How to verify a Vietnamese factory before you pay a deposit
Many suppliers that look like factories online are trading companies. Seven checks that tell you who you are really dealing with.
6 min read
Why verification matters
Trading companies are not bad by definition, but they add a margin, may switch production between workshops and often cannot answer technical questions quickly. You should know which one you are buying from before money moves.
Start with the business registration
Every Vietnamese company has an enterprise registration certificate with a 10-digit tax code. Ask for it, then check the legal name, address and registered business lines on the National Business Registration Portal. The name on the registration should match the seller on your contract and the beneficiary on the bank account.
Seven checks before the first order
None of these is conclusive on its own. Together they give a reliable picture.
- Registered business lines include manufacturing of your product, not only trading.
- The factory address matches the registration and can be found on satellite maps.
- Bank account holder is the same legal entity as the seller.
- Certificates (ISO, HACCP, FSC, BSCI…) name this entity and are still valid with the issuer.
- A live video call walking from the gate to the production line, unedited.
- Machine count and workforce are consistent with the claimed monthly capacity.
- References from other export customers you can contact directly.
When to do an on-site audit
For a first order above a few thousand dollars, a long-term supply agreement, or any product where quality failures are costly, an on-site audit is worth the cost. An auditor checks the same points in person, photographs the lines and warehouse, and reports what does not match the supplier's claims.
