Sourcing From Vietnam: The VDS Podcast
Short episodes on real sourcing questions, every Tuesday
Episode 59 – How Vietnam’s Tariff Advantage Actually Works
After the Supreme Court struck down the emergency tariffs, how wide is the Vietnam vs China gap? Rod walks through the US duty layers, how Australia, the EU and the UK differ, labour costs, supply chain depth and a simple way to choose.
Episode 58 – How to Outsource Manufacturing to Vietnam
OEM or ODM, turnkey or consigned? Rod explains how contract manufacturing in Vietnam really works: the costs beyond the unit price, how to protect your IP and tooling, and the checks to run on a factory before you commit.
Episode 57 – What a Vietnam Sourcing Agent Actually Does (and What It Costs)
In Vietnam, “sourcing agent” covers three very different business models, and their incentives pull in opposite directions. Rod explains how commission agents, trading companies and independent sourcing partners get paid, what each one really costs you, and the three questions to ask before you sign anything.
Episode 56 – How to Request an FMCG Quote from Vietnam (and Get a Real Number Back)
Ask three Vietnamese factories for an FMCG price and you will get three quotes you cannot compare. Rod sets out the five things a real quotation needs from you, why the packaging rather than the product usually sets the MOQ, and how to brief a factory so the number that comes back actually means something.
Episode 55 – Organic Cotton, Bamboo & Hemp Fabric from Vietnam: GOTS and OEKO-TEX Explained
Vietnam’s strength in organic fabric isn’t weaving — it’s making-up. Rod breaks down what GOTS and OEKO-TEX actually certify, why the country’s dyeing capacity is the scarce link in the chain, and why buyers should qualify a full-package manufacturer rather than chase a roll of certified cloth.
Episode 54 – How to Source Construction Materials from Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the few countries that can supply a construction project end-to-end — steel, cement, tile and glass — at export scale and international standard. This episode covers what you can realistically source by category, the regional supply map, and the verification steps that catch a spec substitution before it reaches your container.
Episode 53 – How to Find Electronic Component Manufacturers in Vietnam
Vietnam’s electronics exports topped $165 billion last year, but most of that belongs to Samsung’s own supply chain — not the independent PCB and contract-assembly factories that will actually quote your order. This episode covers what you can realistically source, the reality behind “Made in Vietnam” component content, and the certifications and ESD checks worth confirming before you commit.
Episode 52 – How to Find Steel & Metal Fabrication Suppliers in Vietnam
Vietnam is now the largest steel producer in Southeast Asia and, in 2026, joined the world’s top ten — but “made in Vietnam” is a statement about where the material was transformed, not where the workshop is. This episode covers what you can realistically source, the EU and US trade-defence measures that catch importers out, and the origin documents a fabricator has to be able to produce.
Episode 51 – Navigating the AANZFTA Second Protocol for Vietnam Trade
The AANZFTA Second Protocol — the first major upgrade to the agreement in over a decade — entered into force for Vietnam in August 2025, and most importers still haven’t updated their paperwork to match. This episode is a plain-English walkthrough of what actually changed: simplified, modernised rules of origin, faster customs and trade facilitation, and three brand-new chapters covering MSMEs, government procurement, and trade and sustainable development. We also cover the practical checklist — re-confirming origin classification, refreshing your Form AANZ certificate process, and re-mapping products across AANZFTA, CPTPP and RCEP. If you import from or export to Vietnam under AANZFTA, this episode covers what to update now to protect your duty-free position.
Episode 50 – AANZFTA vs CPTPP vs RCEP Trade Agreements for Australia & Vietnam
Vietnam and Australia are linked by three overlapping free trade agreements — AANZFTA, the CPTPP, and RCEP — and importers routinely default to the wrong one, quietly overpaying duty or filing origin claims their goods don’t actually qualify for. This episode breaks down the practical differences between the three: how rules of origin, not headline tariff rates, really decide the cheapest and lowest-risk route, why AANZFTA’s authority-issued Form AANZ is often the safest first choice, and when RCEP’s cumulation across China, Japan and Korea is the only agreement your goods will actually pass. If you’re sourcing from Vietnam into Australia or New Zealand, this episode covers how to match each product line to the right agreement instead of picking one for your whole catalogue.