Dollar bonsai attracts customers during Tet

In addition to traditional bonsai such as apricot, peach, kumquat… in recent years, real money trees have become a popular item to buy during the Lunar New Year.

According to some business owners, the real money tree first appeared in the North. After that, many people knew about it and the market gradually expanded. Real money bonsai means both the tree and money, bringing a prosperous and full new year.

Dollar bonsai is attracting customers.

Real money trees are handmade. In addition to the main material of real money, there are also plastic pipes, steel wires, copper wires and some other decorations. The tree is shaped like a flying dragon. Money was originally arranged in the shape of a fan. Later, the designs became more diverse, with swans, hearts, etc. The common denominations for making this item are 500 VND, 1,000 VND, 2,000 VND, 10,000 VND of cotton type.

In addition to the type made from Vietnamese currency, dollar bonsai products are considered especially lucky. The denomination commonly used is 2 USD. This type of tree is also the most expensive, ranging from 2-3 million VND/tree. Customers not only order them for Tet but also to celebrate housewarmings or give to customers.

There are 2 types of real money bonsai with different sizes including the “small God of Wealth” made from 39 bills, 50-90 cm high, 30-50 cm wide. With the “big God of Wealth” tree made from 79 bills, 1-2 m high. The number of bills on a tree is the number of God of Wealth, with the concept of bringing luck for the new year.

Since banks do not exchange money, stores mainly buy money through e-commerce sites or intermediaries.

The 10,000 VND cotton bill is bought in large quantities from collectors. A shop owner said that the quantity ordered at a time is 100-1,000 bills, and they are not accepted in small quantities. This type of bill is becoming increasingly rare, so the price is also pushed up. Most long-standing shops with a source of money must order one month in advance.

Real bonsai trees cost from 400,000 VND to 3 million VND/tree.

The owner of a real money tree shop in Tan Phu district, Ho Chi Minh City, said he has been making this product for 4 years and only supplies it during Tet. Last year, his shop sold about 300 real money trees of all denominations, earning 150 million VND.

“I usually receive orders more than a month before Tet. For wholesale customers, I will stop accepting orders until December 15, and for retail customers, I will receive orders until just before Tet. This year, many people know about it, so the quantity of goods has increased significantly, expected to be almost double last year. At this time, customers mainly place wholesale orders for resale, I have received 2/3 of the expected orders for this year,” said the store owner.

The owner of an online shop entering her third year of making real money trees said that in 2016, she launched nearly 400 of these items. The price of each tree ranges from 450,000 to 750,000 VND. Each denomination of money has a different color, advertised by the shop as representing the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. This year, the shop is not selling the 10,000 VND cotton tree because the price of this money has increased dramatically from 25,000 VND/bill to 35,000-40,000 VND/bill.

Catching the trend, a group of 4 students in Hoc Mon also accepted to make real money trees to earn extra income. After last year's trial period, which was found to be feasible, this year, the group continued to accept orders. The selling price ranges from 400,000 VND to 2.8 million VND/tree. In addition to single-denomination money trees, the group also accepts to make mixed trees according to customer requests.

Last year, the group sold 60-70 trees to the market. This year, the number is expected to increase. Of these, 500 VND bills are the most popular and are also the cheapest. In addition to finished products, the group also sells potted tree trunks or homemade materials.

Ms. Thao (Binh Thanh District) said she learned about the real money tree when she visited a friend's house during Tet 2016. Seeing the product was strange and meant to bring luck and fortune, especially the dollar tree, this year she ordered one of these trees to display.

“I had to call and order a month before Tet because the bank doesn’t exchange money. If I order late, I won’t get the tree with the desired denomination,” said Ms. Thao.

According to Zing