Vietnam is one of the last emerging markets in Southeast Asia with a current population of over 80 million, and which has been exposed to western trade for just over 15 years. As a manufacturing economy, the country is much smaller than neighboring China but is a good complementary, overspill and niche market with several distinct advantages such as its abundance of raw materials and its fully integrated manufacturing tradition, offering fast lead times and good quality.
 

Vietnam’s young and growing labour force is not expected to incur inflationary pressures with growth, as over half of the population is under 30. The country has ample, natural resources allowing for a local content of up to 90% on exported garments. Suppliers are mostly vertically integrated manufactures experienced at producing complicated to manufacture items, assuring high quality and faster lead times compared to less integrated manufacturing bases relying on imported materials. 

• Vietnam has a positive manufacturing environment; and is a country with high literacy, competitive labour rates and a positive investment climate for foreigners. 

• Vietnam is a manufacturing and not a mere processing market. Its industrial infrastructure is highly developed and manufacturing uses local materials as opposed to merely taking advantage of low labour cost.