China vs Vietnam: where should you source?

Bottom line up front: Vietnam is not a cheaper China — it's a different game. For most categories, the answer stays "China, verified factory"; for a few, Vietnam wins.

Category-by-category verdicts

What still belongs in China (electronic components, injection molding, hardware) and what can move to Vietnam (textiles, footwear, light assembly).

Cost comparison (factory labor, utilities, overhead)

Real numbers by category, including the freight delta that erases the factory-price gap for small containers.

Lead-time comparison

Production lead times and port logistics; where Vietnam's proximity to the same shipping lanes helps and where it doesn't.

Quality and QC differences

Where QC standards differ between the two countries, and what inspection regime to run in each.

FAQ

Is Vietnam really cheaper? Sometimes at the factory, almost never door-to-door — see the cost comparison.

What's the minimum order to make Vietnam worth it? A rule of thumb in the category verdicts section.

Next: model both countries in the landed-cost calculator →