Sourcing Clothing from Vietnam: The Complete Guide for Kiwi Apparel Brands

If you're building or running an apparel brand in New Zealand, chances are you've already looked at China for manufacturing. But there's another country quietly climbing the ranks as one of the world's best garment sourcing destinations — and more Kiwi brands are taking notice.

Vietnam has become a serious powerhouse for clothing and apparel manufacturing. From activewear and resort wear to streetwear and workwear, Vietnamese factories are delivering high-quality garments at competitive prices — and the country's growing trade relationship with New Zealand makes it an increasingly attractive option for Kiwi importers.

We're seeing this shift in our own enquiry data: more and more clients are specifically asking about Vietnam as a sourcing destination for apparel, particularly for resort wear, leggings, and athleisure. So, let's dig into exactly what you need to know about sourcing clothing from Vietnam as a New Zealand brand.

Why Vietnam for Apparel? The Case in a Nutshell

Vietnam has become one of the world's top three garment exporters (alongside China and Bangladesh), and for good reason:

1. Competitive labour costs — Vietnam's garment manufacturing wages are lower than China's, making it attractive for labour-intensive cut-and-sew apparel
2. Strong factory infrastructure — Vietnam has decades of garment manufacturing expertise, with major production clusters in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and surrounding provinces
3. China+1 diversification — as geopolitical tensions and tariff pressures push buyers to diversify away from China, Vietnam has been the primary beneficiary
4. Eco-credentials — many Vietnamese factories are investing in sustainable manufacturing, water recycling, and certified organic fabric supply chains — important as 60% of NZ consumers now prioritise eco-friendly products
5. Trade access — NZ and Vietnam are both CPTPP members, which provides preferential tariff treatment on qualifying goods

What Types of Clothing Are Best Sourced From Vietnam?

Vietnam's garment sector has some real specialisations worth knowing about:

Activewear and athleisure: Vietnam has a well-developed supply chain for performance fabrics (polyester, nylon, spandex blends) and is a go-to for yoga pants, leggings, sports bras, and gym wear. If you're building a Kiwi activewear brand, Vietnam should absolutely be on your radar.

Resort and swimwear: with a strong coastal tourism industry domestically, Vietnamese factories have developed genuine expertise in swim and resort wear — swimsuits, cover-ups, board shorts, and casual vacation pieces.

Basics and casualwear: t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, and casual bottoms are well within Vietnam's comfort zone. Many NZ streetwear and lifestyle brands source their basics from Vietnamese factories.

Workwear and uniforms: a growing category for Kiwi businesses looking for cost-effective corporate uniforms, hospitality uniforms, and outdoor workwear.

Where Vietnam is less dominant: highly technical or specialised materials, or very small MOQs — China's manufacturing ecosystem is generally more flexible for sampling and small-batch orders.

Sourcing Hack #1: Match Your Product to Vietnam's Strengths
Before approaching any Vietnamese factory, be clear on whether your product type aligns with what they do best. Look for factories with a track record in your specific garment category — a factory that specialises in activewear will have the right knitting machines, pattern-making expertise, and fabric sourcing relationships that a casualwear factory won't. Asking a factory to make something outside their core capability is a recipe for quality headaches.

How to Find Garment Factories in Vietnam

Finding the right factory is the hardest part of the Vietnam sourcing journey. Here are the main routes:

1. Online sourcing platforms — sites like Alibaba, Made-in-China.com, and Global Sources list Vietnamese garment factories. Filter by product type, certifications (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, ISO), and minimum order quantities.
2. Vietnam trade fairs — the Vietnam International Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition (VIATT) in Ho Chi Minh City is the country's premier sourcing event for apparel.
3. Sourcing agents with Vietnam relationships — often the most efficient route for Kiwi brands who don't have time to travel or screen factories independently. A good agent has pre-vetted factory relationships and can manage the communication gap.
4. Referrals — if you know other NZ apparel brands sourcing from Vietnam, ask who they use. A warm referral to a good factory is worth its weight in gold.

What to Expect on MOQs, Pricing, and Lead Times

Here's a realistic picture of what you're looking at when sourcing apparel from Vietnam:

Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs): Generally higher than China for individual styles. Expect 200–500 units per style per colourway as a common starting point, though some factories will go lower for established relationships.

Pricing: For basics like t-shirts and hoodies, expect FOB prices in the range of USD $4–15 depending on complexity, fabric, and quantity. For technical activewear, USD $8–25 is more typical.

Lead times: From order confirmation to FOB, allow 60–90 days for a standard production run. Add 15–20 days sea transit to NZ plus Customs clearance. Total from order to your warehouse: 80–110 days is realistic.

Payment terms: Most Vietnamese factories work on 30–50% deposit at order placement, balance on bill of lading.

Sourcing Hack #2: Request a Tech Pack-Ready Factory
When screening Vietnamese garment factories, ask: “Can you produce from a tech pack?” A tech pack is a detailed technical specification document for your garment. If a factory can't work from a tech pack, that's a red flag — it usually means they're used to copying reference samples rather than producing to a precise specification, which creates huge headaches for consistency and repeat orders. At Epic Sourcing, we help our clients develop proper tech packs as part of the sourcing process.

Getting Your Garments to New Zealand

Vietnam-to-NZ sea freight is generally a touch more expensive and slower than China-to-NZ, given different routing and transshipment points. Most Vietnam-NZ shipments route via Singapore or Hong Kong, adding transit time.

Rough current estimates for Vietnam-NZ sea freight:

• LCL (Less-than-container): $6–8/cbm (slightly higher than China-NZ due to transshipment)
• 40GP (Full container): USD $2,200–$2,800 (varies by carrier and season)
• Air freight: USD $5.00–$6.50/kg

NZ and Vietnam are both CPTPP members, meaning goods meeting the Rules of Origin requirements can qualify for preferential tariff rates. For most clothing (HS codes in Chapter 61–62), the standard NZ import duty is 10% — but under CPTPP, this can be reduced. Worth checking with a customs broker before your first shipment.

Vietnam vs China — Which Is Right for Your Brand?

The honest answer is: it depends.

China is better for: smaller MOQs, faster sampling, greater fabric variety, more flexible production partners, and a wider range of product categories.

Vietnam is better for: activewear and swimwear specialists, eco-certifications, competitive pricing on CMT (cut, make, trim) garments, and buyers wanting geographic diversification away from China.

Many experienced Kiwi apparel brands end up sourcing from both — using China for sampling and small-batch development, and Vietnam for high-volume production of core styles. That's a perfectly sensible strategy.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to add Vietnam to your existing supply chain, the opportunity is real. If you'd like help identifying and vetting Vietnamese garment factories for your specific product, book a free consultation with the Epic Sourcing team. We've got established relationships in Vietnam and can help you get started without the headaches.