Adding Vietnam as a Second Production Base: How to Start

Changing tariff rules make costs and timelines harder to plan when all production sits in one country. Many overseas brands, importers and retailers are responding by spreading production across more than one country. Instead of moving everything at once, they add a second production base and test it with a few styles. For footwear, garments and homeware, Vietnam is a strong candidate.

WHY A SECOND BASE HELPS

A second base gives buyers options. If rules or conditions change in one country, production is not tied to a single source. Vietnam already makes footwear, garments and textiles, and homeware and packaging for international buyers, so many buyers begin by trialling one or two styles before moving larger volumes.

One caution: adding Vietnam does not guarantee lower duties. Tariff rules differ by product and destination market, and they can change. Please confirm the current rules with your customs broker before you decide.

FIVE PRACTICAL STEPS TO START

• Send a brief. Share the style, materials, target quantity and destination market. If you send designs, we sign an NDA first.
• Get a shortlist. IDC Sourcing proposes 2–3 Vietnamese factories suited to that style, free of charge.
• Approve samples. You choose which factories make samples. Samples and sample shipping are paid by the client.
• Order directly with the factory. You place the order with the factory you choose and work with them directly, while we keep communication clear on the buyer's side.
• Check quality before loading. Quality is checked before goods are loaded, so problems are found in Vietnam, not after arrival.

MOQ starts from 500 pcs per style (caps from 2,000 pcs), which makes it practical to test a new base without a large first commitment.

WHERE IDC SOURCING FITS

IDC International Design Consultancy Company Limited is based in Ho Chi Minh City. Through IDC Sourcing, we connect buyers in the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe directly with vetted Vietnamese factories, and we reply within 1 hour during business hours (8AM–6PM Vietnam time).

Planning to source from Vietnam? IDC Sourcing can share a free shortlist of vetted factories: hellosourcing@idc-bim.com | WhatsApp +84 903 86 2244.