Nacipe Journey to Vietnam Lacquer (Rhus succedanea)

Nacipe
Aug 10
3 min read

Our Story with Vietnam Lacquer

Our journey with sơn ta (Vietnamese raw lacquer) began with an opportunity to meet and have a conversation with a dedicated Korean artisan deeply involved in the research of Asian lacquer art. It is an experience that revealed not only the immense potential of this traditional material but also the deep-rooted challenges within its supply chain. Though lacquer art is an essential part of Vietnam’s cultural identity, the sourcing and distribution of lacquer resin remains largely informal. The vast majority of Vietnam’s lacquer is sold to China through informal channels, where pricing pressure and a lack of regulation often lead to the addition of foreign substances to increase weight and profit.

Unlike Japan’s celebrated urushi, Vietnamese lacquer has not yet received the international recognition it deserves. Yet it offers impressive qualities: non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and capable of producing premium protective finishes. Its price remains relatively competitive compared to Japanese and Chinese lacquer, making it a valuable alternative for global craftsmen and paint industries. However, sourcing high-quality, unadulterated resin that meets export standards is difficult—especially when legal exports require documentation such as Certificates of Origin or Material Safety Data Sheets, which smallholders and informal traders simply cannot provide.

Determined to change this, we set out to build what Vietnam was missing: a company that manages quality from the source, ensures full traceability, and legally exports lacquer with international-grade documentation. We work directly with verified farms, applying strict selection and post-harvest protocols to guarantee purity and high laccol content.

Along this journey, we spent time in the fields, talking and listening to the farmers—families whose connection with sơn ta spans at least three generations. Our farm partners are not simply suppliers; they are people whose earliest childhood memories were shaped by the lacquer trees. As children, they followed their grandmothers and mothers into the hills, helping to care for and harvest the resin. Many recall hugging the trees with innocent affection—only to end up with swollen, allergic arms. For them, Vietnam lacquer is not a trend or an industry—it is the source of their livelihood, their identity, and their family heritage.

While it is encouraging to see more people growing lacquer trees as demand rises, and while expansion is natural and welcomed, our farm partners remain different. They are rooted in tradition. Their families were raised, generation after generation, by the very resin they now harvest with care and pride.

And so, with their partnership, we are proud to elevate sơn ta—not just as a raw material, but as a symbol of cultural resilience, craftsmanship, and Vietnam’s rightful place in the global lacquer tradition.

Vietnam Lacquer (Rhus succedanea) Farm

Our Commitment as Rhus succedanea supplier

Authenticity

We supply only true Rhus succedanea resin—pure, unadulterated from our partner Vietnamese farms. We guarantee that our raw lacquer is free from low-grade resins or chemical stimulants used to increase weight or yield.

Consistent Quality

Our products undergo strict selection, fermentation, and quality checks to ensure stable laccol content and performance in traditional and modern applications.

Convenience and Reliability

We streamline sourcing with ready-to-export products, full documentation (CO, MSDS, lab tests), flexible quantities, and fast response—so you don’t have to chase suppliers or worry about logistics.

Customization

From viscosity and fermentation level to packaging and quantity, we tailor solutions to meet the specific needs of craftsmen, labs, brands, and R&D teams.

Community

We work hand-in-hand with local lacquer farmers—many with generations of experience—ensuring fair pricing, shared growth, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Reliable Partnership

We are responsive, honest, and committed to long-term cooperation—helping you grow with confidence in a niche, high-value material.