How to find shoe manufacturers in Vietnam: a guide for small brands
Vietnam is the world’s second-largest footwear exporter after China, with exports of nearly 29 billion US dollars in 2025, according to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso) [1]. The United States and the European Union take the largest share [2]. That is good news for a small brand: the skills, materials and component suppliers are all there.
The hard part is that most of those factories are built for brands ordering tens of thousands of pairs. This guide is about finding the ones that fit a brand making its first few hundred.
Where the factories are
Most export shoe factories are in the south, in and around Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai. There are footwear bases in the north and centre too, but for a running or training shoe, the south is where a first search usually starts.
One thing that confuses newcomers: on 1 July 2025 Vietnam merged its provinces from 63 down to 34. Binh Duong, home to many footwear and component factories, is now part of Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai merged with Binh Phuoc [3]. Older directories and websites still use the old names, so the same factory can appear with two different addresses.
Six ways to find shoe manufacturers in Vietnam
1. The Shoes & Leather Vietnam trade show
The biggest footwear trade show in the country runs every July at the SECC exhibition centre in Ho Chi Minh City. The 2026 edition is planned for 8 to 10 July 2026 [4]. You will meet factories, but also the material and component suppliers (mesh, foams, outsoles, laces), who are often the best source of factory referrals.
2. The leather and footwear association
Lefaso, the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association, represents the industry and can point you to member companies. Membership tells you a company is established; it does not tell you whether it takes small orders. Treat it as a list to check, not a shortlist.
3. US import records
US customs records are public, and several free and paid tools let you search them. Look up a brand that makes something close to your product, see which Vietnamese suppliers ship to it, and you learn which factories already make your type of shoe. Big-brand factories will rarely take a small order, but their names lead you to the smaller factories nearby.
4. B2B platforms
Alibaba and similar platforms list Vietnamese footwear companies. They are useful for a quick long list, but many listings are trading companies rather than factories. That is not always bad, but you should know which one you are talking to.
5. Referrals from material suppliers
The companies that sell mesh, EVA foam and rubber compounds know which factories are busy, which take small orders and which pay their bills. One good conversation with a supplier can save weeks of cold emails.
6. A development partner on the ground
A local partner who already speaks to factories every week can shortlist for you, check samples in person and keep the conversation moving across time zones. This is what we do at Saigon Sourcing Hub, so take this one with that in mind. Whoever you work with, ask exactly how they are paid, and by whom.
What to send before you ask for a quote
Factories answer complete enquiries first. A vague message (“we want to make a running shoe, what is your price?”) gets a vague answer, or none. Before you write to anyone, have this ready:
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tech pack with drawings, materials and measurements | The factory quotes and samples from it. Gaps here become extra sample rounds later. |
| Construction you want (for example cemented, strobel, vulcanised) | Factories specialise. The wrong construction for their lines means a no, or a poor sample. |
| Quantity per style and per colour for the first order | This decides whether you are a fit at all. |
| Size range | Each size needs its own last and cutting knives. A wide size run costs time and money. |
| New or existing outsole | A new outsole needs a new mould, which adds weeks before the first sample. |
| Target timeline | Be honest. Factories plan sample rooms weeks ahead. |
You do not need a perfect tech pack to start. You do need to know which parts are fixed and which are open. Our guide on how to make a footwear tech pack goes through it page by page.
Questions that sort a good fit from a bad one
Ask every factory on your list the same questions, in writing, so you can compare answers:
- What do you make today? Ask for photos of current production, not of past samples.
- Which constructions do you run in-house? Some factories subcontract stitching or soling. That is common, but you should know.
- Is your minimum per style, per colour or per size? A minimum of 500 pairs can mean very different things.
- Do you have your own sample room? A factory without one sends your samples out, which slows every round.
- Can we use an existing last or outsole? Open tooling is the fastest way to a small first run.
- Which tests can you run, and which go to an outside lab? For performance shoes, ask about sole adhesion and flexing at least.
- Who will be my contact, and do they speak English? The merchandiser you email is not always the person who builds the sample.
Red flags
- Prices quoted before they have seen a tech pack.
- No photos of current production, only catalogue images.
- “Any quantity is fine” from a large factory. Small orders tend to fall to the bottom of the queue.
- Pressure to pay for bulk before a sample is approved.
A first email that gets answered
Keep it short and give the factory everything it needs to decide:
Hello, we are [brand], a running brand based in [country]. We are developing one road running shoe, cemented construction, with an existing outsole if possible. First order: around [quantity] pairs per colour, two colours, men’s sizes [range]. Tech pack attached. Could you tell us whether this fits your lines, your minimum per style and colour, and your sample lead time? Thank you, [name]
The short version
- Start in the south, around Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, and expect old and new province names.
- Build a long list from the trade show, import records, platforms and supplier referrals.
- Prepare a tech pack, quantities per style and colour, and a timeline before the first email.
- Ask every factory the same questions in writing, and compare.
- Visit, or have someone visit, before you pay for anything big.
If you would like a second pair of eyes on your shortlist or your tech pack, book a 20-minute call. We are in Ho Chi Minh City and work your hours.
Sources
- VnEconomy, Vietnam’s footwear exports gain $29 bln in 2025, January 2026: en.vneconomy.vn
- VOV, Vietnam ranks among top 3 footwear producers and exporters globally: english.vov.vn
- China Briefing, Vietnam’s provincial mergers: consolidation from 63 to 34 provinces and cities: china-briefing.com
- JETRO trade fair database, The 26th Shoes & Leather – Vietnam: jetro.go.jp
Questions founders ask
Where are most shoe factories in Vietnam?
Most export footwear factories are in the south: Ho Chi Minh City (which absorbed Binh Duong province in July 2025) and Dong Nai. There are also footwear bases in the north and centre, but a first search for a small sports brand usually starts in the south.
What is the minimum order for shoes in Vietnam?
It depends on the factory and the construction. Factories that work with smaller brands often quote around 500 to 1,000 pairs per style and colour; large export factories usually ask for more. Always ask whether the minimum is per style, per colour or per size.
Do Vietnamese shoe factories speak English?
Larger export factories usually have English-speaking merchandisers. Smaller factories and the people on the production floor often do not, which is where most misunderstandings about samples happen.
Should I visit the factory before ordering?
If you can, yes, or have someone you trust visit for you. A visit shows you whether the factory really makes your kind of shoe in-house, how organised the sample room is, and who you will actually be talking to.
Is it better to use Alibaba or contact factories directly?
B2B platforms are a quick way to see who is out there, but many listings are traders rather than factories. Use them for a long list, then check every name: ask for photos of current production, the construction they make most, and their own sample room.