When foreign tech companies look at Vietnam, they often look at Ho Chi Minh City first. That is a mistake if you are building hardware or complex software. Hanoi is the "brain" of Vietnam. It is where the top technical universities are located and where Samsung, LG, and Viettel house their R&D centers. As a local developer, I can tell you: if you want to hire commercial … [Read more...] about Hiring Engineers in Hanoi: Why the North is Vietnam’s “Silicon Valley” (2025 Salary Data)
Shipping from Vietnam to USA: Why the “North” is Faster Than the “South” (2025 Guide)
When Western buyers think of shipping from Vietnam, they usually think of Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City. Big mistake. If you are manufacturing electronics or high-value goods in the North (Hanoi, Bac Ninh), sending your goods down to Ho Chi Minh City is like routing your internet traffic through a dial-up server. It creates massive "latency" (delays). As a … [Read more...] about Shipping from Vietnam to USA: Why the “North” is Faster Than the “South” (2025 Guide)
Manufacturing Cost Breakdown 2025: Vietnam vs. China (Real Data)
Every week, I get the same email from US and EU buyers: "I know Vietnam is cheaper than China, but by exactly how much? Is it 10% or 50%?" The answer determines whether you should pack your bags for Hanoi or stay in Shenzhen. As a Hanoi-based consultant and engineer, I don't rely on rumors. I look at the hard data from industrial zones in Bac Ninh (Vietnam) and compare them … [Read more...] about Manufacturing Cost Breakdown 2025: Vietnam vs. China (Real Data)
How to Spot a “Shell” Factory in Vietnam: 5 Signs Your Supplier is Still in China
Western buyers rushing to move production often fail to verify their Vietnam factory properly, leading to expensive scams. The "China Plus One" strategy is booming. Everyone wants to move production to Vietnam to avoid US tariffs. But there is a dirty secret in the industry that few sourcing agents talk about: The Shell Factory. As a developer and consultant based in Hanoi, … [Read more...] about How to Spot a “Shell” Factory in Vietnam: 5 Signs Your Supplier is Still in China