Importing outdoor furniture from Vietnam has become a strategic move for many European retailers, garden centers, and wholesalers. Vietnam is now one of the world’s leading exporters of outdoor wooden furniture, thanks to its reliable manufacturing hubs, FSC-certified supply chains, and competitive pricing. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Poland are among the top importers of Vietnam-made furniture.

But success in sourcing doesn’t just come from requesting a price list or clicking “inquire.” It comes from understanding how the sourcing and import process works—from factory audits and freight planning to documentation and seasonal ordering timelines. In this detailed guide, we walk through everything serious importers should know to ensure a smooth and profitable sourcing journey from Vietnam to Europe.

Step 1: Understand Why Vietnam is a Strong Sourcing Destination

Vietnam’s rise in the global furniture trade isn’t just about low labor costs. The country has built a mature supply chain for outdoor wooden furniture, particularly for FSC-certified acacia and eucalyptus products. With over 20 years of export experience, especially in provinces like Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, Long An, and Quy Nhơn, Vietnam now supplies to some of the largest retailers in Europe.

What sets Vietnam apart is its ability to offer a balance of value, sustainability, and craftsmanship. Many suppliers are family-run businesses with long-standing expertise in woodworking, blending traditional techniques with modern production capacity.

Step 2: Plan Your Factory Visits Around Major Furniture Fairs

If you're flying to Vietnam to source furniture, aligning your trip with the country’s major trade fairs—VIFA EXPO (March 5–8, 2025) and HawaExpo (March 5–7, 2025)—can be an efficient way to meet dozens of suppliers, explore new product ranges, and get a feel for market trends. Both events are held in Ho Chi Minh City, the commercial capital where many exporters have offices or showrooms.

But here’s what many first-time buyers don’t realize: the factories themselves are not in Ho Chi Minh City. Most production facilities are located in Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, and Long An—industrial hubs 1 to 3 hours away by car. If you’re sourcing outdoor wooden furniture, you may also want to explore factories in Quy Nhơn, a coastal city known for its proximity to acacia plantations and shipping ports. Getting there requires a short domestic flight.

That means: attending a fair is just the beginning. To truly vet a supplier, you'll need to extend your trip by a few days to tour their facility. Many buyers plan post-fair factory visits after narrowing down their list from meetings at the booths—this is where the real evaluation happens. Walk the production floor, ask operational questions, and observe quality control firsthand.

Many European buyers attend VIFA EXPO and HawaExpo to evaluate new sourcing partners. It’s common for procurement managers to combine fair attendance with supplier audits, so having a clear map of Vietnam’s factory zones (Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, Long An, and Quy Nhơn) helps optimize the trip. If you're sourcing for large EU chains, plan additional time for CSR audits or quality inspections.

Check out our tips for an in-person factory visit here.

Step 3: Evaluate Suppliers Beyond the Showroom

A polished showroom doesn’t guarantee solid operations. When visiting factories, it’s critical to go beyond the sample room and observe how sanding, joinery, moisture testing, and packaging are handled. Ask suppliers how they manage oil finishing, whether they use in-house or outsourced kilns, and how they test for wood moisture content (a key concern for outdoor products).

Don’t hesitate to request FSC traceability documentation, particularly if sustainability and compliance matter for your business or your end customers. Vietnamese suppliers who are truly transparent will welcome your questions and gladly walk you through their workflow.

The Porto garden dining set made with 100% FSC Certified Acacia in Vietnam by Dai Phuc Hung Thinh Furniture

Step 4: Clarify MOQs, Product Mixes, and Customization Early

Unlike factories in China that often have rigid volume rules, many Vietnamese furniture manufacturers are flexible, especially when working with long-term clients. At Dai Phuc Hung Thinh, we regularly help buyers test new product lines with as few as 3–5 items per 40HC container, depending on complexity and packaging requirements.

If you're placing your first order, ask your supplier:

1/ What’s the MOQ per item?

2/ Can I mix different SKUs in a single container?

3/ How do you handle re-orders or top-up shipments?

Having clarity upfront helps avoid disappointment later—and shows you’re a professional buyer who understands production logistics.

European buyers, especially in markets like Germany and Denmark, often require FSC® certification, compliance with REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) for coatings and finishes, and in some cases PEFC or EUTR documentation to prove wood legality and sustainability. If you're supplying a retailer in the EU, clarify documentation requirements upfront—including material traceability and product labeling.

Mixing multiple SKUs in a single 40HC container is especially useful for European garden centers and boutique chains who want product variety without overstocking. Clarify if the supplier offers EU-standard palletizing, barcode labeling, or custom packaging for large retailers like JYSK or Bauhaus.

European customs and retailers will often require:

1/ FSC® certificate (Dai Phuc Hung Thinh Furniture's certification is FSC-C009028)

2/ Phytosanitary certificate for wood-based products

3/ REACH compliance (toxic substances like lead or chromium in finishes)

4/ CE marking if you sell combined products (e.g. furniture with cushions, parasols)

Buyers importing to Poland or Eastern Europe might face stricter inspections for packaging material (ISPM-15) and documentation consistency. Always double-check shipping documents match the product and box labels exactly.

Step 5: Negotiate for Total Value, Not Just Price

Vietnam’s pricing is attractive, but negotiating solely on price can be a mistake. Smart buyers look at total landed cost—including FOB terms, packaging upgrades, customization fees, and lead time reliability. Ask for breakdowns of what’s included in the quote. For example, are cushions included? Is oil finishing part of the base cost? Can branding be added?

Many Vietnamese suppliers, particularly those who’ve exported for decades, are open to tailored value-adds like retail-ready packaging or support for private-label programs. The key is to communicate your long-term vision and treat the negotiation as a partnership—not a one-time bargain.

Step 6: Plan for Freight Early (and Expect Seasonal Bottlenecks)

One of the biggest misconceptions in sourcing is assuming that if a factory can produce a high number of containers per year, they can also ship at the same pace every month. That’s not always the case.

Manufacturing capacity does not equal shipping capacity. Factories must coordinate with freight forwarders, manage warehousing space, and deal with peak-season congestion—especially from October to March, when many buyers are preparing for the spring/summer season. And delays are rarely due to factory production alone. Port congestion, weather, and limited container availability all play a role.

It’s also important to know that many Vietnamese furniture factories serve multiple clients at once. If you're a new buyer or place small-volume orders, your shipments might not get prioritized ahead of long-term or high-volume customers. That’s why developing relationships early, being clear about your timelines, and booking space as far in advance as possible can give you a competitive edge.

Smart buyers don’t just confirm lead time—they ask how freight is managed, whether there's overflow warehousing, and how the factory schedules outgoing containers. It’s not just about placing a PO—it’s about making sure that PO leaves port on time.

For European buyers, shipping from Vietnam typically goes through:

1/ Port of Hamburg, Germany

2/ Rotterdam, Netherlands

3/ Gdynia, Poland

Expect longer transit times (30–38 days) and keep an eye on Red Sea or Suez Canal disruption risks that can affect shipping routes. It's also smart to request DAP/DDP quotes if your team isn’t familiar with CIF or FOB logistics from Asia.

Step 7: Order in the Right Season to Avoid Shipping Delays

Outdoor furniture is a seasonal product, which means your import timeline has to work backward from spring and summer sales in Europe.

In most European countries, consumers begin shopping for garden furniture between March and June, so retailers typically want their stock to arrive by February or March at the latest. That means orders must be placed between October and December of the previous year to ensure sufficient lead time for production, quality checks, and ocean freight (especially if you want to avoid paying premium for air shipping or fast-lane services).

What many new buyers don’t realize is that Vietnamese manufacturers operate on seasonal cycles too. By late fall, their production calendars begin to fill up fast—especially with repeat buyers who are prioritized in the production queue. So if you're a newer client placing your first container, it’s wise to lock in your PO by October and confirm timelines early.

Keep in mind: even if a supplier has the production capacity, shipping capacity is another issue. Warehousing space, container booking availability, and port congestion can all delay your schedule—especially around Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) when most of the country shuts down for 2–3 weeks in late January or early February.

At Dai Phuc Hung Thinh Furniture, we always help clients plan backward from their target delivery windows to ensure orders ship on time—and we’re happy to build buffer periods into your logistics schedule.

Step 8: Ensure Certifications and Documentation Are in Place

For retailers in Europe and North America, documentation is more than a formality—it’s often a legal requirement. FSC certification is a top priority for many buyers, especially when sourcing acacia and eucalyptus furniture. It verifies that the wood comes from responsibly managed plantations and adheres to strict sustainability standards.

Always request:

1/ FSC certificate copies (verify FSC license code)

2/ Commercial invoice and packing list templates

3/ Product testing reports (where required)

4/ Factory profile & photos for internal review

Importing outdoor furniture into the European Union means navigating a well-regulated trade environment—one that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and responsible sourcing.

Most European retailers, especially in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, now require proof that the timber comes from responsibly managed forests. At Dai Phuc Hung Thinh Furniture, we are proud to be 100% FSC certified, and we regularly provide full documentation and chain-of-custody details upon request.

Additionally, importers must comply with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which prohibits the sale of illegally harvested wood and products derived from such wood. This means due diligence is not optional—retailers and distributors must be able to demonstrate traceability in their supply chains. Buyers should also ask their suppliers about formaldehyde emissions (for indoor items) and finishes used, especially if chemical compliance (like REACH standards) is required.

For cushions, textiles, or mixed-material sets, be aware of fire safety regulations, especially in the UK and Ireland, where the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations can be particularly strict for foam padding and fabrics.

Final Thoughts

At Dai Phuc Hung Thinh Furniture, we've been supplying European retailers and wholesalers with FSC-certified acacia and eucalyptus outdoor furniture from Vietnam since 2003. Our garden collections are already trusted by names like JYSK and Segmüller, among other respected retailers in Europe.

Whether you're in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, or beyond, we’re happy to walk you through our catalog, certifications, and freight solutions tailored for the European market.

📩 Contact us at: sales@daiphuchungthinh.com.vn

🌐 Or visit: www.daiphuchungthinh.com.vn