Vietnam Manufacturing: The Cities That Matter

Vietnam manufacturing cities sit in two main belts. The north, around Hanoi, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong, is built around large electronics plants. The south, around Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, mixes garments, footwear and wood products with a growing electronics base.

This guide maps the main industrial areas, what each one is known for and what changed when Vietnam merged its provinces. It ends with a simple way to choose between them for your product.

Vietnam Manufacturing Cities at a Glance

The table lists the five main industrial areas, what each is known for and how the merger changed its borders.

The Provincial Merger Changes the Map

Vietnam redrew its provinces in 2025. National Assembly Resolution 202/2025/QH15, passed on June 12, 2025, cut the country to 34 provincial units. The new provincial governments began work on July 1, 2025, according to the Nghe An provincial government.

Four mergers matter most to buyers:

• Ho Chi Minh City absorbed Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
• Dong Nai absorbed Binh Phuoc.
• Bac Ninh absorbed Bac Giang.
• Hai Phong absorbed Hai Duong.

A further change followed. Dong Nai became Vietnam’s seventh centrally governed city on April 30, 2026, as Phap Luat Viet Nam, the Ministry of Justice newspaper, reports. The other six are Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hue.

Hanoi was not merged. The merger moved no factories, but it changed administrative names for several Vietnam manufacturing cities and provinces. Older supplier profiles, licenses and maps can still use the old province names. Check the current address on any business license before an audit.

The Northern Belt: Hanoi, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong

Among Vietnam manufacturing cities, Bac Ninh is the anchor of the north. Samsung opened its first phone factory at Yen Phong I Industrial Park in 2008. It now runs Samsung Display, Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDI projects in the province.

The province says about 70% of Samsung Vietnam’s suppliers are based there, on preliminary figures. After the merger, Bac Ninh ranked second in the country for exports, behind Ho Chi Minh City. Both points come from a July 2025 meeting reported by Dai Bieu Nhan Dan, the National Assembly newspaper.

Hai Phong hosts LG Display, LG Electronics and LG Innotek in Trang Due Industrial Park. The city’s Lach Huyen port area can receive container ships of up to 18,000 TEU. Hanoi adds the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, a focus of the city’s high-tech investment drive.

The Southern Belt: Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai

The southern Vietnam manufacturing cities have a broad base in labor-intensive goods. A Ministry of Industry and Trade report on the former Binh Duong province describes local material production for textiles, footwear, mechanical engineering and electronics. Binh Duong is now part of Ho Chi Minh City.

Dong Nai exported about USD 28.7 billion of goods in the first ten months of 2025, according to the state newspaper Nhan Dan. Computers and electronics led the growth. Wood products, textiles and footwear were also on its main export list.

What the National Figures Say

• Vietnam’s goods exports reached USD 475.04 billion in 2025, up 17.0%, according to the National Statistics Office.
• At the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association congress in December 2025, the sector’s 2025 exports were estimated at about USD 46 billion. Its chairman said Vietnam remains a top three exporter.
• The Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association put the sector’s 2025 exports at close to USD 29 billion.

These national totals hide large differences between Vietnam manufacturing cities. Ask each supplier for its own export history and main customers.

Limits to Plan For

• Material supply. The same ministry report says Binh Duong’s supporting industry did not yet meet local demand for materials. Expect some fabric, trims or components to be imported.
• Origin rules for the EU. The EU-Vietnam trade agreement has applied since August 1, 2020. The fabric generally has to be woven in Vietnam or the EU for garments to get the lower EU tariff. Limited exceptions apply, as the Ministry of Industry and Trade explains.
• Capacity. Factories that supply large brands can have less room for small orders. Agree on capacity and sample timing in writing.

How to Choose Between Vietnam Manufacturing Cities

For more on garments, read our guide to Vietnamese apparel manufacturing. Our quality assurance page explains how inspections work before shipment.

Final Thoughts on Vietnam Manufacturing Cities

Vietnam manufacturing cities are not interchangeable. The north is built around large electronics plants. The south has a broad base in garments, footwear and wood products. Use the new province and city names when you search, audit and sign contracts.

ISS runs clothing production in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Our electronics production package covers production in China and Vietnam. See our clothing manufacturing service for how we take a garment from tech pack to inspected bulk order.