90-Day China to Vietnam
Transition Plan
A step-by-step action guide for US procurement teams that need to move fast. From tariff triage to first Vietnam production shipment — with an on-the-ground team handling the heavy lifting.
Why Buyers Are Moving Now
China-sourced manufacturing is facing the highest effective tariff burden in decades. The math is brutal.
Section 301 (up to 25%) + IEEPA (+10%) + stacked reciprocal rates. For some HTS categories this tops 145% total landed cost impact.
Buyers who locked in China pricing in 2025 are now seeing landed costs 30–50%+ above quote. Finance teams are demanding action.
Factory qualification, tooling transfer, sample approval, and first production run. The sooner you start, the sooner you escape.
Vietnam is not subject to Section 301. For goods with genuine Vietnamese origin (substantial transformation), the Section 301 tariff bill is zero.
Is Your Category at Risk?
These are the manufacturing categories facing the highest Section 301 tariff exposure on China-origin goods. Vietnam-origin goods face $0 Section 301.
| Manufacturing Process | HTS Chapter | Section 301 (China) | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNC Machined Parts (turned & milled) | Ch. 84/85/73 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
| Aluminum Die Castings | Ch. 76 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
| Zinc Die Castings | Ch. 79 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
| Steel Stampings & Fabrications | Ch. 73 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
| Injection Molded Plastic Parts | Ch. 39 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
| Forgings (hot, cold, ring) | Ch. 73/84 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
| Electronic Assemblies & PCBs | Ch. 85 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
| Industrial Machinery Components | Ch. 84 | Up to 25% | 🔴 High |
Section 301 tariff applies to China-origin goods. Vietnam is not subject to Section 301. Additional IEEPA (+10%) and reciprocal tariffs may apply to China-origin goods. Rates subject to change.
The Landed Cost Math
Example: $500K annual China spend on CNC machined parts (HTS Ch. 84 — 25% Section 301 rate)
| Cost Line | China (Today) | Vietnam (Dewin) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-factory price (China) | $500,000 | $425,000 | Est. 15% lower labor in Vietnam for comparable parts |
| Section 301 tariff (up to 25%) | +$125,000 | $0 | Vietnam is not subject to Section 301 |
| IEEPA additional tariff (+10% China) | +$50,000 | $0 | China-specific executive order tariff |
| Ocean freight (est.) | $18,000 | $16,000 | Vietnam shipping slightly shorter transit, similar rates |
| Est. Total Landed Cost | $693,000 | $441,000 | Est. 36% landed cost savings — $252K/yr on this spend |
Example figures are estimates for illustrative purposes. Actual savings vary by HTS code, part complexity, volume, and shipping terms. Use our Tariff Impact Assessment for a personalised calculation.
Your 90-Day Transition Playbook
Six phases from tariff triage to first production shipment. Dewin handles supplier matching, factory audits, FAI, and pre-shipment inspection — you stay in the US.
Tariff Triage: Calculate Your Exposure
- ✓ Pull your top 20 SKUs by China spend from last 12 months
- ✓ Identify each HTS chapter (Ch.73 steel, Ch.76 aluminum, Ch.84 machinery, Ch.85 electronics, Ch.39 plastics)
- ✓ Apply Section 301 rate per HTS list (up to 25%) + IEEPA 10% + any stacked reciprocal rate
- ✓ Calculate annual tariff bill per SKU — sort by pain
- ✓ Flag which SKUs are viable for Vietnam sourcing (most CNC, die cast, injection mold, forging, stamping are)
- ✓ Identify any parts needing special certs (ISO 13485 medical, AS9100 aerospace, IATF 16949 auto)
RFQ Prep: Get Quote-Ready
- ✓ Gather engineering drawings (PDF or DXF — Vietnam factories work with both)
- ✓ List material specifications, tolerances, and surface finish requirements
- ✓ Identify annual volume and any seasonality (helps factory plan capacity)
- ✓ Document any existing tooling — note if it's owned by you or your China supplier
- ✓ Prepare packaging and labeling requirements
- ✓ Draft a one-page NDA to protect your IP during the quoting process
Factory Match & Audit
- ✓ Dewin matches your parts to our 179+ audited Vietnam factories by process and capacity
- ✓ Review factory profiles: real photos, equipment lists, certifications, Dolphin Audit scores
- ✓ Request quotes from 2–3 shortlisted factories (Dewin manages the RFQ translation and follow-up)
- ✓ Compare landed cost: Vietnam ex-factory + freight vs China ex-factory + Section 301 tariffs + freight
- ✓ Select preferred factory — sign supply agreement and NDA
- ✓ Confirm tooling ownership and transfer plan if applicable
Sample & First Article Inspection
- ✓ Factory produces initial samples (T1) — typically 2–4 weeks from tooling approval
- ✓ Dewin's on-ground team conducts First Article Inspection (FAI) per your drawing
- ✓ Dimensional report, material cert, surface finish check — all documented
- ✓ Corrections and T2 samples if needed (most parts clear in 1–2 rounds)
- ✓ Pre-Production Approval (PPA) sign-off before first production run
- ✓ COO (Certificate of Origin) eligibility confirmed — substantial transformation documented
First Production Run & Pre-Shipment Inspection
- ✓ Production run launched — Dewin monitors factory schedule and capacity
- ✓ Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) conducted by Dewin team at factory before shipment
- ✓ AQL sampling per ISO 2859-1, dimensional checks, cosmetic review, packaging verification
- ✓ Certificate of Origin (CO) issued — VCCI Form B for general tariff purposes
- ✓ Shipment booked — Vietnam to US typically 18–28 days ocean freight
- ✓ Customs entry with zero Section 301 tariff on Vietnam-origin goods
Steady State: Scale & Optimise
- ✓ Review landed cost actuals vs projection — document savings for finance team
- ✓ Identify next 5–10 SKUs to transition (now you have a proven playbook)
- ✓ Consider consolidating shipments to reduce per-unit freight costs
- ✓ Explore FTA benefits: CPTPP, EVFTA (if you have EU operations)
- ✓ Set up ongoing vendor management cadence — quarterly Dolphin re-audit available
- ✓ Build dual-source strategy: Vietnam primary + backup for critical parts
Why Buyers Choose Dewin for This Transition
We're not a marketplace. We're an on-the-ground managed sourcing partner with 179+ pre-audited Vietnam factories and a team that physically visits, audits, and inspects — so you don't have to.
179+ Audited Factories
Every factory in our network has passed a 50-point Dolphin Audit. Not a directory. A verified, scored network.
1,700+ Real Factory Photos
We show you the actual equipment, inspection stations, and production floors — before you commit to a factory.
On-Ground Quality Team
Our team conducts First Article Inspections and Pre-Shipment Inspections at the factory. No remote inspection theatre.
COO Documentation
We manage Certificate of Origin paperwork — VCCI Form B, CPTPP Form D, RCEP — to protect your zero Section 301 status at CBP.
US-Timezone Communication
Your dedicated sourcing manager speaks your language, understands your engineering drawings, and keeps you updated in real time.
End-to-End Managed Process
From RFQ to first shipment, we manage everything: factory selection, tooling, samples, FAI, PSI, and shipping coordination.
Common Questions About the Transition
How long does it really take to qualify a new Vietnam supplier?
For standard CNC, die casting, injection molding, or stamping parts: 16–24 weeks from RFQ to first production shipment is a realistic target. Complex parts with tight tolerances, special certifications, or tooling transfer from China may take 28–36 weeks. Dewin manages the process end-to-end so you're not chasing factories in a different time zone.
Can I transfer my existing tooling from my China supplier to Vietnam?
In many cases yes — but it depends on who legally owns the tooling. If your PO covered tooling cost, you own it. If the China factory owns the tooling as part of a cost amortization deal, negotiating its release takes time. Dewin can help you assess tooling ownership, negotiate release if needed, or build new equivalent tooling in Vietnam (often at lower cost than original China tooling given current exchange rates).
Does Vietnam have the manufacturing capability for precision parts?
Yes. Our 179+ audited network includes CNC turning, milling (3-axis and 5-axis), die casting, investment casting, forging, stamping, injection molding, sheet metal, and more. Several factories hold ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and other certifications. Factories like NAPEC, HDP, Hirata, Huynh Duc, and Eguchiseiko have CMM, VMM, and dedicated inspection zones documented in our Dolphin Audit reports.
What if the Vietnam reciprocal tariff rate is reinstated after the 90-day pause?
The Section 301 tariff is separate from the reciprocal tariff — and Vietnam is not subject to Section 301. Even if a reciprocal tariff is negotiated and applied to Vietnam at some future rate, that rate is expected to be dramatically lower than China's total tariff stack (145%+ as of Q1 2026). Vietnam is also in active FTA negotiations with the US. We recommend buyers assess their specific HTS exposure and model multiple scenarios. Use our tariff assessment tool for a personalized calculation.
Do I have to run my entire supplier base through this process at once?
No — and we don't recommend it. Start with your top 3–5 SKUs by tariff dollar impact. Run one or two through the full qualification cycle first. Once you have a proven playbook with a known factory and documented quality results, rolling out to the next batch is much faster. Most of our clients add 2–4 new parts per quarter after the first successful qualification.
Ready to Start Your Transition?
The sooner you start the clock, the sooner you're shipping from Vietnam tariff-free. Most clients see their first Vietnam shipment 16–24 weeks after kicking off the process.