Why Vietnam Has Become a Promising Alternative for US Businesses in Asia

Vietnam and the US celebrated 27 years of diplomatic relations in July this year – a testament to improving bilateral and economic ties since the Vietnam War. Vietnam has emerged as an ideal alternative manufacturing destination to China for US businesses, in part due to the US-China trade war and disrupted supply chains due to the coronavirus pandemic. Vietnam Briefing discusses trends in the Vietnam-US relationship, growing economic ties, and how US businesses can leverage and benefit from moving their production to Vietnam.

Following four decades since the end of the Vietnam War, Vietnam’s relationship with the US has changed significantly.

After the Vietnam War in 1975, the US and Vietnam announced normal diplomatic relations on July 11, 1995. This year in July, the US and Vietnam commemorated 27 years of diplomatic relations – with the US reaffirming its support for Vietnam including peaceful resolution of disputes, rule of law, freedom of navigation, and unimpeded commerce among others.

Since formalizing diplomatic relations, the US and Vietnam have strengthened their relationship with bilateral trade increasing from US$450 million in 1994 to US$77 billion in 2019. The US had become Vietnam’s largest export market with Vietnam becoming the US’ quickest growing export market.

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Vietnam launched major economic reforms known as ‘Doi Moi’ in 1986, prioritizing building a market economy and creating opportunities for private-sector competition. With a growing population, this presented a sizeable investment for international businesses. The US and Vietnam worked for several years negotiating a bilateral trade agreement, which came into force in 2001.

The deal helped lift several non-tariff barriers while lowering tariffs on a variety of goods on an average between three and 40 percent including on agricultural, animal products, and electronics. Vietnam was also granted the most favored nation (MFN) status, which was important to become a part of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Former US President Barack Obama pushed for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – a free trade agreement (FTA) involving ASEAN countries as well as the US and Australia. Vietnam was seen to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this FTA, gaining access to the US market. However, all this came to a halt in 2017, when former US President Trump, disbanded the deal, claiming it would undermine US businesses and jobs.

Nevertheless, Vietnam and 10 other countries went ahead without the US and signed the Comprehensive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in March 2018. Despite the setback, bilateral trade between the US and Vietnam has grown and analysts expect the trade relationship between the two countries to continue thriving.

Positive relationship but not without its setbacks

Nevertheless, there are challenges. In 2019, Trump in an interview said that Vietnam was “almost the single worse abuser of everybody,” prompting concerns from investors that Vietnam’s favorable relationship with the US was over. Trump has also complained about the US trade imbalance with Vietnam. Vietnam’s trade surplus with the US had grown to US$600 million, according to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch study.

Recently, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) also announced a preliminary anti-dumping tax of 412.49 percent of honey products imported from Vietnam, almost doubling the rate of 207 percent initially proposed.

Apart from this, the US has pointed to other barriers to trade including inadequate intellectual property protections and food safety regulations, restrictions on the internet and digital economy, and other governance issues.

Security relationship adds stability to improving bilateral ties

In 2018, the USS Carl Vinson – a US Navy aircraft carrier – made a historic port of call in Vietnam. That same year, Vietnam also participated for the first time in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) – a maritime military exercise hosted biennially by the US. The US lifted a ban on legal arms sales to Vietnam in 2016; both countries have been forging closer military ties and high-level military exchanges.

For Vietnam, this has been to oppose China’s assertive stance in the region, particularly in the South China Sea. Building upon this relationship, Hanoi was also picked for the of the US-North Korea summit in February 2019, further cementing Vietnam’s stature on the world stage.

Alexander Vuving, an expert on Asia security at the US Defense Department Institute said that “Vietnam holds a key to the regional balance of power”. If this view is shared by the US, it will continue to have a positive and budding relationship with Vietnam, particularly if Vietnam is seen as a counter to China.

More recently, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made a one-week US trip to attend the ASEAN-US Special Summit. The successful visit also shows that both sides are committed to accelerating cooperation in bilateral ties.

It’s ‘advantage Vietnam’ while US-China trade dispute lingers

The trade dispute between the US and China has had a cascading effect on Vietnam. Vietnam’s exporters have seen an increasing demand for their products, especially garments and textiles. Vietnam has emerged as an alternative to China for investors benefitting from the China plus one strategy that involves investors shifting or expanding to other countries to increase market access.

It is important to note that this was already happening, but the trade war accelerated the process. Kyle Freeman, Partner with and Head of the North American Desk for Dezan Shira & Associates says, “Even prior to the start of the US-China trade war and more recently the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam offered the most cost-competitive China alternative for general manufacturing in Asia.

Noted advantages such as a relatively efficient and stable governing structure, regulatory and some cultural familiarity for companies accustomed to doing business in China, highly competitive labor costs, business-friendly tax profile along with generous incentives, and proximity to pre-existing Asian supply chains all recommended Vietnam for foreign investors. These advantages have coupled with significant developments this year to further strengthen Vietnam’s competitive allure for FDI, especially for US business.”

Driven by rising labor costs, the need for diversification and the government’s focus shifting from labor-intensive sectors to high-tech industries, US firms operating in China have slowly shifted their manufacturing activities to Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam.

Due to its geographic proximity, lower wages, skilled labor, trade agreements, and regional connectivity, Vietnam has emerged as one of the most preferred alternatives for manufacturers. Major US firms such as Apple, Intel, Qualcomm, Universal Alloy Corporation (UAC), Nike, and Key Tronic EMS have already moved production lines to Vietnam due to costs associated with the trade war.

All these factors have helped increase trade between both countries since the normalization of diplomatic relations. Remarkably, bilateral trade between Vietnam and the US set a new record in 2021, hitting US$111.56 billion, up nearly US$21 billion over the previous, as per the General Department of Customs.

This figure has made the US the second largest trade partner having import-export turnover with Vietnam reaching the US$100 billion mark after China. The US$100 billion mark for the first time was a big achievement for both countries, taking into account the pandemic, as well as disruptions in the global supply chain and logistics activities.

• Vietnam exports to the US (2021): US$96.3 billion;
• Growth (compared to 2020): 25 percent;
• Share in total exports: 28.6 percent;
• Vietnam imports from the US: US$15.27 billion; and
• Top imports: computers, electronics and components, machinery, equipment, and parts.

Top exports to the US from Vietnam include:

• Machinery, equipment, and parts;
• Garments and textiles;
• Computers, electronic products, and components;
• Handsets and parts;
• Footwear; and
• Wood and wooden products.

Along with increased trade cooperation, the two countries have also joined hands in investment, research, high-tech development, transportation, education, telecommunication, and energy. For example, this year, the US-based GE won a power plant deal to supply power generation equipment packages for Petro Vietnam’s gas power plants in Dong Province, 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Industries such as textiles, footwear, aquatic products, electronics, components, and furniture, according to the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, are expected to boost exports to the US to a new length in the coming time with proper planning and investment.

US businesses seek alternative production locations

US-based Cargill also operates 12 plants employing around 1,600 employees across the country. Similarly, Apple, Qualcomm, Nike Morgan Stanley, ACORN International, General Dynamics, Hue Capital LLC, Intel, Lockheed Martin International, Google, and USTelecom maintain operations in the country.

US-based Universal Alloy Corporation (UAC), which manufactures electronics devices for airplanes built by Boeing and Airbus, has made an investment of US$170 million at the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park. The company plans further expansion in the coming years.

Other US investors, like Vector Fabrication Inc, have also invested capital in Vietnam with its recent US$59 million project at the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park.

All these factors make Vietnam a ‘trade war winner’ and an ideal place to do business and attract investment. With most of the US tariffs on Chinese products remaining in place, foreign investors will be more compelled to look for other locations to relocate their manufacturing production – with Vietnam emerging as an ideal China plus one destination in recent years.

Yet, Vietnam’s gains have not been contingent on deteriorating US-China ties alone. Vietnam’s skilled and low-cost labor force, infrastructure, stable government, safe environment, and free trade agreements are what US investors are looking for during this unpredictable time. This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. And Vietnam is also well placed to capitalize on disrupted supply chains elsewhere due to the pandemic.

While the trade war and pandemic have created enough push factors to encourage manufacturing businesses to relocate, Vietnam’s great challenge now will be how to manage its growth sustainably.

Moreover, before sizing up Vietnam as a potential destination for relocation, US investors must do their due diligence and consider several factors, such as identifying a location, raw materials, sourcing partners, and supply chain logistics.

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