US buyers imported $193.8B from Vietnam in 2025. Five product categories drive nearly 80% of that flow. Here is what each sector delivers and why it works.
1. Electronics
Vietnam exported around $165B in electronics in 2025, the country’s largest sector by far. Computers and components alone hit a record $107.75B (+48.4% YoY). The category surpassed phones for the first time, contributing more than half of Vietnam’s total export growth.
Samsung produces around 50% of its global smartphones in Vietnam, with $23.2B invested cumulatively. Apple’s supplier base grew from 8 companies in 2015 to 50+ in 2024, producing AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks.
Foxconn operates major plants in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, employing 94,000+ workers. LG, Goertek, Luxshare, and Amkor have each committed over $500M in recent expansions.
For US buyers, Vietnam supplies 43.3% of all American headphone imports and is now the country’s #3 import source overall. Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces concentrate most electronics manufacturing capacity.
2. Footwear
Vietnam reached $29B in footwear exports in 2025 (+5% YoY), ranking as the world’s #2 footwear exporter and #3 producer. The United States stayed Vietnam’s biggest footwear market with $11.01B in imports, ahead of the EU ($6.88B), China ($1.78B), and Japan ($1.61B).
Nike makes 50% of its global footwear here, with 493,000 workers across its supplier network. Adidas produces 41% of its footwear in Vietnam, and Lululemon sources 32-39% of its volume from local factories.
Major manufacturing clusters include Pou Chen (68,000+ employees), Feng Tay, and Taekwang. Most footwear manufacturers hold ISO 9001, SA8000, and BSCI audits required by US and EU retailers.
The sector employs roughly 1.5 million workers across nearly 3,000 enterprises, producing 1.3-1.4 billion pairs of shoes annually. Lead times average 60-90 days for new designs and 30-45 days for repeat orders.
3. Clothing & Textile
Vietnam’s textile and apparel sector generated $46B in exports in 2025 (+5.6% YoY), with a trade surplus of $21B. The country maintained its rank among the top 3 textile and garment exporters globally.
Top markets remain the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea. Domestic localization rate climbed to 52% in 2025, signaling progress in reducing dependency on imported raw materials.
Major brands manufacturing in Vietnam include Uniqlo (240,000 workers across 80 partner factories), H&M, Zara/Inditex, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Patagonia. VF Corporation produces Timberland, North Face, and Vans collections locally.
Vietnam still imports 82% of its yarn from China, which creates exposure to the 40% US transshipment tariff. US buyers can mitigate this by working with an on-the-ground sourcing agency.
VITAS targets $48B in 2025 and has set a long-term goal of $64.5B by 2030, with localization above 60% and circular-economy adoption. Options include local agencies such as Primo Sourcing in Ho Chi Minh City, which helps document local value-add and avoid customs reclassification risks.
4. Furniture
Vietnam exported $17.2B in wood and wooden products in 2025 (+6% YoY), the first time the sector crossed the $17B threshold. Vietnam now controls 45.3% of US wooden furniture imports, up from 40.5% the year prior, while China’s share dropped from 15.7% to 10.4%.
The US absorbed $9.46B of Vietnam’s wood exports in 2025, around 55% of the sector’s total. Japan grew 23% to over $2.1B, becoming the second-largest buyer.
Top exporters include Kaiser Group ($3.6B), Inni Home ($600M), and Savimex ($350M). Most production concentrates in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City, supported by FSC sustainability certifications.
Headwinds emerged in 2025. The US imposed Section 232 tariffs (10% on raw wood, 25% on processed furniture). Antidumping investigations on hardwood plywood pushed exporters to invest in traceability systems.
5. Bags & Luggage
Vietnam exported $2.2B in handbags, suitcases, and umbrellas in H1 2025 (+11.6% YoY), making the country a top global producer in the leather goods category. Most factories sit in Binh Duong, Long An, and the Mekong Delta.
Major buyers include Samsonite, Tumi, Coach, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch. Sportswear giants Nike and Adidas also source significant volumes of bags and backpacks from Vietnamese suppliers like Pou Chen and Feng Tay.
The sector benefits from Vietnam’s vertical integration with leather tanning facilities and its 17 free trade agreements. EVFTA grants 0% tariffs on most leather goods exports to the EU. CPTPP opens preferential access to Canada, Japan, and Australia.
Lead times typically run 45-75 days for new designs and 30 days for reorders. Minimum order quantities start around 500-1,000 units for established factories, with smaller workshops accepting orders from 100 pieces.
Other categories worth exploring include handicrafts (rattan, bamboo, ceramics, lacquerware), agricultural products (coffee, cashews, seafood, rice), machinery and tools, and automotive components.
