With Vietnam’s rapid rise as one of the world’s leading furniture exporters, visiting a Vietnam furniture factory has become a high-priority step for serious buyers. Whether you’re sourcing FSC-certified outdoor furniture or developing private-label products, a factory visit can offer unmatched insight into production capabilities, finishing quality, and supplier reliability. But to make the most of your trip, preparation is key—especially when navigating Vietnam’s regional manufacturing hubs, business culture, and logistics.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to plan and execute a successful sourcing trip—drawing on over 21 years of experience working with international buyers across the world.

1. Schedule Factory Visits Around Major Furniture Fairs

If you're flying into Vietnam, one of the most efficient ways to meet a wide range of manufacturers is to align your trip with the country’s major furniture trade fairs. These events are magnets for factory owners, sourcing managers, and exporters—and many factories will actively coordinate on-site tours for visiting buyers during fair week.

The two most important fairs to consider are VIFA EXPO 2025 (March 5–8) and HawaExpo 2025 (March 5–7). VIFA EXPO is Vietnam’s largest furniture event, featuring over 3,000 booths across SECC and SKY EXPO in Ho Chi Minh City. It's ideal for buyers focused on high-volume export manufacturers, particularly those offering FSC-certified wooden furniture and ODM/OEM services. HawaExpo, by contrast, takes a curated and nationally endorsed approach—bringing together established and emerging factories from across the country, including many that specialize in sustainable sourcing and flexible production models.

Also on the radar is VIFA ASEAN 2025, held August 26–29, which focuses on regional trade across Southeast Asia and attracts serious buyers looking to compare sourcing options in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. We recommend reaching out to suppliers in advance and booking your tours before arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, especially during fair season when schedules fill up quickly.

2. Understand Where the Furniture Factories Are—and Why It Matters

While most fairs and business meetings take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s actual furniture production is concentrated in several key provinces—each with distinct strengths. Bình Dương and Đồng Nai, located just north of Ho Chi Minh City, are home to the country’s largest cluster of export-oriented factories. Here you’ll find a wide range of manufacturers, from large-scale industrial facilities to family-owned operations specializing in acacia and eucalyptus wood products, often with FSC certification.

Long An Province, southwest of Ho Chi Minh, is emerging as another significant hub—particularly for companies investing in newer facilities and automation. Meanwhile, further north in Quy Nhơn (Bình Định Province), many factories specialize in outdoor wooden furniture and operate closer to raw material sources, giving them an edge in acacia supply and container availability.

Knowing the geography helps you structure your itinerary efficiently. A well-planned trip might involve 1–2 days in Ho Chi Minh City for meetings and fairs, followed by factory visits in Bình Dương or Đồng Nai, and potentially a short domestic flight to Quy Nhơn if you're sourcing outdoor collections. Many serious buyers even arrange post-fair factory tours after VIFA EXPO or HawaExpo—something we regularly facilitate for our clients.

3. Prepare a Clear Evaluation Framework for Each Factory

Visiting a Vietnam furniture factory isn’t just about walking the production floor—it’s about evaluating systems, standards, and fit. Buyers should come with a framework for what they’re trying to assess: Is the factory organized for consistent output? Are finishing and QC areas clean, well-lit, and staffed? Do they manage their own drying kilns, or rely on outsourced lumber?

At Dai Phuc Hung Thinh, many buyers ask to observe how we apply oil finishes, inspect joinery, and test moisture content before export. These are smart questions—because surface-level product samples can’t tell you everything. Buyers should also ask about FSC certification traceability, container loading practices (e.g. how many SKUs per container), and after-sales support. Remember: a polished sample room means little without solid back-end production to match it.

4. Be Culturally Prepared—Communication and Etiquette Matter

Vietnamese business culture is warm, respectful, and relationship-driven—but different from Western norms. Building rapport often matters as much as pricing in the early stages. While many export managers speak fluent English, factory floor staff may not, and it’s wise to approach meetings with a spirit of respect and collaboration rather than hard-nosed negotiation.

Buyers should avoid public criticism or aggressive behavior, as this can cause loss of “face” and make future cooperation difficult. If you’re visiting multiple factories in a day, allow buffer time—traffic can be unpredictable, and it’s customary to be offered tea or lunch at each stop. Accepting hospitality, even briefly, is seen as a sign of good faith.

From our experience hosting visitors from Germany, the UK, and North America, a little cultural sensitivity goes a long way. We also recommend bringing a local interpreter or sourcing assistant if you're planning to visit smaller or rural facilities.

5. Ask the Right Questions About MOQs, Lead Times, and Customization

Not all Vietnam furniture manufacturers operate with the same flexibility, and a sourcing trip is the perfect time to discuss MOQs, container mix policies, and lead times in person. Many factories require a minimum order of 100 units per item—but others, like ours, are open to small-batch testing or mixing 4–5 SKUs in a single 40HC container, depending on volume and complexity.

Lead times typically range from 60–90 days, especially during peak export months (September to March). But beyond the numbers, buyers should ask how the factory handles sampling, packaging, finish consistency, and substitutions if a certain wood grade is unavailable. If you’re exploring private label options, check how much the supplier can customize dimensions, color, hardware, or cushions.

We’ve found that many new buyers underestimate how much flexibility Vietnamese factories can offer when there’s clear communication. Asking thoughtful, context-specific questions is often the key to unlocking better terms.

6. Avoid Poor Timing—Here’s When to Travel

While factory visits are valuable year-round, some months are clearly better than others. Avoid traveling during Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), which typically falls in late January or early February. During this period, most factories shut down completely for 2–3 weeks, and production lead times stretch longer due to a post-holiday backlog.

The most productive months for factory visits are October to early December, and March to May. These align well with trade fair schedules and avoid monsoon disruptions. If you're attending VIFA EXPO or HawaExpo in March, we recommend blocking 2–3 extra days to visit shortlisted factories afterward—especially if you're traveling from Europe or North America and want to maximize the ROI of your trip.

7. Work With Factories That Prioritize Transparency and Long-Term Partnership

The best sourcing relationships in Vietnam are built on trust, communication, and follow-through. A factory that welcomes visits, answers detailed questions, and openly shows their production floor is more likely to be a long-term partner. Be cautious of suppliers who only show polished sample rooms but refuse access to QC or packing areas.

Transparency should also extend to how the factory communicates challenges—whether related to material delays, freight disruptions, or design adjustments. At Dai Phuc Hung Thinh, we’ve built long-term partnerships with some of Europe’s most respected retailers by being upfront about timelines, documentation, and certifications. We believe factory visits aren’t just about vetting us—they’re about laying the groundwork for a reliable, mutually beneficial sourcing relationship.

Final Thoughts

Visiting a Vietnam furniture factory is one of the best investments a buyer can make. It helps you assess production firsthand, build trust, and reduce risk—especially in today’s evolving global supply chain. Whether you’re sourcing outdoor garden furniture, FSC-certified acacia and eucalyptus pieces, or building out a private-label collection, Vietnam’s manufacturers are well-positioned to deliver both value and quality.

With key production hubs like Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, Long An, and Quy Nhơn, and access to world-class sourcing events like VIFA EXPO, HawaExpo, and VIFA ASEAN, Vietnam remains one of the top destinations for global furniture buyers.

At Dai Phuc Hung Thinh Furniture, we’ve proudly operated as a family business since 2003—serving as a trusted manufacturing partner for international retailers for over two decades. We specialize in 100% FSC-certified acacia and eucalyptus outdoor furniture, and our track record includes long-term partnerships with respected retailers like JYSK and Segmuller. We welcome factory visits, offer flexible container programs, and provide buyers with the transparency, responsiveness, and quality they deserve.

📩 Ready to schedule a visit or request our latest FSC-certified catalog?
Contact us at sales@daiphuchungthinh.com.vn
🌐 Or learn more at www.daiphuchungthinh.com.vn