When Disability Rhymes with Creativity, Dynamism, and Excellence in Viet Nam

In a small tree-lined street in Hanoi, a colorful storefront advertises Kymviet Space, aiming to change the perception of people with disabilities. At the end of a lively, decorated corridor, a four-story building hosts a team of 30 disabled staff who produce beautifully stitched and assembled home decoration items.

When Pham Viêt Hoai was seven years old, an accident left him disabled and wheelchair-bound. As he grew up, he realized how difficult it was for disabled people to find work, and undaunted, he started several businesses, ranging from the printing industry to computers and industrial equipment.

Armed with his business experience, "I decided to open a business that would create jobs for people with disabilities and looked for the best way to employ them." In Vietnam, Pham said, "people with disabilities do not have many career choices." He finally opted for cloth designing and crafting, which would be accessible for disabled people and promote the cultural identity of Vietnam. "Luckily, I was right," he said.

In December 2013, Pham launched Kymviet with two other disabled individuals: Le Viet Cuong and Nguyen Duc Minh, who passed away in 2019. Le Viet Cuong left Kymviet in 2018 to establish another structure for people with disabilities: the Vun Art Cooperative. Pham is Kymviet’s remaining founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Starting with three sewing machines and three staff in two rented rooms, Kymviet soon took off. After several moves, with the help and cooperation of the Hanoi Architectural University, Pham designed the current headquarters to meet the needs of disabled people, featuring ramps and large windows welcoming natural light, as well as hosting warehouse space, workshops, and a café open to all.

Kymviet is completely self-sufficient; the financial resources to pay salaries, factory rents, and fixed costs are all covered by the sales of goods and services. The company is not dependent on any funding, and its strong self-sufficiency allowed it to weather the Covid-19 crisis and "stand firm after three years."

Strong IP Protection in Vietnam, Eying Foreign Markets

Kymviet is currently registered only in Vietnam, as the company has been focusing on strengthening its brand and reputation nationally. However, it is now ready to enter foreign markets and, in the next five years, is determined to expand to the European market and protect its brand internationally.

The company also intends to create more job opportunities for disabled people in Vietnam and open a professional vocational training center for them while simultaneously promoting Vietnamese culture to the world.

A WIPO brand expert is working with the company to develop an international brand and other intangible assets to support Kymviet’s business expansion goals.

Kymviet takes pride in the quality of its products, stating, "People buy our products not because they want to contribute to charity, but because they are of the highest quality," as Pham explained.

Three Pillars: Production, Café, and Education

Kymviet, which combines "Kym" (sewing needle) and "Viet" for Vietnam, now relies on three pillars. The first is the production of handmade products, ranging from toys, home decorations, and fashion items, including expressive water buffalos, fish, cats, dogs, bags, and travel pillows. Individual customers can buy items on-site or online. The company also produces corporate and promotional gifts for the government, and its products are on sale in souvenir shops.

The second pillar of Kymviet is the café. New staff can choose between two vocational training options: either producing the handmade products or operating the café, depending on their wishes and abilities.

The third pillar is education, which holds a special place for Pham. It involves showcasing the work of the staff. People, students, and tourists alike are welcome to come and share their time with the team, learn sign language, and make artisanal products while enjoying the café’s delicatessen.

Vietnam has over 2.5 million deaf people, according to Pham, and Kymviet focuses on this community, with most of the staff being deaf. Kymviet’s mission is to provide job opportunities to these individuals and empower them to fulfill their potential, said Pham.

Nguyễn Thị Thùy Trang is a happy and enthusiastic staff member. At 48, she has been with Kymviet for nine years. "Before joining Kymviet, I had to go to many places to find a job but was always refused by employers because I am a disabled person." "I started by learning many things here, such as cutting and sewing, and it was not easy at the beginning," she explained, proudly adding that now she is an expert.

When she joined Kymviet, she was a young mother of a son and daughter; the company’s steady income allowed her to raise her children without financial worries. She witnessed the company's humble beginnings, its subsequent success, and she wishes that everyone could appreciate the quality of the products. "We might be deaf, but we create beautiful products at Kymviet," she said. "I am very happy working at Kymviet; it brings me joy and happiness."

Tradition and Innovation

Pham explained that all the Kymviet models aim to transmit and reflect the traditional values of Vietnamese culture. Kymviet works with two designers, Nguyen Viet Dung and Kieu Tuan, to produce between three and five new models monthly. These models are prototyped to test different fabrics and then submitted for customer review before being launched into production. The production volumes depend on the complexity of the products, but on average, the company produces between 3,000 and 5,000 items per month.