VietNamNet Bridge - Trinh Van Sy from Bao Loc district in Lam Dong province is one of the best-known orchid collectors in the country.


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Most people collect orchids to beautify their houses and admire the flower’s beauty. They grow orchids for show, or for science, or for food. Sy, however, is growing orchids to become a billionaire. The wild orchid garden brings income of between VND700 million and VND1 billion a year..

There are reportedly tens of thousands of orchid species. Sy said there are nearly 200 endemic wild orchid species grown in his garden, including rare ones which cannot be found in the wild. 

There are reportedly tens of thousands of orchid species. Sy said there are nearly 200 endemic wild orchid species grown in his garden, including rare ones which cannot be found in the wild. 

Fifteen years ago, he visited forests in Loc Bac, Loc Nam, Di Linh and Bao Loc in the province to look for precious orchids. Later, he collected orchids from local ethnic minority people who are knowledgeable about the plants in the forests.

Realizing the high demand for wild orchids and high profits orchids could bring, Sy decided to create new orchid species by cross-breeding and propagating natural orchids. 

He created a species of mutated daffodils this way. While normal daffodils have yellow flowers, the plant he created has full white flowers. It helped him win a prize at an orchid competition.

Sy said it required huge capital to develop the orchid garden. One needs to spend VND500 million at least on facilities and VND200 million on seedlings. 

Sy has been expanding his garden step by step. At first, his garden covered an area of only 100 square meters. 

At Sy’s orchid garden, orchid pots are hung in order on a B40 grid to make the best use of the area. He said more complicated techniques are required to propagate wild orchids than industrial orchids. 

In the natural way, Sy hangs orchids in the open air and sprouts will arise from old plant trunks.

To breed orchids on an industrial scale, Sy puts orchids in a house with covered nets which help prevent rainwater from directly falling into the plants. As the temperature is higher than in normal conditions, many sprouts will develop.

Later, the developing plants will be brought to the open air and watered. The orchids are not placed in glass houses because wild orchids prefer natural conditions.

Wild orchids are beautiful, long lasting and fragrant. Sy’s orchid garden has attracted millions of people from all over the country.


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