Celebrating 25 years of Innovation in Vietnam

This year, Kimberly-Clark celebrates 25 years of innovation in Vietnam, an important milestone in the company’s journey that first began in 1991.

As Vietnam grows to become an increasingly multifaceted and globally-integrated economy, this is giving rise to a young middle-class with increasing aspirations, and additional demand for quality products that best suit their needs.

Reflecting this dynamic development, Vietnam is today home to Kimberly-Clark’s biggest market in ASEAN, and one of its fastest growing markets globally for both diapers and sanitary protection. The Vietnam team is also responsible for seeding the Indochina growth markets – Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

Then & Now: The Binh Duong Mill in construction and today

Kimberly-Clark’s story in Vietnam starts in 1991. The initial operations were carried under the name of TN VINATHAI CO. LTD. In 1991 & 1992, we introduced Kotex Softina to the Vietnamese consumer and it quickly become the number one brand for sanitary pads in the market. Production lines were located both in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Between 1992 and 2000, it also launched Kotex Tulip and Kotex Freedom with success. In 2000, it became a 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) company: Kimberly-Clark Vietnam Ltd. (KCV), wholly owned by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc.

In 2003, construction started at the Binh Duong Mill at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) and all manufacturing was quickly consolidated at one location. The Binh Duong Mill today has one of the best efficiency levels and lowest waste rates in the region. World class, quality products from the mill are exported to Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America.

In 2003, Kimberly-Clark Vietnam introduced the well-known Kotex Xì Tin brand. 

Between 2004 and 2010,  a number of famous brands were introduced following the success of Kotex Xì Tin: Kotex White, Kotex White Pro, Kotex Natural Care and imported Kleenex and Huggies brands.

In May 2011, the first Diaper machine was installed at the Binh Duong Mill. The Huggies range of Nappies, Tape Diapers (Huggies Dry) and Diaper Pants (Huggies Dry Pants) enabled Huggies' rapid growth into one of the leading brands in Vietnam.

The first Kimberly-Clark brand, Kotex Softina, when Kimberly-Clark entered Vietnam, and Kotex & Huggies brands now

In 2016, Kimberly-Clark celebrates 25 years in Vietnam - marking 25 years of providing the essentials for a better life for Vietnamese consumers, a promise it will continue to uphold in the future.

Today in Vietnam, Kimberly-Clark is known for its leadership in product, digital and marketing innovations. Its uncompromising commitment to quality was recognized with the Vietnam Institute of Standards approaching Huggies and Kotex to share best practices in product quality as the gold standard for the industry.

It is also actively contributing to the communities through various innovative programs - reinforcing the vision to touch consumers’ lives by driving greater health and hygiene outcomes. This includes virtual pre-natal classes for more than 100,000 Vietnamese mothers-to-be; a diaper donation drive for families in need, leveraging consumers’ social media posts; and building the Kotex Ally Network to empower girls for new life opportunities.

Celebrating the 25^th anniversary together: team building activity

“For 25 years, we have sought to continuously understand the needs of Vietnamese consumers and provide them with innovative world-class solutions customized to address these needs, from high quality diaper “inserts” designed for the Vietnamese market and virtual pre-natal classes to help new mothers-to-be, to pioneering ultra-thin sanitary napkins for young Vietnamese women-on-the-go.  We are proud to have touched the lives of Vietnamese consumers over the decades and committed to further improving their lives through the best products,” said Praneeth Yendamuri, Managing Director of Kimberly-Clark Vietnam.