In Vi Khe ornamental plant village (in Vi Khe ward, Ninh Binh province), artisans specializing in pruning and shaping trees are having enviable incomes, ranging from 700,000 to 1,000,000 VND per day.
Born and raised in Vi Khe craft village, having been exposed to ornamental plants since childhood, Mr. Trinh Xuan Tra (32 years old) said that the job of pruning trees he does all year round helps him have a stable income of about 700,000 to 1,000,000 VND/day (depending on the type of tree, the labor level will be different). For good quality trees (high-value trees, requiring elaborate creation), the owner usually contracts according to the tree, not counting working days.
Doing this job requires passion, creating a sapling tree (the original tree) to become an artistic bonsai tree is a long process, requiring patience and meticulousness. Even some trees that I bend and prune must be timed by month or more. That's why our profession is often jokingly called "engineers of tree shapes". Not only working at garden houses in the village, I also go to many places such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Phu Tho, even Saigon, Dong Thap...", Mr. Tra shared.
According to the experience of veteran ornamental plant pruning workers in Vi Khe village, this job requires meticulousness, patience and artistic eyes. Each pull, each wire ring must be precise to bring the tree branch to the desired shape, reaching the perfection.
Creative and skillful as it is, the tools to repair ornamental plants are very simple, just a few scissors, saws, chisels,... and do not cost any capital. Also a person with good bending ability, Mr. Hoang Viet Dai (in Vi Khe ward) said that to create a bonsai work, the craftsman usually starts by pruning all the leaves to reveal the bones, then uses aluminum to shape them. Each craftsman will have a different bending method to create their own works.
Currently, in Vi Khe ward, up to 95% of households are engaged in the ornamental plant profession. In Vi Khe craft village alone, almost 100% of households are engaged in the profession.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Hoat, the owner of a 7,000m2 orchard, said: "Every day I hire 7 - 10 workers, the labor cost is about 150 million VND/month. The trees in my garden are all made by Vi Khe tree shavers. I always prioritize choosing people in the village because Vi Khe workers have high skills and good aesthetic sense.
