Our supplier tour through Ben Tre, the coconut capital of Vietnam

It's 5 AM, and we are now on our way to Ben Tre, known as "the coconut capital of Vietnam". Located in Mekong River Delta, Ben Tre offers perfect conditions for coconut cultivation — fertile land, a tropical climate and an extensive network of rivers — making Ben Tre the main center of coconut production in Vietnam, generating around $500 million in annual revenue from coconut production.

Though best known for being a leading producer of unprocessed coconuts, many Vietnamese suppliers in this region contribute to a dynamic industry around coconut production and innovation that turns nearly every part of the coconut tree into high-quality, eco-friendly products. The thriving coconut industry in Ben Tre not only generates jobs for the locals but also turns agricultural waste into high-value export products, fostering a circular economy that benefits both the local community and the environment.

The main products in the region

Coconut oil: made from pressing the meat inside coconuts. Local coconut suppliers such as Thanh Binh Coconut Oil and Luong Quoi Coconut Co., Ltd often collaborate directly with coconut farmers for sourcing.

Coconut water: low-calorie healthy drink found naturally inside young green coconuts. For packaged products, it may be pasteurized or UHT-treated for shelf life. Coconut suppliers from Ben Tre such as Ben Tre Import Export Jsc dominate this sector.

Coconut milk: comes from the white flesh of mature brown coconuts, blended with hot water, grated white coconut meat is pressed to extract a white liquid, which is then strained to remove solids. Organic-certified coconut milk is offered by various specialized suppliers.

Coconut candies: Ben Tre occupies a prominent place in the national consciousness for its deep-rooted tradition of kẹo dừa, sweet coconut candies made from fresh and tasty coconut milk and coconut cream. Traditionally, coconut candies are wrapped in two layers: an outside layer of paper soaked in vegetable oil to keep it dry and fresh, and an inside layer of edible rice paper. There are various suppliers of coconut candies with strong export capabilities.

Coconut shell charcoal: various suppliers in Ben Tre offer charcoal products made from dried coconut shells via controlled carbonization. In line with circular economy principles and zero-waste manufacturing strategies, coconut shell charcoal comes from a renewable resource and can be made into charcoal briquettes for shisha, cooking, BBQ, boilers, etc. Local suppliers in Ben Tre such as Binh Phu Coconut Shell Charcoal Production Facility, Huu Tho Coconut Company Limited, Munca, THALOCA, and Dat Chi Charcoal lead production of this product.

Coconut handicrafts: handcrafted coconut products include coconut shells, wooden products, coir, fiber products, coconut shavings, bowls, cups, spoons, biodegradable straws, natural soap, bamboo products, as well as handcrafted goods such as seagrass bags, saman wooden plates, and ebony wooden cutlery. Local suppliers such as Blue Lotus often collaborate with artisan cooperatives.

Coir products: an eco-friendly, organic products made from grinding the husk of a coconut. Among the various items crafted from coir are coir nets, coir mats, coir tapes, coir mattresses, coir soil bags for agricultural use, coir ropes, rubber bars for vehicles and papyrus materials.

Final Thoughts

With the long tradition of coconut processing, generations of artisans and suppliers in Ben Tre have mastered techniques that preserve cultural heritage. With the long tradition of coconut processing, generations of artisans and suppliers in Ben Tre have mastered techniques that preserve cultural heritage. We provide end-to-end export strategy consultation services tailored for businesses seeking reliable, high-quality coconut suppliers rooted in authenticity and sustainability.