How To Find Wood And Furniture Manufacturers In Vietnam // Ultimate Guide
In the realm of furniture manufacturing, Vietnam has carved out a distinguished reputation for its exquisite woodwork and furniture craftsmanship. This Southeast Asian nation, with its rich resources and skilled artisans, has become a hotspot for sourcing high-quality wooden furniture. Navigating the vibrant yet intricate Vietnamese furniture industry to find the proper manufacturer is an art. It requires a keen understanding of the local market dynamics, an eye for craftsmanship, and the ability to connect with the right partners who can bring your design visions to life.
This guide will explore the pathways to finding reputable wood and furniture manufacturers in Vietnam. Whether you’re a seasoned retailer, an interior designer seeking unique pieces, or a business looking to source bulk furniture, understanding the nuances of VietVietnam’sdworking and furniture industry is crucial. The country offers diverse furniture, from traditional hand-carved items to modern, industrial designs, each reflecting a unique aspect of Vietnam’s heritage and contemporary innovation.
We will delve into practical strategies for identifying and vetting potential manufacturers, discussing how to evaluate their production capabilities, quality standards, and sustainability practices. Additionally, we’ll work on navigating cultural nuances and language barriers, ensuring clear communication and effective partnership building.
Join us as we guide you through the flourishing world of Vietnamese wood and furniture manufacturing, providing insights and tools to help you establish successful partnerships. This journey will take you through the heart of VietVietnam’sniture industry, where tradition meets modernity, and craftsmanship meets global market demands.
Vietnam Wood Industry Overview
Vietnam’s industry, including a wide range of goods, including furniture, amounted to $8.55 Billion in wood and timber products in 2018. Vietnam is the fifth-largest wood-producing country in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia. According to Vietnam Briefing, there are over 4,500 enterprises that operate in the wood industry in Vietnam. Most wooden goods are built for Export, with the United States importing about 37% of the wooden goods produced by Vietnam.
Before the trade war, wooden goods were among the oversized items Vietnam produced cheaper and better than China. Before tariffs, wooden goods were about 10-20% cheaper than in China. However, with the increasing demand for Vietnamese goods, prices have steadily risen by about 10-15% in 2019 alone, based on Cosmo SourSourcing’simations.
All pictures in this post were taken by me or my teammates while visiting factories in Vietnam
What type of furniture and wooden goods are made in Vietnam
Vietnam has been steadily growing as a significant player in the global furniture market, known for its diverse range of products that cater to various styles and preferences. Here's a list of the types of furniture commonly manufactured in Vietnam:
Wooden Furniture:
Dining tables and chairs
Coffee tables
Bed frames and headboards
Wardrobes and dressers
Bookcases and shelves
TV stands and entertainment units
Upholstered Furniture:
Sofas and couches
Armchairs and recliners
Ottoman and footstools
Bed headboards
Accent chairs
Sectionals
Outdoor and Garden Furniture:
Patio sets (tables and chairs)
Lounge chairs
Hammocks and swing chairs
Outdoor sofas and daybeds
Garden benches
Sun loungers
Office Furniture:
Office desks
Ergonomic chairs
Filing cabinets
Conference tables
Workstations
Reception desks
Rattan and Wicker Furniture:
Rattan chairs and sofas
Wicker baskets and storage units
Rattan bed frames
Wicker outdoor sets
Rattan bar stools
Handcrafted and Artisanal Furniture:
Traditional Vietnamese lacquered furniture
Hand-painted cabinets and sideboards
Carved wooden sculptures and decorative items
Bamboo furniture
Ethnic and culturally inspired pieces
Children's and Baby Furniture:
Cribs and cots
Kids' beds and bunk beds
Children's tables and chairs
Toy storage solutions
Nursery dressers and changing tables
Kitchen Furniture and Cabinetry:
Modular kitchen units
Kitchen islands
Pantry cabinets
Bar stools and counter chairs
Kitchen trolleys and carts
Custom and Bespoke Furniture:
Tailor-made pieces as per client specifications
Custom upholstery options
Personalized design services
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Furniture:
Furniture made from reclaimed wood
Bamboo and other sustainable materials
Low-impact, environmentally friendly production processes
Vietnamese furniture manufacturers are known for their craftsmanship, attention to detail, and ability to cater to a wide range of tastes and trends, making the country a popular choice for mass-produced and custom-made furniture sourcing.
Case-goods in Vietnam
Case goods are a broad category of products that includes everything from kitchen cabinets, closets, chests of drawers, bookshelves, and more. These are items designed to store items, and the industry sometimes refers to the goods as Cabinetry. Case goods are made out of various materials, most commonly MDF with a heavy coat of lacquer paint, plywood, often with a veneer to give it a premium look, Or solid woods, which tend to be stronger, sturdier but also come at a premium cost. Due to the large size of finished case goods, most manufacturers pack them flat for shipping, where the final assembly is done on-site.
Case goods often have additional components such as knobs, rails, and locks. While the wood is usually sourced from Vietnam, the components still come from China.
Another Shipment is ready to go!
Flat-pack furniture in Vietnam
Flat-pack furniture, made famous by Ikea, is shipped or sold unassembled, usually in a flat package. There are two types of flat-pack goods: Those for consumers and those for professionals. Those that are assembled by the end consumer, which is also known as Ready To assemble furniture. This furniture usually comes with tools and instructions. Flat-pack furniture is popular as it saves the seller on shipping and storage costs, usually allowing them to sell it cheaper.
Many home, office, and hotel construction items are classified as flat packs, including cabinets, bookshelves, TV stands, bed frames, and more. When a manufacturer makes items for these goods, they usually rely on the final assembly people to have the appropriate tools and hardware to assemble the furniture. They are usually shipped by the components and packed flat and efficiently. They are often packed directly into a container to maximize the amount shipped, with pieces marked by chalk and rough instructions.
Bamboo Furniture and Household items
Bamboo is increasingly becoming more popular for making furniture and other wooden goods out of due partly because it is one of the most sustainable materials to work with. Bamboo is grass, not a tree; it can grow back when you cut it down. Bamboo can be made into boards, but it behaves differently from most woods; thus, you often need to find a factory working with bamboo. It is most commonly used to make handicrafts as well as flooring.
What Types Of Wood Are Used By Vietnamese Furniture Manufacturers?
Tropical Hardwoods are the most common woods used in Vietnam. These woods are suitable for mid-range furniture as they have a dense core that handles heat and moisture well. Vietnam’s hot and humid climate and the wood naturally evolved to handle these conditions.
Acacia: Known for its durability and attractive grain, acacia is widely used for outdoor furniture due to its resistance to weather and rot.
Rubberwood: Often used for indoor furniture, Rubberwood is appreciated for its environmental sustainability and sturdy nature.
Oak: Valued for its strength and beautiful grain patterns, it is commonly used in high-quality furniture.
Ash Wood: It is often used in modern furniture designs and is known for its flexibility and strength.
Pine: Lightweight and versatile, pine is commonly used for various furniture types, especially in rustic and country-style designs.
Bamboo: Not a wood but a grass, bamboo is increasingly popular for its sustainability and is used in traditional and contemporary Vietnamese furniture.
Teak: Highly prized for its exceptional durability and resistance to the elements, teak is often used in luxury outdoor furniture.
Mahogany: Valued for its beauty and durability, mahogany is often used in classic and high-end furniture pieces.
Walnut: Known for its rich color and fine grain, walnut is used in premium furniture for its luxurious appearance.
Cherry Wood: Cherished for its rich color that deepens over time, cherry wood is used in traditional and contemporary furniture.
Beech Wood: Beech is known for its strength and is often used in chairs and other pieces that require a durable material.
MDF and Plywood: Engineered woods like MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) and plywood are also commonly used, often as a cost-effective alternative or for certain design specifications.
From our experience, Rubberwood and acacia are the most common in Vietnam. I would call acacia the “default wood” in Vietnam, as most furniture makers have it on hand for most projects. For instance, if you ask the Vietnam supplier for a wooden good without specifying, five times out of 10, they will produce it using acacia and 3 out of 10 times out of Rubberwood. Acacia is an excellent wood to use and suitable for most projects; however, if you have a specific wood in mind, you need to specify it in your product spec sheet. Remember that many popular woods in the states, such as spruce, pine, hemlock, and Douglas fir, are from Canada and must be imported if you want to manufacture them in Vietnam.
Acacia in Vietnam
It is a tropical hardwood with varieties that grow through the tropics and subtropical regions of the world, including Vietnam. Acacia is famous for many reasons due to its strength and appearance, which is solid, strong, and light in color. It is also one of the most sustainably grown woods, partly due to how quickly it can grow and that you can plant a new tree as soon as it is chopped down. Due to its fast growth, it can be produced in significant quantities cheaply. Acacia is considered one of the best-value woods because it compares favorably in density and uses many more expensive kinds of wood.
Rubberwood in Vietnam
RUbberwood is another wood common in Vietnam and is widely considered one of the most sustainable and practical woods. As the name suggests, Rubberwood comes from the same trees that produce latex and rubber, and the wood is harvested after the tree serves the purpose of producing rubber. Rubberwood is a medium-density tropical hardwood and has a naturally light color. The light color allows this to be stained to any color you want, from light to dark. Unfortunately, Rubberwood is also so similar to oak wood that it is commonly labeled oak when sold. The mislabeling is because they are similar in density and color; however, Rubberwood tends to have a straight grain, while oak is more circular.
Wood in Vietnam includes:
Solid woods in Vietnam
Solid woods are any goods made of a single piece of wood. This is the most basic type of wood as it gets. These are solid pieces of wood cut straight from the tree.
Plywoods in Vietnam
Plywoods are made by stacking thin boards of wood on top of each other and bonding them with resin or glue. This creates a board; the strength and quality of plywood vary greatly and are based on the type of wood used, the thickness of the sheets, and how many times it is stacked.
MDF In Vietnam
MDF, short for Medium Density Fiberboard, combines wood waste and resin. MDF creates a solid board that can be used nearly the same way as plywood. MDF tends to be cheaper and weaker than plywood; however, it is strong enough for weight-bearing furniture, cabinets, and much more. MDF is usually covered up with a thick coat of paint and
Particle Board in Vietnam
Wood shaving and resin mix tend to be the cheapest and weakest materials. For the most part, we avoid this as it’s unsuitable for most goods, although it is an option for those on a tight budget.
Veneers in Vietnam
Veneers are thin sheets of wood bonded to the top to create a woodgrain look. Since Particleboard and MDF do not have a grain, they’ll apply an extra veneer layer to give it a solid wood look. Likewise, plywoods often have their top layer made with a veneer to make it look like more premium wood. Veneers are mainly cosmetic but help protect the wood underneath from the elements.
Vietnam is capable of manufacturing all of these types. Many factories that we have visited can process the wood from raw timber at the factory to create solid wood boards, plywood, or MDF. This allows for custom types of wood to be used in your product.
The paper thin cut wood is ready to be applied to give a premium look. This factory has dozens of different Veneers to make any look the client desires.
Sustainable Wood Products In Vietnam And FSC Certification
Forest Stewardship Council in Vietnam
One of our client’s biggest concerns is the sustainability and environmental impact of the factories’ wood. The Forest Stewardship Council, usually called FSC, is one of the most respected organizations that track the wood supply chain to ensure that wood is harvested sustainably from sand sources. In addition, they certify that factories only use sustainably sourced wood and audit the whole supply chain.
They have two certification levels: Forest management certification and chain of custody certification. Forest management is for those that maintain plantations or harvest wood from the forest. The chain of custody is for the end-users and factories who buy the lumber to certify that they only use sustainably sourced wood in their products.
They also have controlled wood certification for factories using a mix of FSC-certified and traditionally sourced wood. This is to encourage FCS wood’s gradual adoption since changing a factory’s source of wood isn’t that easy.
Vietnam is a forested country, so there is no shortage of wood. Many plantation and wood suppliers in the country can harvest wood sustainably and have FCS Certification. The Forest Stewardship Council makes the name of all certificate holders public in an easily searchable database, which you can view here: https://info.fsc.org/certificate.php#result.
Vietnam and the EU Regulations
As part of a massive free trade agreement with the EU signed in October 2018, Vietnam’s wood industry must comply with regulations across its entire industry, not just wood products exported to the EU. This includes a crackdown on illegal wood harvesting, better forest management, and more sustainably sourced timber products. It should be noted that Vietnam voluntarily enforces these actions; however, they did form a national forest certification process to ensure that wood is tracked correctly.
Vietnam has taken other steps to ensure that wood is sustainably produced and to promote conservation. The EU also mandates that any factory that produces products bound for the EU must comply with FSC guidelines; thus, many manufacturers are FSC-certified.
Advance CNC machining can carve complex shapes and patterns on wood with millimeter precision.
Vietnam Furniture Manufacturers Association
Handicraft and Wood Industry Association (HAWA)
They are also called HAWA. Despite the name, their primary focus is on Furniture manufacturers of all kinds. In addition to furniture, they represent manufacturers of bamboo, rattan, water hyacinth, lacquerware, fine art, pottery, and porcelain goods. They represent hundreds of wood manufacturers in Vietnam and work to promote domestic and international trade. The industry puts on three exhibitions annually, most notably the Vietnam International Furniture & Home Accessories Expo, which we discuss below.
Trade shows for Vietnam furniture manufacturers
Vietnam International Furniture & Home Accessories Expo // www.vifafair.com or www.vifaexpo.com
Most commonly referred to as VIFA EXPO, it is the largest furniture trade show in Vietnam. Last year, they had almost 400 manufacturers represented and over 1,800 booths. The fair features a full range of Furniture manufacturers, handicrafts, home decor, and more. The event is held every year in March. The show focuses on furniture and home accessories and will feature finished products and the latest manufacturing methods and innovations.
Focus:
Furniture
Wooden goods
Handicrafts
Home Goods
City: Ho Chi Minh
Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC)
799 Nguyen Van Linh, Tan Phu Ward, Dist 7.
Vietnam International Furniture Accessories, Hardware & Tools Exhibition // International Woodworking Industry Fair. Machines and Tools // VietnamWood & Furniture
These three trade shows happen simultaneously and in the same venue with a nearly identical theme. These three fairs are mainly focused on the industry side of furniture and not on end goods. This show will discuss factories’ machinery, tools, furniture, and wooden goods technology.
Focus:
Furniture tech
Wooden goods
Machinery
Furniture Technology
City: Ho Chi Minh
Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC)
799 Nguyen Van Linh, Tan Phu Ward, Dist 7.
Where are the wood manufacturers in Vietnam?
Four central Provinces produce the overwhelming majority of wooden goods in Vietnam:
Quang Nam, in Central Vietnam,
Tuyen Quang, Northern Vietnam, Bordering China
Quang Ngai, in Central Vietnam
Binh Dinh, Southern Vietnam, bordering Ho Chi Minh City
Wood Manufacturing in Binh Dinh
Over half of the wood exports made in Vietnam are produced in Binh Dinh province, which is over $4 Billion of the $7.7 Billion in wooden goods. Cosmo’s offices are located in Binh Duong, about a 45-minute drive from HCMC’s city center, so nearly all the wood manufacturers we work with are in this area. That’s not to say we don’t source from elsewhere in Vietnam when necessary. Binh Dinh is located close to the Vietnamese highlands, where a large amount of high-quality wood comes from and can be pulled from Ho Chi Minh’s large labor pool. If you are flying in to visit wood and furniture manufacturers, it’s simple to fly and rent a car and driver to visit the factories.
Vietnam Furniture Manufacturers Directory // Made by Cosmo
One of Cosmo’s key features is a massive internal database of suppliers. When we started, we were unhappy with the available resources to find a Vietnam supplier, so we built our database. It has contacts for over 3,600 factories in Vietnam and over 500 fully verified and pre-qualified suppliers.
One of our most extensive Vietnam Manufacturer lists is for furniture manufacturers, and it contains the contact details for over 1,000 suppliers and over 100 fully pre-qualified and verified suppliers. We have visited several Furniture manufacturers in Vietnam and have solid experience in the whole supply chain of wooden goods and furniture. This database of Vietnam FUrniture and wood manufacturers is constantly updated and checked.
350+ wooden furniture manufacturers
100+ wicker Furniture suppliers
200+ general, wooden goods, and handicrafts manufacturers
100+ bamboo goods manufacturers
100+ Outdoor furniture manufacturers
Please note that there is some overlap of suppliers between the different lists. This is because many factories have multiple specialties.
We also have working relationships with over a dozen factories in Vietnam that make a wide range of furniture and wooden goods, from simple chairs and tables, case goods, beds, and high-quality structural wood, as well as decorative wood and household items.
How Cosmo Sourcing Helps You Find Furniture Manufacturers In Vietnam
Cosmo learned long ago that the best way to find manufacturers is to search for factories proactively.
Maintains a massive internal database of Vietnamese manufacturers
Actively audit supply chains of some of the largest furniture brands.
Has a list of over 300 suppliers with contacts, many of whom are not publicly listed
You can search factories by style, material, customizations, and more.
Cosmo has used this database and method to find great suppliers for dozens of furniture and wood clients totaling over 10 million USD in value and shipped 100’s containers of furniture, case goods, and other wooden goods for clients in the US, EU, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mexico and more. Our clients have ranged from major hotel chains to major home improvement stores, flat-packed furniture, and much more.
We reversed and audited the supply chain of some of the world’s largest and most respected furniture manufacturers, including Ikea, West Elm, Wayfair, Haverty’s, and more. Unfortunately, many of these factories are unlisted, so we had to be creative to get the contact details.
Cosmo Sourcing // Go Straight To The Source!
If you are interested in sourcing, please get in touch with the Cosmo Sourcing team. We have been in Vietnam since 2014 and have the skills to find you the best supplier possible. We are also established in China and are one of the only companies that can find suppliers in China and Vietnam. Pick the one you think is best.
Our Vietnam Sourcing service allows you to access new manufacturers that you would not be able to in China and avoid the recent tariffs. Our services are designed to do everything to take your idea, turn it into a product, and ship it to the final destination. Cosmo can do everything from creating a product spec sheet, validation, sourcing, ordering and evaluating samples, arranging inspections, finding freight forwarders, quality assurance, negotiations, and even working with prep and fulfillment centers in the States. We aim to handle every single step of your business in Vietnam for you.
We have helped clients ranging from Fortune 500 to small FBA sellers. So don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can help you.