Vietnam Species Orchids
 

I'm going to Vietnam in Jan, and was wondering if anyone knows of good nurseries there. Will be mostly based in Ho Chi Minh/Saigon, but probably will also be doing some traveling around the country. I'm mostly interested in native species orchids.

Also, if there is a place in Tokyo, I'd be interested too, although I only have a few days there.

I know the southern part of the country well from my days in RVN in the 1960s, but not so familiar with vendors. Dendrobium anosmum is a good one from that area. Lots of great Staghorn Ferns there also, if interested. Ho Chi Minh city is way different climatically from Saigan (well old Saigon). Sort of like going from Quebec City to St Petersburg Florida, just more varied.

Cloudswinger
I dont think there are many ( if any) registered nurseries in Vietnam. Although a lot of Vietnamese species are turning up there are being "taken" across the borders & sent out from there. I have seen photo's of street vendores selling plants but they have been WC & are sold straight away. Regarding Tokyo there are nurseries in Japan but you may have to search for their locations. Also the prices are generally horrific.

Ross, I think you're thinking of Hanoi, because Ho Chi Minh City is the current name for Saigon. We're probably not going to make it that far north. I have found an orchid farm but I've only found touristic reviews of it, no web site, so I'll have to go there to see if there are any orchids I care to buy. Probably will all be hybrids. Plus I already have Den anosmum.

It seems I'll have to look around once I get there.

I know its been a long time but I'm also curious about orchid vendors selling species orchids in Vietnam. I'll be taking a trip in a couple months.

Cloudswinger, did you have any luck that you can remember?

dakotablue, you can't legally bring plants back to the US without proper permits. Don't try it. It can be an exceptionally expensive problem. Be sure you understand the import rules on the USDA-APHIS Web site. It would be worth your while to contact a local USDA agent and ask for an explanation.

For orchid species this will involve CITES permits as well - an import permit from the US and an export permit from Vietnam. Smuggling CITES plants can generate extremely expensive fines.

It will also involve declaring the plants to the USDA agent at the first US port of entry. At one time you could bring in a limited number of plants (12) without an import permit, but they would be sent at your expense to an inspection station. If they passed inspection they would be sent at your expense to you. If they didn't pass inspection they would be burned. This system may have changed. You need to know the current laws and rules before trying.

For more than 12 plants a general import permit is needed, as well as a phytosanitary certificate.