Moving sourcing from China to Vietnam: a practical checklist

What moves well, and what is harder

Products with a mature supply base in Vietnam move most easily: furniture and wood products, agricultural goods, garments and footwear, packaging, building materials and many assembled products. Items that depend on complex components are harder, because many Vietnamese factories still import inputs from China.

Compare landed cost, not unit price

A fair comparison includes:

• Unit price at the same spec, MOQ and payment terms
• Freight from the Vietnamese port to your warehouse
• Import duties, including any free-trade agreement benefits for Vietnamese origin
• Lead time and the inventory you need to hold
• Cost of quality: inspections, rework and returns

Get origin right

Customs authorities, particularly in the US, look closely at goods that are shipped through Vietnam but mostly made elsewhere. Make sure the product is genuinely manufactured in Vietnam, ask for the bill of materials and where inputs come from, and keep origin evidence on file. Preferential tariffs under agreements such as EVFTA also require proof that origin rules are met.

Run a pilot before you shift volume

• Pick one or two SKUs with stable specs
• Send a full spec pack: drawings, materials, packaging and test requirements
• Shortlist and audit two or three suppliers
• Approve samples against your current product
• Place a pilot order with a pre-shipment inspection
• Compare landed cost and quality with China, then scale

Set the right expectations

Vietnamese suppliers are often smaller than their Chinese counterparts, and communication works best with clear written specs. Plan around the Lunar New Year (Tết), when many factories close for one to three weeks, and allow extra time for the first orders while the supplier learns your requirements.