On 8/7, Rita Vo celebrated 20 years of partnership with Kohler and announced its new strategy: developing residential, commercial, and resort projects in TP HCM and Phu Quoc. The group also launched a wood factory with a capacity of 90,000 cubic meters per year, marking its transition into a multi-industry conglomerate.

On stage, Vo Mau Quoc Trien, Chairman of Rita Vo Group, recounted the beginning of his 30-year journey with a resonant voice: "I once lived in a dormitory where 'rats walked on three legs, using the fourth to cover their noses'. That memory haunted me my entire life."

This haunting memory, coupled with a passion for beautiful homes, transformed the impoverished student into the "captain" steering Rita Vo. The company became the first and only distributor in Vietnam for Kohler, a global brand of luxury bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Today, Rita Vo has expanded into 9 major sectors, employing over 1,500 people, and has built an independent ecosystem encompassing manufacturing, real estate development, and proprietary brand ownership.

"This is the result of decades of quiet, meticulous preparation," Chairman Vo Mau Quoc Trien stated to applause from nearly 1,000 guests at the event.

Two decades of strong ties with Kohler

Rita Vo was established in 1998. Over nearly three decades, a significant milestone has been the 20-year journey as the exclusive distributor in Vietnam for Kohler, a 150-year-old brand from the US.

Standing on stage at the anniversary celebration, Vo Mau Quoc Trien did not deliver a speech about growth figures or impressive numbers. Instead, he slowly shared memories from his student days, leaving his family to move to TP HCM.

When he started his business and had opportunities to travel abroad, he developed a unique habit. Each time he checked into a hotel or dined out, the first place he visited was the bathroom. In 2002, during a business trip to the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, he first encountered Kohler branded products.

"Everything seemed so beautiful. From the design and finish quality to the user experience, it was all distinct," he recalled.

Vo Mau Quoc Trien and David Kohler at the 20th-anniversary cooperation ceremony. Photo: Quynh Tran

The idea of bringing this brand to Vietnam began to form. To connect with the US corporation in an era before widespread email and internet, Trien asked the Vietnamese commercial attache to find a fax number, then personally typed each introductory letter for his company.

Ultimately, Kohler selected Saigon Rita as its partner in Vietnam. Upon receiving this news, Quoc Trien asked Kohler why they chose a company "without money or experience" like Rita Vo.

Kohler's response surprised him even more: "We didn't choose Rita Vo; we chose you."

After 20 years, Rita Vo has distributed Kohler products to thousands of projects, 5-star hotels, and luxury resorts across Vietnam. Among these, five of Kohler's select brands have been introduced to the domestic market, supplying numerous high-end projects by major developers.

The Sculptura collection, created with 3D printing technology – the latest product launched at this event, displayed by Kohler. Photo: Quynh Tran

David Kohler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kohler Group, stated that Vietnam is one of the few markets where the group maintains an exclusive distribution relationship with a single partner. In other countries, many distributors typically participate in sales.

The brand's leader noted that this relationship is built on a shared vision. Both companies foresaw Vietnam's economic potential with rapid urbanization, a growing middle class, and a belief that consumers would increasingly appreciate high-end designs focused on health. Over the past two decades, Vietnam has evolved exactly as initially predicted.

"Chairman Trien saw this very early on, and that was also Kohler's belief," said David, the 4th generation leader of the group.

The US brand also highly values Rita Vo for not only distributing products but also contributing to building a community of architects, designers, developers, and high-end customers in Vietnam. Rita Vo's partnership has gradually helped Kohler establish its presence in the luxury bathroom and kitchen fixture market.

"When I speak of Rita Vo, I use three words: vision, passion, and trust," the head of Kohler remarked.

Vo Mau Quoc Trien and David Kohler visit the exhibition area for upcoming real estate projects. Photo: Quynh Tran

Delegates celebrate 20 years of cooperation. Photo: Quynh Tran

Rita Vo Wood products displayed at the event. Photo: Quynh Tran

Guests learn about cooperation milestones. Photo: Quynh Tran

Guests explore displayed Kohler products. Photo: Quynh Tran

Event space showcasing upcoming Rita Vo projects. Photo: Quynh Tran

Visitors explore sanitary ware lines. Photo: Quynh Tran

Rita Vo displays wood products. Photo: Quynh Tran

David Kohler speaks on stage. Photo: Quynh Tran

Vo Mau Quoc Trien speaks on stage. Photo: Quynh Tran

"Trust" is evident in the mutual belief between David and Rita Vo's Chairman in their joint endeavors. "Mr. Trien placed his trust in Kohler, and we also placed our trust in Rita Vo in the Vietnamese market," David said.

With a "shared vision," Kohler's leadership recognized Vo Mau Quoc Trien's strong determination and significant investment in developing the domestic market. According to Kohler, this vision has kept the company committed to Rita Vo for the past two decades.

Expanding a multi-industry ecosystem

For Rita Vo, the 20-year journey with Kohler served as a foundation for accumulating management experience, building an international partner network, and gaining deep insight into high-end market standards. This experience is crucial as the company enters a new phase: expanding into a diversified ecosystem.

Beginning with a venture into luxury real estate, the company announced plans over the next 10 years to develop projects including: Rita Vo Plaza (Cho Quan ward, TP HCM), Rita Vo Complex (Hanh Thong ward, TP HCM), Rita Vo Tower (Linh Xuan ward, TP HCM), Rita Vo Pearl (Chanh Hung ward, TP HCM), Rita Vo Landmark, Rita Vo Park, and the Rita Vo - Phu Quoc resort complex.

Rita Vo Plaza, developed on a site at 211 Nguyen Van Cu, is expected to offer over 200 apartments and commercial spaces. Rita Vo Complex is positioned as a commercial and service complex. The Phu Quoc project will be a resort combined with a convention center. Detailed information on these projects is expected to be announced by the company soon.

Alongside real estate, another extension of the company is wood manufacturing, with the introduction of Rita Vo Wood – a 1.2-hectare factory in TP HCM with a capacity of 90,000 cubic meters of wood per year. This factory will produce wood flooring, Melamine, Laminate, and Acrylic coated boards, along with industrial wood cores such as MDF, HDF, Plywood, and OSB, all meeting international standards for emissions and quality management.

These products will be used in the company's projects and distributed widely to the market through its showroom system. A long-term goal is to target exports.

With these new segments, Rita Vo aims to complete the essential ecosystem for a home: real estate and external materials; interior furnishings from hundreds of renowned brands, and self-produced wood for internal installation; while also providing experiences through sports and lifestyle brands.

"We are not expanding haphazardly; rather, we are completing pieces of a common picture, bringing synergistic value," he affirmed.

In the next phase, the company aims to build a Vietnamese brand with the capacity to invest, produce, and develop unique products, progressively completing its living space ecosystem and accumulating internal strength to participate in the global supply chain.

Hoai Phuong