Turning coconut shells into 'gold' material

Passion for coconut shells from the lecture hall

Born in 1996 in Huong My Commune, Vinh Long Province, Nguyen Bang Nhi is one of the outstanding young faces in the Mekong Delta’s innovation and startup movement. After graduating in Industrial Design from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, she chose not to follow her classmates into urban design or architectural work. Instead, she returned to her hometown and began a creative journey with coconut shells.

She recalls that during her studies, she was exposed to many different creative materials. By chance, while working on a student project, she realized that her hometown had an abundance of coconut shells, a material with natural grain patterns and curves that were inherently artistic.

From that passion, Nhi chose coconut shells as the main material for her graduation project, creating her first collection of coconut-shell jewelry. After finishing university, this passion pushed her to return to her hometown. She asked her parents to let her stay for one year to continue researching and creating.

In 2019, a turning point came when her products were showcased at the 5th Ben Tre Coconut Festival. Her small booth drew many visitors thanks to its refined, creative designs infused with Vietnamese spirit. With support from the provincial Investment Promotion and Startup Center, Cocohand was officially born.

Starting with a successful line of coconut-shell jewelry including bracelets, earrings, necklaces and hair clips, Cocohand quickly expanded into artistic coconut-shell paintings. Through skillful hands, coconut shell pieces are cut, sanded, laser-engraved and assembled into laminated artworks. These pieces have become premium gifts suitable for businesses and organizations.

Nhi shares that Cocohand aims to provide fast, beautiful and durable gift solutions that reflect local identity. Each product carries a story about culture and local resources.

The entire process is carried out by hand, from treatment and polishing to attaching accessories, with only the laser cutting and engraving supported by technology to ensure precision and uniformity. In June 2025, the workshop received ISO 9001:2025 certification and began applying the 5S system to standardize production.

Thanks to its distinctive approach, Cocohand quickly made a mark in the handicraft market. On digital platforms, searches for coconut-shell jewelry or coconut-shell artwork consistently place Cocohand among the most popular brands.

Cocohand currently supplies an average of 2,000 to 3,000 products per month, available in many provinces and initially exported to Australia, France, the United States and Japan. Cocohand’s product prices vary widely: keychains from 35,000 VND, hair clips, bracelets, earrings and necklaces from 40,000 to 100,000 VND. Coconut-shell paintings range from a few hundred thousand to several million VND each, depending on the piece.

From hardship to growth

In this coconut-growing region, coconut shells are considered low-value by-products, so in the early days of her startup, many people opposed Bang Nhi’s decision to pursue this path. She also faced numerous challenges, including limited capital, lack of machinery and insufficient experience.

Bang Nhi shares that no one in her family worked in handicrafts, so many relatives objected at first. But her parents trusted and supported her throughout the journey.

With passion and perseverance, Bang Nhi gradually built a solid foundation. From doing everything on her own, she expanded the workshop, invested in more machinery and hired additional staff. Today, Cocohand has four full-time workers in the workshop, two sales and marketing staff, one accountant, and a network of home-based collaborators. Workshop artisans earn an average income of 6 to 9 million VND per month, depending on order volume. The model also creates additional earnings for many households who take materials home to work on.

Thanks to her creativity, coconut waste has been transformed into “gold,” providing local people with extra income and creating seasonal jobs for many women in the commune. At the same time, her work spreads a message of green living and contributes to environmental protection.

Not only creating jobs for local residents, Cocohand also contributes to increasing the economic value of coconut shells, turning what was once considered worthless by-products into profitable resources. Previously, a kilogram of coconut shells could only fetch a few thousand VND for charcoal. Today, after being skillfully crafted and linked to the cultural story of the coconut region, they become unique handicrafts worth 10 to 20 times more.

Each bracelet, earring, or laser-engraved coconut painting is not just a souvenir, but a product infused with the spirit of the homeland, reflecting the skill and creativity of Ben Tre artisans. On average, Cocohand consumes about 18,000 coconut shells per year, significantly adding value to the local coconut production chain. This model demonstrates that by leveraging local advantages with creative thinking, materials once considered “waste” can become cultural and economically valuable products.

Looking ahead, Nhi plans to expand the workshop by about 100 m² and invest in additional UV printers and laser engraving machines to upgrade products and increase productivity. However, the biggest obstacles remain a lack of investment capital and limited opportunities for in-depth training in production, design, and export. She hopes to receive support from startup programs and innovation funds to elevate Cocohand products and gradually bring the Ben Tre coconut handicraft brand to international markets.

Cocohand currently has three products certified as district-level 3-star OCOP items, with its coconut jewelry line being proposed for an upgrade to 4 stars, further affirming the brand’s credibility and market position.