This up to 15 m (49 ft) tall tree is native to Cambodia and Vietnam, and it is cultivated in Guangdong in southern China.

[2] A slow-growing tree, sparsely but widely distributed in remaining areas of primary and slightly disturbed forest, Sindora tonkinensis provides high-quality wood which is highly sought after as a material for luxury furniture.

[1] They are found mostly in tropical evergreen forests on Annamite Range that run along the Vietnamese - Cambodia border.

Sindora tonkinensis lives where there are fertile topsoil and good natural irrigation, at the height less than 600m from the sea level.

Vietnamese fishermen have long used Sindora tonkinensis rind, which is rich of Tannin, as a bait for fishes.