Who am I?

My name is Suong (aka Su). I was born in Vietnam and grew up surrounded by a culture that values craftsmanship, patience, and making things with your hands. After more than 16 years working as a professional photographer, chasing light, framing moments, and living out of a camera bag, I found myself wanting to create something more permanent. Something you could hold, feel, and carry for a lifetime.

The turning point came when I had the privilege of learning leather craftsmanship from my travelling. Watching so many works from leather masters in the industries, the precision of every cut, the rhythm of stitching, I fell in love with the process. It was meditative, honest, and deeply satisfying. I knew I had found my second calling.

In 2022, I founded LaVietnamita in Genk, Belgium, a name that carries both my Vietnamese roots and my life in Europe. Every piece I make is a small bridge between those two worlds.

The Craftsmanship Process

Every LaVietnamita piece is made entirely by hand, from start to finish, right here in Limburg, Belgium. There are no machines cutting corners, only careful hands, sharp tools, and a deep respect for the material.

Hand-cut leather: Each piece is individually cut by hand, ensuring precision and care at every step.
Saddle-stitched: I use the traditional saddle-stitch technique, the gold standard of leather craftsmanship. Unlike machine stitching, saddle stitching is incredibly durable. If one thread breaks, the other holds.
Made in Limburg, Belgium: Every item is crafted in my studio in Genk. Small-batch, intentional, and personal.

The Leather

I source exclusively from Conceria Walpier, home of the Badalassi Carlo tannery in Italy, one of the most respected vegetable tanneries in the world. Their Pueblo leather is full-grain, naturally tanned, and develops a rich, unique patina over time. The more you use it, the more beautiful it becomes.

Choosing vegetable-tanned leather is also a choice for sustainability. It's a slower, more natural process, free from the harsh chemicals used in industrial tanning and it produces leather that is biodegradable and built to last generations.

Our Mission

LaVietnamita exists to bring joyful, practical carrying to photographers, travelers, and anyone who appreciates beautiful, functional objects. I design for people who are always on the move, who need their gear to keep up with their adventures without sacrificing style or quality.

Every bag, wallet, and strap I make is designed to be a companion for life . Not a season.

Our Values

Quality over quantity. I make a small number of pieces with full attention and care. No shortcuts.
Sustainability. Premium vegetable-tanned leather, made to last a lifetime, is the most sustainable choice in leather goods.
Personal touch. Every item that leaves my studio has been touched by my hands. You're not buying a product off a shelf, you're receiving something made for you.
Lifetime guarantee . I stand behind every stitch. If something goes wrong with the craftsmanship, I will repair or replace it. That's my promise.

Thank you for being here. Whether you're a long-time customer or discovering LaVietnamita for the first time, I'm glad you found us. Feel free to reach out anytime. I love hearing from the people who carry my work.

— Suong Le, founder of LaVietnamita —