In a country where the cigar market is booming, the Swiss brand presented its first exclusive edition.

“Visiting Ho Chi Minh City today, I was struck by its incredible dynamism. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Avanti Group boutiques, where everything is driven by passion, dedication, rigor and perfection. Since the start of our partnership in 2021, our sales have increased 56-fold! This cigar celebrates our expansion in the Vietnamese market and is a testament to our confidence in our partner and in this country,” declared an enthusiastic and visibly impressed Beat Hauenstein, CEO of Oettinger Davidoff, at the launch party for the Davidoff Exclusive Edition 2026 Vietnam, held on March 30th at Avanti Group’s flagship store in Ho Chi Minh City.

This preview event also served as an opportunity to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the partnership between two “great families”: Davidoff and Avanti Group.

“Vietnam was a very difficult market to access, but what’s great about our industry is that we share the same passion as competitors,” says Laurent de Rougemont, Managing Director of Davidoff of Geneva Asia Ltd. “One day, the CEO of Pacific Cigar [importer of Cuban cigars in Asia] called me and said, ‘We have a fantastic partner in Vietnam, you should contact him!’ We spoke with Sami Alrayhani during the pandemic, met right after, and tonight we’re launching this exclusive Vietnam 2026 edition.”

“I’m very surprised by the level of competition in Vietnam, especially compared to other Asian or European markets. Here, we’re at the forefront in terms of execution, engagement, events—on every level,” adds Javier González, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Oettinger Davidoff.

A Davidoff store is coming soon!

“It took us almost two years to bring this project to fruition,” proudly state Melissa Anwar and Benny Au Kwok, respectively Regional Sales and Marketing Director and Business Development and Wholesale Director of Davidoff of Geneva Asia Ltd.

“We met with the master blender for an initial blind tasting two years ago. We selected this cigar based on the preferences of Vietnamese aficionados, choosing a medium-bodied blend of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and the United States to offer them a refined and unique smoking experience. We opted for a sophisticated shape, the perfecto (155 mm x 53 mm), which requires exceptional rolling expertise. This refined shape is a nod to the delicate lotus petal, the national flower of Vietnam, a symbol of purity, resilience, and timeless beauty,” emphasizes Daria Spytsyna, General Manager of Marketing and Communications at Avanti Group.

Only 300 numbered boxes of 10 Perfecto cigars will be available exclusively in the 11 Habanos Specialist boutiques in Vietnam, priced at €85 per cigar.

“This cigar is a true masterpiece which, due to its rarity, will very quickly become a sought-after collector’s item,” says Thuy Thu Van, Managing Director of Golden Phoenix Vietnam, the exclusive importer.

For Sami Alrayhani, while this historic edition symbolizes strong recognition from Davidoff of the work accomplished by his teams, it is just one step in the development of the collaboration with the Swiss brand. “We will be opening the first Davidoff boutique in Vietnam in a few months, in Ho Chi Minh City, and a second one next year in Hanoi,” the CEO of Avanti Group revealed to L’Amateur. The location has already been chosen: equidistant from Casa del Habano and the flagship Habanos Specialist store in the heart of the Golden Triangle of the former Saigon.

 

Philippe Dova, special correspondent in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

  

Also read, “The man who revolutionized cigars in Vietnam,” L’Amateur de Cigare English edition #25