came to his house, he also smashed his hand on the blank to see if he could not make people around him remind him of his hand with treasures ... Is that the way he told fun or the truth?
- That's right. I came to the antique completely by chance and carefree. I am not an antique collector. Therefore, I always think that the items and I have a very good fate to meet each other. The right person, the right time.
I had intended to give the bronze drum to a friend, but at that time, a professor told me that, in 100 years, I would not be able to find a bronze drum like that! Moreover, ancient objects are only precious when we realize their value. The value of the Dong Son bronze drum lies in the story of culture, history and the layer of time covering it. If you give a drum to someone who doesn't know how much it is, it's meaningless. Therefore, I believe more that the guidance of meetings and relationships has helped me get treasures.
Or the story of the bronze thorn, which belonged to a British man in Thailand. He is extremely rich, has a lot of money, so he does not need to sell antiques. But, at that time, he had to move. A museum in Singapore paid him 5 million USD to buy a bronze trial.
Coming here, it was the right person, at the right time, because when I appeared, that man agreed to sell me a bronze bust for 3.5 million USD in cash. Because he wanted to sell the antique to the place where it belonged (Vietnam), he chose me to sell it, and sell it at a lower price.
When I brought the stele home, many experts came to see it, and they said, looking at the stele, they gave me goosebumps because of its value. Experts shared that they were happy to know that this is an invaluable treasure.
He is not an expert, and comes to antiques because of his... carefreeness. So, have you ever shored your skin because you felt the preciousness of antique?
- Yes, it is a large drum originating from China, going through a long historical journey in the Northern domination period and present in Vietnam. The drum was lost with many ups and downs, when it was in the hands of an owner - they needed money so they called me to say they wanted to sell. The price was quite high, at that time I honestly didn't have enough money, but I kept coming to see the drums.
And, the first moment I saw the drum, I was moved by the skin. This drum in China could sell for hundreds of millions of USD. This is probably one of the largest drums in the world. After I bought it, many people knew it and wanted to buy it back, paying 3 times the price I spent.
He bought the first treasure with indifference, but looking at the quantity of the treasures he owns, it seems he was conquered by the appeal of hunting for and owning antiques? Have you put your love and passion for this job?
- I felt this was my mission and I had to do it. The antiques I bought were all offered for reselling at 3-5 times the price, but I had no intention of selling.
I think they are treasures, they should be preserved - such as preserving national culture and history. I have a will to my children and grandchildren in the future to try to keep the treasures, if they cannot keep them, they should be given to the State and not sold.
Currently, I have many more antiques. For example, 3 Nguyen Dynasty swords, one of which belonged to King Ham Nghi's sword is carved with a dragon's figure, 2 swords have a phoenix carving for the queen (one belonged to Tu Du, one belonged to Queen Nam Phuong). The 5-edged dragon sword of King Ham Nghi is an "three-edged" item, which means it is made from 3 metals: gold, silver, and bronze in Hue in ancient times. I bought it for 200,000 USD.
I also collect more paintings and paintings by Indochina painters, I especially like lacquer paintings. I spent about 30 million USD to own those paintings.
After establishing the museum, I also took into account the revenue, so that the museum could support itself. There will be many ways, for example, I can rent out to display treasures, or collect entrance tickets.
Many people must have been "shocked" when admiring the collection of treasures he had, "shocked" both in their value, in the quantity of treasures, and "shocked" in the amount of money he spent to buy treasures. The most important thing to get treasures is ultimately still economic potential?
- I am just an ordinary worker. I live a simple life. My life is almost spent on nothing else. For lunch, I still eatorganic rice or a portion of bun cha and it's done.
Since graduating from the University of Science and Technology, he has had to do all kinds of jobs to improve his life such as: Taking wedding photos, making sound and lighting for the theater, producing wooden furniture... until now, known as the "king of thorns", the "tycoon of a thousand billion", how long and how far has it taken him?
- It took me 40 years. Before that, I worked in real estate and land projects. When farmers sell their land, they have money but do not know what to use it for. They plan to buy a house, buy a motorbike, spend money and even get involved in social evils. I have witnessed many heartbreaking stories. There was a couple who had just bought a car and had an accident, both of them passed away, leaving behind 2 unemployed children... I was haunted, and felt urged to create jobs for them.
At that time, I was introduced to the profession by a flower industry expert and started pursuing the profession. It took me 20 years to succeed. I researched and invited foreign experts to come, it was very difficult. I cannot sell cut flowers because I cannot sell them cheaper than farmers.
In the first 5 years, I lost all of my 1 million USD in savings. I gradually learned from growing roses to raising flower varieties. After that, I only collected a little money to cover expenses. It was not until 10 years later that I started following the path of growing orchid flowers. I failed several more times. After traveling all over China, I decided to grow orchids.
The orchid plant is easy to care for and durable, and can be kept in a room for 4 months. Every year, I sell 40-50 thousand trees, without much advertising but still trusted by consumers. I have a tissue growing area for sowing, I have to invest more than 1,000 billion VND, and the irrigation water must always be clean. Currently, Vietnam is the destination of many flower businesses.
Are you in the flower and real estate business to have money to buy antiques?
- I do many things, do business in many fields.
Both discussing profitable business and Indochina fine arts. Is he a practical person, always putting the economy first, or is he also a person with "artistic quality"?
- I know many friends who were born into a family with an artistic tradition, this morning my friend Luu Trong Ninh came to visit. He was born into an artistic family, his father was famous poet Luu Trong Lu. Thanks to that, I was also affected by their passion. I myself also have a solid understanding of culture.
I have to understand, then I can recognize the value of artifacts, and get acquainted with those working in this field. For me, making culture more difficult than doing business.
In business, I have been to the bottom 4 times. I left and started over. Sometimes, I "hold money", sometimes leave the house at 5am, and return at 12am due to business problems.
Having gone 4 times to the bottom, I always try to rise, never feel sorry, never stop.
So he was successful?
- Maybe so!
