Vietnam

Socialist Republic of Vietnam │ Việt Nam

The garment sector in Vietnam has enjoyed remarkable growth in the last two decades. It becomes one of the country’s largest industries, generating exports of more than USD 40 billion in 2023. The industry now provides jobs for more than 2.7 million people, who in turn support millions of other family members through the wages they earn in the factories. More than 70 per cent of garment workers are women, most of whom are young and most of whom are internal migrants from rural areas.

As a source of more secure and better paid jobs for many, the garment sector has grown to become an important driver of poverty reduction and socio-economic development in Vietnam. There are around 3,800 textile and garment factories in the country, around 70 per cent of which are producing readymade garments. Most garment firms produce at the cut-make-trim end of the value chain. Around 800 factories are producing for direct export, mostly to brands and retailers in North America, Europe and Japan.

Population

Total

98,858,950 (2023)

Gross Domestic Product

GDP per Capita (constant USD, thousand)

$3,655.46 (2022)

Human Development Index Ranking

HDI Rank (out of 191 countries)

107 (2022)

Garment/Textile Workers

Number of workers in the garment/textile sector

2,700,000 (2023)

Women Workers in the Garment/Textile Industry

Percentage of women workers employed in the garment/textile industry

72.6% (2023)

Number of Garment/Textile Factories

Number of factories in the garment/textile industry

3,800 (2023)

Garment/Textile Industry Exports

(USD$ billion)

USD 40 billion (2023)

Garment/Textile Industry Size

Percentage of total exports

11.3% (2023)

Minimum Wage

Monthly minimum wage in USD

USD 142 - USD 205 (2024)

Key Garment/Textile Export Markets

Top five countries ($USD value exported and subsequent percentage)

Country Percentage of Exports
United States 39.78%
European Union 10.53%
Japan 9.76%
South Korea 8.78%

Worker Organizations

Trade unions, Union federations, and other worker organizations

Employer/Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce

Employers and industry related associations, private sectors associations and chambers of commerce

Civil Society Organizations/ Non-governmental Organizations

Organizations working within the garment/textile industry

Vietnam's Textile Industry: The Need for Up-Skilling and Innovation

Vietnam's Textile Industry: The Need for Up-Skilling and Innovation

6 questions for Mr Truong Van Cam, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), on the topic of Skills Development.

What's going on in Vietnam?

What's going on in Vietnam?

In our section "What's going on in..." we sharpen the view on key garment production centres, and talk to experts about current developments and exciting topics in these countries. Here, we speak with Labour Researcher Dr. Do Chi Quynh about the evolution of labour rights and working conditions in the Vietnamese garment and textiles industry and what the future has in store for the industry and its workers.

Resources in Vietnamese

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Resources on Vietnam

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