After teaching classes at Phong Thuy Secondary School in Le Thuy commune, Mr. Hao diligently works at his desk, twisting and bending thin aluminum wires into various bonsai shapes.

He stated the craft began as a hobby in his free time, but it has now become a stable side profession.

Mr. Hoang Quang Hao makes bonsai from aluminum wire. Photo: Dac Thanh

As a child, Mr. Hao often found small trees in the garden or by the roadside and brought them home to plant in pots. This early passion gradually led to an understanding of tree forms and bonsai shaping techniques.

In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Mr. Hao spent more time at home. While browsing social media, he stumbled upon images of bonsai trees crafted from copper and aluminum wire.

"I found it unusual and beautiful, so I wanted to try making one", he recounted.

With 100,000 VND, he purchased several electric fan motors and water pumps from a scrap metal shop. He then dismantled them to extract the metal wires inside. These wires were unraveled, straightened, and twisted to form tree trunks.

However, his initial creations appeared rigid; the branches and details lacked natural fluidity. Sometimes, immediately after shaping, he had to dismantle them and start over.

"Sometimes I would sit for an entire session without achieving the desired tree shape, and the wires would become tangled. But out of curiosity, I persisted", he said.

To refine his designs, Mr. Hao searched for instructional videos on the Internet, studying how to create trunks, canopies, roots, and branch distribution. After numerous trials, his first bonsai trees made from copper and aluminum wire began to take on more distinct shapes. From a simple twisted wire trunk, he gradually managed to create balanced, delicate branches.

Once familiar with the basic techniques, he spent over one million VND to purchase aluminum wire for his bonsai creations. This type of wire is imported from China, pre-treated for high durability and available in various colors.

According to Mr. Hao, the most challenging step is combining dozens of small wires into a complete tree trunk. "Each wire must be twisted in the same direction to ensure strength, but the twisting force must be moderate. If it's too strong, the trunk will look coarse; if too light, the tree won't stand", he explained.

After forming the main trunk, smaller branches are separated from the remaining wires. Mr. Hao meticulously bends them gently to create a natural appearance. Initially, the bonsai trees he crafted were solely for home decoration. However, when he posted photos on social media, many people began inquiring about purchasing them.

According to Mr. Hao, a small bonsai can be completed in about 15 minutes and sells for approximately 50,000 VND. Larger trees, with multiple canopies and intricate designs, can take up to three days to complete and fetch prices up to 3.5 million VND.

During the day, Mr. Hao teaches in class. In the evenings, after preparing lesson plans, he sits down to work on his bonsai. A small corner of his home is dedicated to this craft. His table holds pliers, scissors, aluminum wire spools, and unfinished bonsai pieces. After several years, his hands have become adept. Often, he can twist wires to shape trees while watching television, without needing to look intently.

Currently, Mr. Hao produces about 50 items each month, earning over 10 million VND. During Tet, he hires five additional people to assist with simpler tasks like cutting wires or twisting branches.

Mr. Hao's aluminum wire bonsai combined with driftwood. Photo: Dac Thanh

According to Mr. Le Dinh Ly, Principal of Phong Thuy Secondary School, Mr. Hao is a district-level excellent math teacher, known for his strong expertise and dedication.

"He is always responsible and close with students. Beyond his professional duties, he actively participates in school landscaping activities", Mr. Ly commented.

For Mr. Hao, making bonsai is not only a way to utilize his free time but also a source of joy, helping him relax after teaching hours.

"Each completed bonsai is like a small masterpiece. Seeing it gradually transform from initial wires into something beautiful brings me great joy", he said.

Dac Thanh