Miniature pine forests, nativity scenes and winter gardens transformed into glass-encased gifts are helping one startup sell over 2,000 products per month, bringing in monthly revenues that surpass USD 80,000 during the Christmas season.

At 8 a.m., a ten-person production team at a gift shop is already working at full speed. Over the past few months, demand for Christmas-themed decorations has surged sharply.

The team is in full production mode to fulfill a growing number of orders pouring in from across the country.

Sensing a rising trend among young customers who enjoy plant-themed glass terrariums, the shop began mass-producing Christmas miniatures contained in glass domes.

According to co-founder Nguyen Quoc Truong (born 1992), the business now produces around 2,000 orders a month, generating revenue of over VND 2 billion - equivalent to more than USD 82,000.

Terrariums are small glass containers that house a self-contained ecosystem - soil, plants, pebbles, water, and occasionally live animals.

They replicate various natural habitats like rainforests or deserts, combining organic elements such as soil, rocks, moss and water to create visually compelling miniature worlds.

After designing the layout for each glass-encased gift, the team uses carefully preserved materials such as cushion moss, cedar moss, and the roots of hoang cuong trees to bring the inner scenes to life.

Once complete, the entire product is sealed and preserved.

Nguyen Quoc Truong explained that, unlike traditional terrariums, the ones made at his studio require no watering, soil or sunlight.

“These use a special type of natural moss we preserve ourselves. After harvesting and processing, the moss is ‘frozen’ to maintain a lifelike appearance,” he said.

The products come in various sizes and price points, ranging from VND 500,000 to VND 3 million (roughly USD 20 to USD 123).

As gift demand spikes around the holidays, the studio has even faced shortages of materials due to overwhelming orders.

Every day, they receive hundreds of orders from both domestic and international customers.

Beyond just production, Truong’s business is also creating opportunities for people with disabilities.

Vu Thi Mai Huong, who is hearing impaired, is one of the studio’s most skilled artisans, known for her precision and meticulous craftsmanship.

“Huong has incredible focus and exceptional dexterity. She’s a perfect fit for this kind of work. Some months, she even earns the highest bonus on the team,” Truong proudly shared.

Thach Thao