Page 56 - Tạp chí bonsai BCI Q12011

top left: Human Shape Stone: (Length x Height x Width)
19.5cm x 34cm x 14.5cm. Collected in Ma Lam village, Binh Thuan
Province (Phan Thiet), 2003.

top right: Human Shape Stone: (Length x Height x Width)
9cm x 18cm x 6cm. Collected in Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa
Province (Nha Trang), 2009.

middle: Animal Shape Stone: (Length x Height x Width)
32cm x 16 cm x 13cm. Collected in China, 2004.
lower middle: Doha Shape Stone: (Length x Height x Width)
26cm x 10cm x 16cm. Collected in Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa
Province (Nha Trang), 1989.
lower left: Hole Shape Stone: (Length x Height x Width)
37cm x 7cm x 28.5cm. Collected in 16th milestone, Di Linh
District, Lam Dong Province (Da Lat), 2009.
lower right: Pattern Stone:(Length x Height x Width)
33cm x 21cm x 10.5cm. Collected in Duy Xuyen District, Quang
Nam Province, 2009.

Vietnam, then the interest began to spread because of ex-
changes with Japan, China and Taiwan. Here in Vietnam,
the stones are called Nguyen Canh Ban, literally “stone
naturally shaped.” The variety and quality of Vietnamese
stones is not so high, compared with Chinese shangshi,
but we can also consider the difference between the two
countries in extent and years of practice. Based on what
we saw in southern Vietnam, the aesthetic is close to
Japanese concepts. Stones are small and generally dark
in color. In Hanoi, a big bonsai exhibition was held in the
Old Citadel for the 1000th anniversary of the founding
of the city. There we saw two rooms with stones. Even
though the number of stones shown was not large, the
Chinese influence was more evident in shapes, light col-
ors and dimensions.
We were grateful to Mr. Duc for his kindness in opening
the doors of his house and collection for us to enjoy. If
you are thinking about touring Asia, do not miss Viet-
nam. The Vietnam travel agency worked out so well for
us, I would be pleased to provide all the useful contacts
to anyone travelling there.

54 | January/February/March 2011