Two activities conducted by the Ho Chi Minh City Structural Wood Architecture Association (SAWA) in Australia at the end of October reflect ongoing efforts to engage with the market and learn from international experience in timber construction. Vice Chaiman Nguyen Phuong’s participation at the VITANA booth at Melbourne Build 2025 helped introduce Vietnamese structural wood products to industry audiences, while SAWA Chairman Vo Quang Ha’s visit to Timberlink on 31 October focused on studying plantation and processing models aligned with international standards.
On 22–23 October, the VITANA booth at Melbourne Build 2025 marked a noteworthy step for Vietnamese businesses at a major Australian construction expo. The showcase created opportunities to connect with developers, architects, and consultants seeking sustainable material solutions. This presence is considered an early recognition of Vietnam’s capacity to supply timber products for construction, in the context of increasing demand for structural wood in developed markets.
On 31 October, Chairman Vo Quang Ha visited South Australia to meet with Timberlands Pacific (TPPL) and Timberlink Australia & New Zealand, focusing on on-site observation of the Radiata Pine value chain. The program extended beyond general touring, engaging in field-based discussions and Q&A sessions with experts at every stage.
Key topics included land preparation and post-harvest log staging to ensure stable supply; exposure to heavy machinery used in harvesting and forest management; factory operations; and technical discussions on log grading, forest fire protection, mill runs, and adhesive requirements for CLT production.
Throughout the visit, Chairman Ha held direct technical discussions with forestry, mill, and product development experts from TPPL and Timberlink to clarify quality-control procedures and critical technical factors across the production chain. These practical observations enabled SAWA to develop a clearer understanding of operations currently applied in Australia, contributing reference data on standards and technological requirements for structural wood in construction.
At a time when many countries are promoting timber in construction, SAWA’s continued on-site engagement provides additional insight into technical requirements, production capacity, and operating standards within the sector. Findings from the trip will be further reviewed and contextualized for domestic conditions, serving as a reference base for activities aimed at developing Vietnam’s timber construction sector in a more structured and sustainable direction.
