Hanoi (VNA) - More than 200 meticulously shaped bonsai trees and 300different species of roses are on display at an exhibition at Thang Long RosePark in Hanoi’s Thanh Trì district.

Thirty bonsai artisans from Hanoi gathered at the opening ceremony of theexhibition on April 25, and shared experience in cultivating the ornamentaltrees.

Dao Manh Hung, Director of the park, said the event aims to create an“interesting playground” for nature lovers in the city and give bonsai growersa space to meet each other and share their passion for this horticultural art.

“In the past, only rich people could afford bonsai andother ornamental plants. But nowadays, everyone can buy or cultivateone. This event is a meaningful one because it inspires people to live closerto nature."

“In the face of rapid urbanisation, it’s very good that Thang Long Rose Parkcan contribute to preserving the green space of Huynh Cung village in Thanh Tridistrict,” said Luu Minh Tri,  President of the ThangLong Ornamental Plant Art Association and President of  the ThangLong-Hanoi Cultural Heritage Association.

Trinh Thuan Duc, senior specialist at Biology Landscapes of Vietnam, said theart of growing bonsai appeared in the country 900 years ago. There are alsodifferences in how different cultures approach the art, he said.

Duc explained that while the Japanese bonsai is closely attached tothe Zen philosophy with no specific themes, Vietnamese bonsai hasdifferent stories to tell.

When planting and shaping their trees, Vietnamese growers are inspiredby individual feelings as well as relations between people, includingfriendship, love between family members, and the energy of Vietnamese people,he said.

“Each bonsai has a specific meaning,” Duc said.

Pointing to a miniature phi lao (casurina) tree, he said: “This treeis already 30 years old. And here it represents the life story of anindividual. Its rough tree-trunk shows that the person suffered a lot, but thegreen leaves on the top of the tree shows that he continues to flourish in lifeand contributes his energy to it.”

Located in Huynh Cung village, Thang Long Rose Park has been a favoureddestination for rose lovers in the capital.

With a total area of around 45,000sq.m, it is the largest park of its kind inthe city, and houses thousands of rose plants, including over 300 world famousvarieties.

The bonsai exhibition will run until May 15. Visitors can buy the trees ondisplay.-VNA