Shocked by the "house search" cost of feng shui master Tuan
In the role of someone who needs to "examine the house" newly, choose a package to enter the house, pick up an incense bowl and buy feng shui items, the reporter contacted the hotline of Feng Shui Minh Tuan. On the other end of the line, the voice of a woman, introducing herself as an office consultant "Teacher Tuan", said that customers can invite "Teacher" to come directly to consider the space arrangement, function of the house, and at the same time offer a "solution" plan.
According to the introduction, the field trip costs of "Mr. Tuan" and the cost of purchasing office items will be calculated separately. In which, the fee for "Mr. Tuan" to directly survey the field is 30 million VND/time. Customers can also choose the form of direct consultation at the office in Bac Giang (old), now Bac Ninh province, or remote consultation through the Zalo social network application, with a fee of 5 million VND/time.
In case customers want to meet the teacher, please provide information for the office to book in advance. Customers need to pay in one installment, pay in advance. After recording information and completing payment, customers will be arranged into teacher Tuan's work schedule" - the female consultant said.
After listening to initial advice, reporters directly went to meet "Mr. Tuan" at address 397-399 Le Loi, Bac Giang City (old).The exchange took place in a modernly decorated tea room space, located right next to the working area of the media team with dozens of employees producing videos.
Here, "Mr. Tuan" told about some cases of customers who were said to have problems in marriage and business due to "feng shui violations".
"The day before, two customers in Hanoi built a 7-story house and encountered violations, but when they came here, they still adjusted it in time, so it was okay.There are many couples who do very well in business, build large houses, but then divorce without clear reasons.When checked, it was said to be due to "feng shui violations", the house direction is not suitable.At a certain point, breakdowns occur" - Mr. Tuan said.
According to this person, feng shui factors need to be calculated early to identify and "overcome" disadvantages, including the use of feng shui items to "resolve".If not handled, when falling into periods considered "bad year", negative issues may arise.
Teacher Tuan" also believes that feng shui is related to "energy field" in living space, which can affect human psychology and health.
If the qi environment is good, living in the house will be favorable and develop. Conversely, if the space is stuffy and the qi field is not suitable, it is easy to cause fatigue, irritability, and even affect health" - Mr. Tuan said.
At the end of the exchange, Mr. Tuan "quoted the price" of the "house search" package with a fee of 30 million VND/time, and at the same time instructed reporters to work with the staff department to arrange a specific schedule.
There is no basis to prove that feng shui items bring positive effects
As people living not far from teacher Tuan's house in Bac Giang (old), many opinions believe that selling items labeled "feng shui" at prices higher than market prices.
Ms. Ha (character name has been changed), a feng shui business owner on Le Loi street (old Bac Giang city), said that when building a house, her family once asked a person who understood feng shui near the house to help with it without charging. After that, the offering was invited to a monk and pagoda to perform, the cost depends on the heart. "Just be sincere, but the price like some places today is quite expensive" - she said.
According to Ms. Ha, the family does not use the services of "teacher Tuan" and has never directly seen feng shui from this person, but only knows about it through social networks. When asked about the level of fame, she said: "Not exactly famous. Before studying in China, it only became famous on social networks about 1-2 years ago".
Ms. Ha also added that the cost of each meeting with this "master" is about 5 million VND; if you go to the field survey in Hanoi, the price can be up to 30 million VND, which is too high. According to the information she has, "Master Tuan" also sells books and feng shui items.
Regarding feng shui products and worship items being traded, Ms. Ha said that the price is relatively "soft", not up to tens of millions of VND like some products advertised on the market, including items associated with the name "Teacher Tuan". Accordingly, a set of cracked enamel items including incense bowls, two plates, a set of 5 bowls, two vases of flowers, incense tubes, three jars of salt rice and a jar of wine costs 7.2 million VND. Incense bowls with feet alone cost 800,000 VND, smaller types cost 700,000 VND.
This is beautiful goods, imported from Bat Trang by artisan Pham Dat - Gia toc Viet. Other product lines are much cheaper" - Ms. Ha said.
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung - former Head of the Faculty of Culture and Development, Academy of Journalism and Propaganda (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics) - said that currently, feng shui consulting activities take place in many forms such as via telephone, online or going to homes. The content often revolves around viewing the direction of the altar, bed and cabinet position, and how to arrange the space inside and outside the house.
Feng shui masters often give imposing interpretations, even combining enchantment and intimidation elements to create fear for homeowners" - Mr. Trung commented.
Also according to the expert, most families who come to feng shui are facing certain problems, so they have prepared financially. Taking advantage of this psychology, some practitioners not only collect consulting fees but also ask homeowners to change the arrangement, buy more "empowerment" items such as stone statues, bronze objects, screens... with the promise of resolving bad luck and bringing good luck.
From research and practical monitoring for many years, I believe that these activities have no basis to prove that they bring positive impacts or change the circumstances of a family" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung emphasized.
According to him, in many cases such as illness, economic difficulties or family conflicts, resorting to feng shui is only a psychological solution, not solving the root cause of the problem.
Faced with this situation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. recommends that people be alert and choose solutions based on science and official institutions. When there are health problems, they need to go to medical facilities; economic difficulties should be sought out to financial and business experts; family conflicts need the support of psychologists and sociologists...
