Thnong a Rare Highly Sought After Red Hardwood
Thnong is Cambodia's endangered red hardwood. Learn why it is protected by law. We go to great lengths to source legally and why we choose reclaimed and recycled
WOOD TYPES
Thnong: Cambodia's Golden Rosewood
In the workshops around Kratie and Stung Treng, they will tell you the same thing. Thnong is the wood that sells itself. A carpenter shaping wooden beds and cabinets in a small outlet near Kratie described his customers as wealthy Cambodians from Phnom Penh who commission pieces for their homes. They think the wood is beautiful, he said. Poor people cannot afford it. He was talking about Thnong, one of Cambodia's luxury timbers, a rosewood-adjacent hardwood with a golden-red heartwood and a reputation that stretches across the region.
What Is Thnong?
Thnong is the Khmer name for Pterocarpus macrocarpus, known internationally as Burma Padauk, Burmese Rosewood, or Padauk. In Thailand it is called Pradu or Mai Pradoo. It is a member of the Fabaceae family and grows across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. In Cambodia, it is classified in the luxury grade of timber, alongside Neang Nuon, Kra Nhuong and Beng. It is a light-demanding, drought-tolerant tree that grows in dense deciduous forests, often as a dominant species. It is found in Kampong Thom, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri, Kratie, Siem Reap, Kampot, Pursat, Mondulkiri, Kampong Speu and Koh Kong provinces.
The heartwood colour ranges from pale golden yellow to a deeper reddish brown, and it tends to darken to a golden brown over time. The sapwood is yellow and well demarcated from the heartwood. The grain is usually interlocked, with a coarse texture and fairly large pores. Thnong is rated as very durable regarding decay resistance, with good resistance to termites and other insects. Historically it was used for luxury furniture, cabinetwork, art handicrafts, musical instruments and flooring.
The Numbers Behind the Wood
Thnong has a Janka hardness of 2,150 lbf, which is 9,550 Newtons. Its average dried weight is 865 kilograms per cubic metre. Its modulus of rupture, which measures bending strength, is 138.8 MPa. Its modulus of elasticity is 14.14 GPa. Its crushing strength is 62.3 MPa. It shrinks approximately 3.4 percent radially and 5.8 percent tangentially as it dries, giving a volumetric shrinkage of 8.4 percent and a tangential-to-radial ratio of 1.7.
For a furniture buyer, these numbers describe a timber that is hard, heavy and stable. A Janka hardness of 2,150 lbf places it well above teak at 1,155 lbf and more than double black walnut at 1,010 lbf. At 865 kilograms per cubic metre, it is dense enough to feel substantial without being impractically heavy. The low shrinkage figures and the T/R ratio of 1.7 mean it moves predictably once dried rather than twisting or warping. Plantation-grown Padauk has been tested and found to have dimensional stability of 1.48, which is considered good. This is wood that behaves well in Cambodia's humidity, provided it is properly dried and sealed.
Sourcing and Conservation Exotic Wood
Thnong is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, under criteria VU A1d. It is not currently listed on CITES Appendix II, but the Environmental Investigation Agency has formally proposed that it should be. In 2015, the EIA submitted a document to the CITES Plants Committee stating that Pterocarpus macrocarpus and Dalbergia oliveri are "intensively traded non-listed Asian timber species" that underpin a significant proportion of Hongmu imports into consumer markets. The EIA noted that both species are traded mainly as replacement look-alikes for CITES-listed Dalbergia cochinchinensis and that range states were actively considering developing listing proposals. In Cambodia, Thnong is protected under Forestry Law No. 35 of 2002, and the harvest of rare timber species is completely illegal.
The illegal trade has continued regardless. A Khmer Times investigation found Thnong furniture openly displayed and sold across Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri and Kratie. In a coffee shop near the market in Stung Treng, red-brown wooden tabletops were stacked against the wall with a price sticker of $1,700. The owner said he had about one customer a month, many from Vietnam, some from Cambodia. He bought the tables from a village in the north of Stung Treng province. "They are out of wood already up there," he said. A carpenter in Kratie sold beds and cabinets for $600 to $800, sourcing his timber from Ratanakiri. "There's not much left, though," he said. "There's not much wood left in Cambodia at all." The Forestry Administration confirmed that small businesses are rarely fined, and the trade continues largely unchecked.
It is important to understand that Thnong is not alone in this. Traditional local furniture in Cambodia is largely manufactured from Thnong and Beng, both of which are harvested illegally. The two species are often mentioned together, and both are endangered. If you are offered either, you should be deeply sceptical of its provenance.
Is Thnong Good for Wood Furniture?
Technically, it is excellent. It is hard, dense, stable and durable. It is rated as very durable and resistant to termites. It was historically prized for high-end furniture, cabinetwork, musical instruments and decorative carving. In Cambodia, it was used for luxury furniture and architectural work. The wood turns, glues and finishes well. It has a faint aromatic scent while being worked. It is considered one of the finest timbers in the region for high-grade furniture.
But its quality is precisely the problem. The very characteristics that make Thnong desirable made it a target for illegal logging. A tree that takes decades to reach maturity cannot survive a market that wants it immediately. Owning a genuine piece of Thnong is not a commodity purchase. It is a responsibility.
There is also a practical warning. Thnong is considered somewhat difficult to work because of its density and interlocked grain. It requires sharp tooling and careful technique. And it has been reported as a sensitizer. Although severe reactions are uncommon, Thnong has been known to cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation in some individuals. If you are working with it, wear protection. If you own a piece, keep the surface sealed.
How Thnong Compares With Other Trees
If you are looking for a dark, dense hardwood for a statement piece, there are sustainable alternatives that deliver similar qualities without the ethical burden.
Beng (Afzelia xylocarpa) is the closest available substitute in Cambodia. It has a similar reddish-brown heartwood, good density, and excellent durability. Cambodian customers often prefer Beng over Thnong, describing its colour as lighter and nicer. But Beng is also endangered, also protected, and also harvested illegally. It is not a solution. It is another problem.
Teak is the standard against which tropical hardwoods are measured. It is naturally oily, resistant to insects and moisture, and stable in service. It is more expensive than Thnong but widely available from plantations. For outdoor furniture or pieces that will see heavy use, teak is the better choice. Thnong is harder, but teak is more practical and genuinely sustainable.
Rubberwood is plantation-grown, widely available and genuinely sustainable. It is not as hard or as dark as Thnong, but it is stable, workable and takes a finish that can evoke warmer tones without the ethical cost. For buyers who want a beautiful piece without contributing to the destruction of an endangered species, rubberwood is an honest alternative.
None of these woods match Thnong's combination of hardness, colour and durability. That is precisely why Thnong should be left alone.
How We Work With Thnong
Khmer Wood Design does not sell new Thnong. We do not buy it. We do not accept commissions that require it. If a customer asks for it, we explain why we will not work with it and offer sustainable alternatives. Notwithstanding that statement, we have suppliers who can source legal Thnong and it is certificated.
The only exception is reclaimed timber from pre-owned furniture or heritage pieces where the provenance is documented. If a client owns an antique Thnong piece that is being restored, we can work with that existing timber. We require proof of origin, such as old receipts, family records, or photographs of the piece in its previous setting. If the provenance is unclear, we decline the work.
We refuse to work with undocumented timber because there is no way to know whether it was legally harvested. The illegal trade in luxury timbers has fuelled corruption and environmental destruction across the region. A workshop that claims not to know where its timber came from is either lying or negligent. Our green policy commits us to reclaimed wood wherever the piece allows it, and to honesty about what we cannot source responsibly.
Care and Maintenance of Hardwoods
If you own a genuine Thnong piece, whether an antique, a family heirloom, or a documented original, treat it with the care it deserves. The wood is dense and stable, but old pieces may have developed cracks or joint failures over decades of use. Do not attempt to repair them yourself. Professional restoration is essential for heritage pieces of this value. Clean only with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid all moisture, direct sunlight, and household cleaners. If the finish is worn, consult a specialist restorer who understands dense tropical hardwoods.
One specific warning: Thnong has been reported to cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation in some individuals. Although severe reactions are uncommon, the wood is classified as a sensitizer. If you are working with it, or if you own a piece and notice a reaction, take it seriously. Wear gloves when handling raw timber, and keep the finished surface sealed.
Sustainable Alternatives to Thnong
If you want a piece that captures the spirit of Thnong — warm, rich, durable and beautiful — without contributing to the destruction of an endangered species, we can help. We work with Teak, Rubberwood, and reclaimed Cambodian hardwoods. We can finish them to evoke the deep tones of Thnong without the ethical cost. The result will be a piece you can be proud of for reasons that go beyond its beauty.
FAQs
Can I buy new Thnong? No. It is classified as Vulnerable, protected under Cambodian Forestry Law No. 35 of 2002, and the harvest of rare timber species is completely illegal. If someone offers you new Thnong, the timber is almost certainly illegal.
How do I know if a piece is genuine? Provenance is everything. Look for documented history, such as old photographs, receipts, family records, or CITES paperwork where applicable. Without documentation, you cannot know whether a piece is genuine or whether it was legally acquired.
What is the difference between Thnong and Beng? They are different species. Thnong is Pterocarpus macrocarpus, a darker reddish-brown rosewood-adjacent species. Beng is Afzelia xylocarpa, known for its lighter, more golden-red colour. Both are endangered, both are harvested illegally, and both are protected. They are often mentioned together in the illegal timber trade.
Is it legal to own an antique Thnong piece? Ownership of pre-existing pieces is generally legal, but the burden of proof is on the owner. If you cannot demonstrate that the piece predates the trade restrictions, you may face questions. Document everything.
What is a sustainable alternative? Teak is excellent for outdoor use and widely available from plantations. Rubberwood is plantation-grown, sustainable, and workable. Reclaimed timber from documented sources is also an option, though increasingly rare. Contact us to discuss which wood suits your project.