Award-winning works showcase craftsmanship, sustainability and cultural storytelling.
The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has marked its 21st year as a principal supporter of the Hoa Mai Design Award, an annual competition in Vietnam that showcases emerging talent in furniture and product design. Through its ongoing partnership with the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), the organisation continues to support education around material selection and sustainable sourcing.
This year’s submissions explored cultural heritage, everyday objects and contemporary living through a range of design approaches. Several finalists and award recipients worked with American red oak, examining its suitability in different structural and aesthetic applications.
AHEC regional director John Chan said that participating designers “push the boundaries of good and sustainable design every year using American hardwood”, while also highlighting the importance of responsible forest management and the exploration of a wider range of timber species.
Award-winning works
First Prize was awarded to Lumaire Light by Ngô Thị Quỳnh Trang and Soi, a lighting piece inspired by the lunar cycle. The design combines metal reflectors and adjustable LED sources with timber elements to produce shifting atmospheres of light and shadow.
Second Prize went to Nest Stool by Nguyễn Thùy Dương, a reinterpretation of the traditional bun steamer. The stool features a rounded, minimalist form intended to express warmth and simplicity while maintaining structural clarity.
Third Prize was presented to Crossline Bench by Hồ Thị Thu Hà, a piece influenced by Saigon’s modern bridge structures. The design translates infrastructure into a minimal bench, emphasising rhythm, linearity and joinery.
The Grand Award Special Prize was received by architect Lê Hữu Trường for Node, a chair inspired by the Vietnamese shoulder pole. The design incorporates complex mortise-and-tenon construction, with contrasting joints referencing the nodes of bamboo.
Encouragement and theme awards
Encouragement Prizes were awarded to several works using American red oak. These included the ISU Chair by Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Vân, a meditation-inspired seating design supporting upright posture; the Gánh Bench by Trần Tuấn Kiệt, a contemporary interpretation of the traditional carrying pole; and the Echo Cabinet by Hồ Thị Thu Hà, which draws on the form of Vietnamese wooden doors and tiled roofs.
The Theme Award went to The Thờ by Thịnh Nguyễn, a contemporary reimagining of the Thần Tài-Thổ Địa altar. The modular design combines cultural symbolism with a pared-back, modern profile.
Together, the entries reflect Vietnam’s growing engagement with contemporary furniture and product design, shaped by heritage, craft traditions and the considered use of natural materials.
AHEC said it plans to continue its involvement with Vietnam’s design and manufacturing sectors through expanded education programmes, technical exchange and creative partnerships.
All images courtesy of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).
