recent visit to Vietnam

Our visits to Vietnam are always full, wonderful and memorable. We have a longstanding infatuation with Vietnam that began with our first visit to the country over twelve years ago. With each visit we are met with the kindness and warmth that is characteristic of the Vietnamese.

Hanoi remains one of our favorite cities in Asia. While growth and development is progressing at a rapid pace in Vietnam. Many of the traits of Vietnam that we have come to enjoy have not changed.

The whitewash of faded mango-colored buildings, the bicyclists, the growing tribes of scooters, the school girls with waist long hair, the conical bamboo hats, the returning numbers of cyclos, the scent of flowers, the bread sellers, and food stalls on the street corners with an array of half-sized plastic chairs. It is a totally sensory experience.

We met with the team who handles our coiled Lacquerware. We also met with Mr. Trieu who manages our basket production among the hundreds of weavers in the various villages in Central Vietnam. It is his father that actually invented the Double Weave Baskets that we produce today.

And we had the opportunity to welcome a bright young individual on board at bambu. Thu Vu will be our Production Manager for Vietnam. She will work closely with our producer groups, and take on some of our community support initiatives as well. Thu is a university graduate with several years experience working with local design groups, teaches English and studies French. We’re thrilled to have her on our team.

We also had the wonderful pleasure of spending a day and night on Halong Bay.

We are fortunate to be able to do business in Vietnam and although we are in touch daily, we always look forward to our next visit.