The Woodcarver’s Whimsical Giants: How One Man Turned Trees into a Fortune

As Mr. Nguyen Van Cong, a 77-year-old resident of Cho Lach, Ben Tre, took us on a tour of his garden, he enthusiastically recounted his entrepreneurial journey. In the past, his family mainly grew fruit trees, but their income was unstable.

In the 1980s, noticing the increasing demand for ornamental plants, he decided to transition his entire garden to growing banyan and fig trees – two resilient species well-suited for landscaping and street decoration.

“I chose banyan and fig trees because they are easy to grow and highly favored for large road dividers,” he recalled.

Initially, his batches of trees were quickly consumed in many provinces in the East. With his accumulated experience, he was often invited to consult for landscaping companies. Success followed, and within a few years, he expanded his planting area to 4 hectares.

However, as the market for construction trees became highly competitive, Mr. Cong sought to stay ahead by conceiving the idea of creating giant animal-shaped trees.

“The market already had small animal-shaped trees, so I knew I had to do something different. Instead, I opted for giant animal shapes, targeting large-scale clients like hotels and resorts,” he explained.

His massive creations, from 20-meter-long dragons to 7-8 meter-tall animal models, quickly dominated the market, providing a stable income stream. He not only sold to domestic customers but also exported thousands of products annually to Australia, Singapore, and Cambodia.

According to Mr. Cong, crafting animal-shaped trees requires not only meticulousness but also advanced techniques. He typically cultivates banyan and fig trees for several years before shaping them into animal forms.

“It may sound simple, but it requires extreme caution. I’ve passed on my craft to many apprentices, but none have satisfied me. Even a slight deviation can ruin the aesthetic value,” shared Mr. Cong.

For convenience in transportation, he adopted a modular assembly method for his creations. The tree parts are assembled on-site at the client’s location, allowing him to undertake large-scale projects such as a 200-meter-long guest reception area and a green corridor for a resort.

Mr. Cong’s garden currently employs 20 local workers. Labor costs amount to approximately 2 billion VND annually. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, his annual revenue exceeded 3 billion VND. Although the market demand and revenue have decreased, he remains steadfast in his profession and continues to pass on his expertise to his son, who will take over the garden in the future.

“This profession not only supports my family but also provides a livelihood for many others,” shared Mr. Cong. He hopes to expand his garden further and incorporate new technologies to enhance production quality and meet market demands.