A new Memorandum of Understanding establishes a transparent pipeline for IND HEMP fiber into Vietnam’s textile sector, delivering sustainable, traceable textiles produced in Vietnam for U.S. brands; first-look yarns and fabrics debut this week at the Functional Fabric Fair. 

IND HEMP, a leader in American industrial hemp processing, Summit International Trading, a leading textile import/export supply chain partner, and Thien Phuoc, a sustainable natural fiber textile manufacturer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to integrate U.S.-grown hemp fiber into Vietnam’s global textile manufacturing hub. This strategic partnership bridges the technical gap between American agriculture and Southeast Asian spinning expertise, through to finished goods, establishing a reliable supply chain for high-quality hemp yarns, fabrics, and garment manufacturing at scale. By leveraging the specialized degumming and spinning capabilities Thien Phuoc has developed for Raimy fiber in Vietnam, this alliance provides U.S. brands with a viable, sustainable alternative to traditional Chinese hemp sources. The collaboration officially debuts to US brands this week at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Oregon, where the first samples of Vietnamese-spun yarns and finished fabrics made with IND HEMP fiber are on display alongside 100% US produced hemp yarns and fabrics. 

“Mr Tang and Summit International Trading are textile import and supply chain experts, with a history of importing US cotton for textile manufacturing, operate their own cut and sew business and export of finished goods to the US” shares Morgan Tweet IND HEMP CEO

“Ms Thuy’s company Thien Phuoc is a sustainable natural fiber textile company processing Ramie fiber, a type of nettle, and is currently degumming, spinning, weaving and selling finished goods. Her process is perfect for integrating hemp fiber and she has the capacity, expertise and relationships to bring our fiber into this existing supply chain” Tweet continues.

In December 2025, Summit International imported the first 4 containers of IND HEMP fiber into Vietnam. This was the first raw hemp fiber imported into Vietnam, following policy changes over the past few years. Previously, only yarns or fabrics made from hemp fiber were allowed for import, mainly from China. Vietnam can now leverage its strong fiber processing and textile manufacturing industries.

A delegation including IND HEMP, Bear Fiber, and Montana clothing brand Smith and Rogue traveled to Vietnam in February 2025 to attend the VIATT textile show. This trip was supported by NIHC (National Industrial Hemp Council) through USDA FAS funding.

Following the VIATT show, the IND HEMP team traveled across Vietnam, with Mr. Tang visiting multiple facilities that do fiber degumming and spinning. Visiting the mills and meeting their owners across Vietnam provided the affirmation that Vietnam and Summit International were the right partners for IND HEMP in Vietnam. In the short time since receiving the first shipment, Thien Phuoc was able to process the fiber and present the initial yarn and fabric at VIATT, made in Vietnam, with this US fiber.

An official MOU signing ceremony was held within Vietnam with IND HEMP, Summit International Trading, and Ramie natural fiber processor Ms. Thuy, highlighting the agreed commitment across the supply chain to bring hemp fiber and hemp fiber textiles to the world. IND HEMP grows the crops and performs first touch processing-‘decortication’ in Montana to turn the harvested hemp straw into bales of clean hemp bast fiber. Summit International coordinates the import of these fibers into Vietnam, and coordinates with and supplies mills in the country. Thien Phuoc is a processor of natural fibers from degumming through to finished garments.

Vietnam has become the largest textile exporter to the US in 2025, superseding China, and is one of the top 3 importers of US cotton. Vietnam and the US have favorable trade relations, with Vietnam offering preferential market access to US agricultural products, removing tariffs on most goods, including cotton, hemp, and food commodities like wheat and soybeans.

Vietnam’s Sustainability Advantage

One area where Vietnam excels is in the sustainability initiatives undertaken by garment manufacturers and suppliers. The Environment Protection Law, in effect since January 2022, imposes heavy fines on manufacturers and businesses that violate it. 

This has meant there are a large number of compliant apparel businesses in the country. Brands that are on the lookout for sustainable suppliers to meet commitments, comply with ESG standards, and other sustainability metrics are thus increasing sourcing from Vietnam.

Hence, US textile brands that have made commitments import a considerable amount of material from Vietnam. These include giant US brands such as Converse Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co., which have large supplier bases in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) has set a target of US $50 billion for Vietnamese textile, garment, and yarn exports in 2026. It shows the ambition of those in the Vietnamese textile and garment industries to maintain high export levels.

Vietnam is part of the Pacific ASEAN–SE Asian Agreement and RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which allows products of those countries to trade with little or no duty. This is a pathway for USA-grown fibers that have been further processed, upgraded, and spun into yarns or made into fabrics to trade from Vietnam to other partner countries (China, Japan, Korea, etc) and beyond to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other textile and nonwoven manufacturing countries.

International & Export Commitments

The strategic expansion into Vietnam’s textile hub is a cornerstone of IND HEMP’s broader 2026 global export initiative. Following a successful presence at Biofach in Germany this past February, the company is continuing its international momentum with upcoming appearances at the IDEA European Nonwovens show in Switzerland this May and the Alimentec food trade show in Colombia this June. Representing the “Hola Montana” program in partnership with the Montana Department of Agriculture and the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the Montana-based processor is actively scaling its export of U.S.-grown fiber and grain-food products across North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. These diverse engagements underscore a commitment to providing global industries with high-performance, sustainable alternatives rooted in American agriculture.

IND HEMP is the leading U.S. producer, processor, and supplier of industrial hemp fiber, grain, and food products. Based in Fort Benton, Montana, the family-owned, mission-driven company is a Certified B Corp dedicated to providing innovative, sustainable agricultural opportunities for American farmers. By bridging the gap between modern agriculture and sustainable manufacturing, the Montana-based processor is pioneering the use of industrial hemp across diverse industries—ranging from textiles and nonwovens to animal care and nutrition.

Summit International Trade LLC specializes in the U.S.–Vietnam import-export corridor, providing on-the-ground representation to connect American firms with verified Vietnamese suppliers, particularly in the textile and garment manufacturing sectors. They offer end-to-end supply chain management, focusing on quality assurance and fraud prevention to facilitate seamless trade. For more details, visit Summit International Trade LLC.

Thien Phuoc Ramie Group Joint Stock Company is a leading Vietnamese manufacturer pioneering sustainable natural fiber textiles through a vertically integrated “farm-to-fashion” model. Utilizing proprietary technology for the Raimy fiber ecosystem, the company provides eco-friendly, antibacterial, and durable yarn solutions to the global market. Learn more about their sustainable manufacturing at Thien Phuoc.