Vietnam Sourcing Guide // How To Find Suppliers And Manufacturers In Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the best countries in the world for sourcing manufactured products outside China. It exported over $405 billion in goods in 2024, has 15+ active free trade agreements, and is home to production for brands like Nike, Samsung, IKEA, and Patagonia. If you are looking for a reliable, cost-competitive manufacturing base, Vietnam should be near the top of your list.
I have been sourcing products from Vietnam since 2014, when we opened Cosmo Sourcing's first office in Ho Chi Minh City. Since then, we have helped thousands of clients source products across dozens of categories. This guide covers what works, what does not, and how to get started.
Updated Feb 17, 2026
Why Vietnam Is a Top Sourcing Destination
Vietnam's rise as a manufacturing hub is not a recent development. It has been building for over a decade, but the pace has accelerated significantly since 2018. Several factors make it attractive for international buyers.
Cost-competitive labor. Vietnam's manufacturing wages remain well below China's. Average factory wages in Vietnam are roughly 40-60% lower than comparable positions in coastal Chinese manufacturing provinces, depending on the industry. For labor-intensive products like garments, footwear, and furniture, this translates directly into lower unit costs.
A young, growing workforce. Vietnam's population reached approximately 100 million in 2024, with more than half under the age of 35. The country's industrial and construction sectors employed 17.4 million people in 2024, representing about a third of total employment. Literacy rates are high, and the workforce has proven capable of handling increasingly complex manufacturing tasks.
Aggressive trade policy. Vietnam has more active free trade agreements than almost any country in the region. The key ones include the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership). These agreements reduce or eliminate tariffs for buyers importing Vietnamese goods into the EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many other markets.
Strong FDI inflows. Foreign direct investment disbursements in Vietnam hit a record $25.35 billion in 2024. Companies like Samsung, LG, Apple suppliers (Luxshare, Foxconn), and Nvidia are expanding manufacturing operations in the country. This kind of investment improves factory quality, infrastructure, and supply chain maturity across the board, which benefits smaller buyers too.
GDP growth. Vietnam's GDP grew 7.09% in 2024, reaching approximately $476 billion. That consistent growth rate reflects expanding manufacturing capacity, not just consumption.
What Products Can You Source from Vietnam?
Vietnam is not a one-stop shop like China. It is strong in specific categories, and weak or undeveloped in others. Knowing where Vietnam excels before you start searching for suppliers will save you significant time.
For a detailed breakdown, read our full guide on what products can be sourced from Vietnam.
Here is a summary of the strongest categories:
Clothing and Textiles
Vietnam is the world's second-largest garment exporter, behind only China. The textile and garment sector generated approximately $44 billion in export revenue in 2024. Major brands like Nike, Patagonia, Levi's, Under Armour, and The North Face produce here. Vietnam handles everything from basic cut-make-trim (CMT) work to full-package FOB production. MOQs for garments typically start at 500-1,000 pieces for CMT and 1,000-3,000 for FOB orders.
Read more: Clothing manufacturing in Vietnam
Furniture and Wood Products
Vietnam is the second-largest furniture exporter globally, and exports of wood and wood products reached $16.25 billion in 2024. The range spans from flat-pack consumer furniture to high-end solid wood and outdoor pieces. IKEA is one of the largest buyers. We have sourced everything from beach chairs and patio sets to indoor dining furniture from Vietnamese factories.
Read more: Furniture manufacturing in Vietnam
Footwear
Vietnam is one of the largest footwear exporters in the world, producing for Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and others. The industry covers everything from high-end leather shoes to injection-molded sandals. Over 90% of footwear produced in Vietnam is exported.
Plastics and Rubber
Vietnam exports billions of dollars in plastic and rubber goods annually. Common products include injection-molded consumer goods, rubber components, and packaging materials. The plastics industry has expanded its capacity significantly as more factories serve both domestic and export markets.
Packaging
Vietnam is increasingly competitive in custom packaging, from corrugated boxes and rigid packaging to flexible film and vacuum-sealed materials. If you are sourcing a product from Vietnam, there is a good chance you can source the packaging locally too, which simplifies logistics.
Coffee and Agricultural Products
Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee exporter by volume and the largest exporter of robusta beans. In 2024, Vietnamese rice exports hit a record 9 million tonnes. Agro-forestry-fishery exports reached $62.4 billion total, a strong category for buyers looking beyond manufactured goods.
Electronics and Components
This is Vietnam's largest and fastest-growing export category by value. Electronics, computers, and components dominate the export profile thanks to Samsung, LG, and Apple supplier operations. However, this category is primarily large-scale foreign-invested manufacturing, not typically accessible to small or mid-size independent buyers.
How to Find Suppliers in Vietnam
Finding reliable suppliers in Vietnam requires a different approach than sourcing from China. The supplier ecosystem is less centralized, and there is no single platform equivalent to Alibaba's dominance in the Chinese market. Here are the most effective methods.
For a deeper dive, read our complete guide to finding suppliers in Vietnam.
Online B2B Platforms
Alibaba is still usable for Vietnam. Filter by country and select Vietnam. The listings are thinner than for China, but it is a reasonable starting point for initial research. Verify certifications, review factory photos, and confirm that the supplier is actually manufacturing in Vietnam rather than trading.
Vietnam Export (vietnamexport.com) is endorsed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. It maintains a database of verified factories and is generally more reliable for Vietnam-specific searches than generic global platforms.
VTown.vn is owned by a Japanese company and lists Japanese-managed factories in Vietnam. The quality control standards tend to be higher because the factories serve Japanese buyers, who have strict QC requirements. I have personally used this database and found good suppliers through it.
Vietnam Manufacturers (vietnammanufacturers.vn) offers a searchable database plus trade show listings and industry publications.
Trade Shows
Attending trade shows in Vietnam is one of the most effective ways to evaluate suppliers. Key events include Saigontex (textiles), VietnamWood (furniture and wood products), HanoiTex, and the Vietnam International Trade Fair. Meeting factory representatives face-to-face, examining samples, and seeing production lines in person is significantly more informative than any online listing.
Working with a Sourcing Agent
A sourcing agent with on-ground presence in Vietnam can shortcut the supplier identification and vetting process significantly. This is particularly valuable if you do not speak Vietnamese, have never visited the country, or need to evaluate multiple factories across different regions. Communication in Vietnam often happens through Zalo (the dominant messaging app), not email, which can create barriers for overseas buyers working without local support.
What to Expect: Costs, MOQs, and Lead Times
Pricing and production terms in Vietnam differ from China in several important ways.
MOQs are generally higher for some categories. In garments, expect MOQs of 500-3,000 pieces depending on the production model. For furniture, MOQs vary widely. Some factories accept container-load minimums, while others require larger commitments. That said, many smaller Vietnamese factories are more flexible on MOQs than their Chinese counterparts, particularly for non-textile products.
Lead times can be longer. Vietnam's raw material supply chain is less developed than China's. Many factories import materials from China, South Korea, or Taiwan, which adds time. Typical production lead times range from 30-60 days depending on the product, but the raw material procurement step can add 2-4 weeks on top of that.
Quality varies. The factories producing for Nike and Samsung operate at world-class quality levels. Smaller factories serving domestic or regional markets may not meet the same standards. Third-party inspections (through firms like V-Trust, QIMA, or AsiaInspection) are essential, especially on first orders.
Communication takes effort. English proficiency among factory staff in Vietnam is generally lower than in China's major export hubs. Miscommunication on specs, packaging, and labeling is a real risk. Detailed tech packs, visual references, and either bilingual staff or a local agent make a significant difference.
US Tariffs on Vietnamese Goods
As of August 2025, the United States imposes a 20% reciprocal tariff on goods imported from Vietnam, in addition to any existing product-specific duties. This rate took effect under the July 31, 2025 executive order and replaced a 10% baseline tariff that had been in place since April 2025.
For context, the initial reciprocal tariff announced for Vietnam in April 2025 was 46%, which was paused during a 90-day negotiation period. The final 20% rate was the result of bilateral negotiations between the US and Vietnam.
In October 2025, the US and Vietnam issued a joint statement outlining a framework for further trade negotiations. Under this framework, the US will maintain the 20% reciprocal rate but may identify specific product categories eligible for reduced or zero tariff treatment.
A few things to keep in mind about tariffs:
Steel and aluminum imports from all countries, including Vietnam, face a separate 25% tariff under Section 232. Products containing steel or aluminum components may face even higher rates. Certain product categories, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals, are exempt from reciprocal tariffs. If goods are found to have been transshipped through Vietnam to evade duties on products from other countries, a 40% tariff and additional penalties apply.
Tariff policy is changing frequently. Always verify current rates with a licensed customs broker or through US Customs and Border Protection before committing to an order.
Vietnam vs. China: A Quick Comparison
For a full analysis, read our China vs. Vietnam comparison guide.
Where Vietnam wins: Lower labor costs, a younger workforce, favorable trade agreements (especially for EU and CPTPP markets), lower tariff exposure for US importers compared to China's rates, and a government that actively welcomes foreign investment with fewer restrictions.
Where China wins: Unmatched breadth of manufacturing capability, deeper raw material supply chains, better infrastructure and logistics networks, lower MOQs for many product types, and faster turnaround times. If a product can be made anywhere, it can be made in China. That is not always true for Vietnam.
The practical approach. Many established importers use a China + Vietnam dual-sourcing strategy. This means qualifying suppliers in both countries for the same or similar products, which provides supply chain redundancy and lets you shift production based on cost, tariff, and lead-time considerations. This strategy has been standard practice in the textile and footwear industries for years and is now expanding into furniture, consumer goods, and packaging.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming Vietnam is just a cheaper version of China. The supplier ecosystem, communication norms, and raw material availability are all different. Approaching Vietnam sourcing with a China-first mindset leads to frustration.
Skipping factory verification. Online listings can be misleading. Verify that the supplier is an actual manufacturer, not a trading company. Request factory audit reports, check business licenses, and consider a pre-production inspection before placing a large order.
Ignoring raw material sourcing. If a Vietnamese factory needs to import raw materials from China, that affects your lead time, cost, and supply chain risk. Ask your supplier where they source their materials and what the lead time implications are.
Not accounting for tariff changes. Trade policy between the US and Vietnam is actively being negotiated. Build flexibility into your pricing and contracts to absorb potential tariff adjustments.
Underinvesting in communication. Detailed written specifications, clear visual references, and regular check-ins during production reduce the risk of quality issues. Do not assume anything was understood that was not explicitly confirmed in writing.
Cosmo Sourcing Can Help You Find Great Suppliers From Vietnam!
Cosmo Sourcing has been operating in Vietnam since 2014. We have a team on the ground in Ho Chi Minh City, and we have helped over 4,000 clients source more than 10,000 products across Vietnam and China.
We work on a flat-fee pricing model, not commission. That means our incentive is to find you the best supplier at the best price, not to mark up quotes. Our services cover the full sourcing cycle: product specification, supplier identification, sample evaluation, quality inspections, production management, and shipping coordination.
For a deeper look at Vietnam's full manufacturing landscape, read our Vietnam manufacturing and sourcing guide.
If you are ready to start sourcing from Vietnam, or want to explore whether Vietnam is the right fit for your product, reach out to our team.
Email: info@cosmosourcing.com Contact form: cosmosourcing.com/contact-us