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.

Clean-pressed coconut oil, lab verified

We first stop at a small facility tucked between rice fields and coconut groves. Certified and non-GMO coconut oil options are increasingly demanded in wellness-focused markets. Vietnamese suppliers now offer virgin cold-pressed coconut oil with full traceability and lab certifications. However, be careful when choosing the right supplier. Your supplier might promise virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil from Ben Tre—but what ships is a mix of low-grade oils from multiple origins. Without batch-level transparency, your product’s purity claim collapses.

Natural coconut water that meets global standards

Coconut water is a 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. Vietnam’s young coconuts yield refreshing, mildly sweet water with a stable pH and low microbial risk when processed in ISO22000-certified facilities. With aseptic filling lines and shelf-stable packaging, Ben Tre now supplies coconut water to Japan, UAE, and the US at growing volumes. While Ben Tre is a rising hub for coconut water exports—many suppliers sweeten it post-extraction or mix in concentrate from older stock. You’re marketing health—but importing sugar-laced water. So stay on high alert.

Export-ready coconut milk with reliable consistency

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. Coconut suppliers in Ben Tre offer full-fat, 17% coconut milk products with low dilution ratios. Many factories allow you to white-label products or request custom viscosity levels for B2B clients in the F&B industry. That said, caution is non-negotiable when sourcing coconut milk from here. Untraceable coconut milk blends are a common trick in Vietnam’s export market—what’s on the label does not always match what’s inside. Vietnamese coconut milk is sometimes bulked with cheaper imported coconut cream or milk powder. No farm-to-factory tracking? You’re buying guesswork in a can.

High-density coconut shell charcoal

Ideal for shisha, BBQ, or air purification, Vietnam’s coconut shell charcoal outperforms lower-cost alternatives from Indonesia or India. 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.

Coir products for agriculture and retail

Just a few kilometers away, we tour a coir processing site where husks are soaked, combed, then spun into ropes. Vietnamese suppliers offer a range of coir mats, ropes, and peat for gardening, hydroponics, and home goods. With India’s coir exports tightening, Vietnam is now stepping up with clean, uniform coir fiber processed to international specs. Cheap coir products may come from short-fiber waste—not long-husk coir. Without tensile tests, your ropes and mats fail in real-world use, damaging your client relationships.

Artisanal coconut candies and snacks

In the backroom of a small family workshop, an elderly woman stirs thick coconut syrup over an open flame. This is the sweet side of Ben Tre. Vietnamese producers are reviving hand-poured coconut candies using fresh coconut meat, malt syrup, and sesame—no additives needed. There are various suppliers of coconut candies and snacks across Ben Tre with strong export capabilities.

Handmade Coconut Handicrafts

Local suppliers such as Blue Lotus often collaborate with artisan cooperatives to export hand-made coconut products. Not all handmade exports are created equal. Some cooperatives, like those working with Blue Lotus, maintain strict finishing standards. Others may rush production. Coconut bowls, utensils, and décor pieces may crack or warp in transit due to unseasoned material or rushed lacquer jobs. If you don’t check finishing standards, you’re selling returns.

Final Thoughts

Ben Tre’s expertise in coconut transformation stems from decades of hands-on heritage and technique. But transparency isn’t guaranteed, supplier risks are real in this market. We provide end-to-end export strategy consultation services tailored for businesses seeking reliable, high-quality coconut suppliers rooted in authenticity and sustainability.