Activewear manufacturers in Vietnam: a guide for small brands
Vietnam is best known for making sneakers for the world’s biggest sports brands, but it is just as strong in apparel. Textile and garment exports were estimated at around 46 billion US dollars in 2025, keeping Vietnam among the world’s top three exporters [1]. For a small activewear brand, that means experienced factories, good sewing quality and a supply chain used to performance fabrics.
It also means most factories are set up for big programmes. This guide covers what a small brand should know before asking for a first run.
Where the factories are
- South: Ho Chi Minh City (which absorbed Binh Duong province in July 2025) and Dong Nai. This is where many large export factories are based [2].
- North: Hanoi, Hung Yen and Nam Dinh, with many export garment factories [2].
- Centre: Hoi An and the surrounding area are known for tailoring workshops that take very small runs, but they rarely make technical sportswear [2].
Typical minimums
These are the ranges a sourcing agency reports for Vietnamese export factories, per style and per colour [2]:
| Product | Typical minimum per style and colour |
|---|---|
| Basic knit tops and tees | 500–1,000 pieces |
| Hoodies and sweatshirts | 500–1,000 pieces |
| Technical activewear (leggings, bras, shorts with bonded or laser-cut details) | 1,000 pieces or more |
| Outerwear | 1,000 pieces or more |
“Per style and per colour” matters. A legging in three colours is three minimums, not one. For more on how minimums work and how small brands get below them, see our guide to shoe MOQ in Vietnam; the logic is the same for apparel.
Fabric decides your timeline
In activewear, the fabric is usually harder than the sewing.
- Much of it is imported. China supplies roughly two-thirds of Vietnam’s fabric imports [3]. A performance knit you choose may be shipped in from abroad before anyone can cut.
- Fabric has its own minimum. Mills sell by the roll and set their own minimums, especially for a custom colour. That can push your real minimum above the factory’s number [2].
- Fabric is often the longest lead item in the order [2]. Bulk production commonly takes about 60 to 90 days after the pre-production sample is approved [2].
The simplest way round all three: choose a fabric the factory already uses for other customers. You skip the mill minimum, the fabric is tested and the factory already knows how it sews.
What to check on an activewear sample
- Fit on a body, not a hanger. Squat, run and stretch in it. Leggings that look right standing can go see-through or slip down when moving.
- Measurements against your spec, with tolerances, at the waist, hip, inseam and rise.
- Stretch and recovery. Stretch the fabric and seams; they should spring back without popped stitches or a baggy knee.
- Colour under standard daylight, against your approved lab dip.
- Seams and edges. Flatlock seams should lie flat against the skin; bonded and laser-cut edges should not lift or fray.
- Wash it. Wash the sample several times and check shrinkage, colour bleeding and pilling before you approve.
Plan around the calendar
The Lunar New Year (Tết) shuts many factories for one to two weeks, usually in late January or February, and the weeks around it are slow [2]. Orders placed just before Tết often slip by a month. If you want stock in spring, start sampling in the autumn.
Shoes and apparel are different factories
Footwear and apparel use different machines, skills and material suppliers, so it is rare for one factory to make both well. Brands that sell both usually run two supply chains. Coordinating them, so a shoe and a matching top launch together, is one of the things we help with.
The short version
- Look in the south around Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, or the north around Hanoi.
- Expect minimums per style and colour, roughly 500 to 1,000 pieces for basics and more for technical pieces.
- Choose fabric first, ideally one the factory already uses.
- Test samples on a body and in the washing machine.
- Plan around Tết.
Planning an activewear line next to your footwear? Book a 20-minute call.
Sources
- Viet Nam News, Textile, garment exports estimated to hit 46 billion in 2025 (VITAS estimate): vietnamnews.vn
- Cosmo Sourcing, Low MOQ clothing manufacturers in Vietnam (sourcing agency guide; MOQ ranges, regions, lead times and Tết closures): cosmosourcing.com
- B&Company, Fabric market: production and import-export of fabric in Vietnam: b-company.jp
Questions founders ask
What is the MOQ for activewear in Vietnam?
Export factories often quote around 500 to 1,000 pieces per style and colour for basic knit tops, and 1,000 or more for technical activewear. Small workshops take smaller runs at a higher price per piece.
Where are activewear factories in Vietnam?
Mostly in the south around Ho Chi Minh City (including the former Binh Duong province) and Dong Nai, and in the north around Hanoi, Hung Yen and Nam Dinh. Small tailoring workshops are common around Hoi An, but they rarely make technical sportswear.
Does Vietnam make its own activewear fabric?
Some, but a large share is imported. China supplies roughly two-thirds of Vietnam's fabric imports, so many performance fabrics are shipped in before cutting starts.
How long does activewear production take in Vietnam?
After the pre-production sample is approved, bulk production commonly takes about 60 to 90 days, and fabric is often the longest lead item. Plan around the Lunar New Year, when factories can close for one to two weeks.
Can one factory make both shoes and activewear?
Rarely. Footwear and apparel use different machines, skills and suppliers. Brands that sell both usually work with separate factories and coordinate them.