Apple Suppliers in Vietnam: Where They Are and Why

In recent years, Apple has been actively diversifying its supply chain beyond China, with Apple suppliers in Vietnam playing an increasingly important role. By 2023, the number of suppliers establishing factories in the country had risen sharply, positioning Vietnam as a critical hub in Apple’s Southeast Asia manufacturing network.

In 2022, several key announcements confirmed that Apple is diversifying significantly out of China. Apple suppliers of a range of products now have factories in Vietnam. Here’s who they are, where they have decided to set up their operations, and why.

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Revealing Apple’s Q2 2025 financial statement on May 1, 2025, CEO Tim Cook highlighted that the majority of its products sold in the US were expected to be sourced from India and Vietnam. The announcement underscores the rising importance of the Southeast Asian country in Apple’s global supply chains, as well as its role in offsetting risks from new US tariff policies.

As per the most updated Apple Supplier List, the number of Apple’s suppliers with manufacturing facilities in Vietnam increased from 27 in 2022 to 35 in 2023. This growth has made Vietnam the top destination for the tech giant’s suppliers in Southeast Asia and the fourth worldwide.

Desay Group to boost Bac Ninh investment with additional US$25 million

Chinese electronics giant Desay Group, a core supplier to Apple and other leading global brands, has announced plans to expand its footprint in Bac Ninh province with an additional US$25 million investment. The company’s existing projects in the province already amount to more than US$101 million, underscoring Bac Ninh’s role as a key hub for electronics manufacturing in northern Vietnam.

During a recent meeting with provincial leaders, Desay outlined intentions to establish a new entity alongside its current battery technology operations, seeking local support to bring the project online quickly. Founded in 1983, the group has grown into one of the largest players in China’s electronics and new energy sector, with annual revenues exceeding US$7 billion. Its expansion in Vietnam reflects both rising global demand for consumer electronics and the province’s attractiveness as an investment destination.

Apple suppliers and manufacturers in Vietnam

There are currently 35 suppliers with 38 factories in Vietnam servicing the tech giant’s electronics manufacturing needs. These factories are spread around various provinces, with the majority located in the north.

Apple’s quickly growing factory network in Vietnam

In 2016, Southeast Asia hosted only 94 Apple supplier facilities. Malaysia led the region with 23, followed by Thailand and the Philippines with 19 each. Vietnam ranked fourth at the time, with 18 facilities.

By the end of fiscal year 2023 (September 30), Vietnam’s role in Apple’s global supply chain had expanded significantly. The country hosted 35 supplier production sites and offices, up from 27 in 2022. This growth made Vietnam Apple’s largest production base in Southeast Asia and the fourth worldwide, after China (158 facilities), Taiwan (49), and Japan (44).

Key suppliers with strong operations in Vietnam include Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry), Luxshare Precision, and Goertek. On a provincial level, Bac Ninh leads with nine Apple-related facilities, followed by Bac Giang (five) and Vinh Phuc (four). Other notable locations include Phu Tho (three facilities), Hai Phong (three), Hanoi (two), Hung Yen (one), and HCMC (one).

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Apple’s expansion in Vietnam has gone beyond manufacturing. The company reported that its supply chain and iOS app economy have supported more than 200,000 jobs in the country. Since 2019, Apple’s total investment through its supply chain has reached VND 400 trillion (US$16 billion). In May 2023, Apple launched its official online store in Vietnam, signaling further commitment to the local market.

CEO Tim Cook has pledged to deepen cooperation in Vietnam by sourcing more components locally and supporting innovation ecosystems. Vietnam already plays a central role in assembling AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches, and analysts estimate that by 2025 the country could account for 20 percent of global iPad and Apple Watch production, 5 percent of MacBooks, and 65 percent of AirPods.

See also: How Vietnam’s Supporting Industries Are Responding to US Tariffs

Why does Apple make products in Vietnam?

Strategic shift amid tariff uncertainty

For electronics manufacturers like Apple, Vietnam is a very attractive alternative to China. Vietnam’s north in particular offers a number of advantages that few other locations can match. Most predominantly, this is its proximity to China and the ability for manufacturers to integrate the region into existing supply chains.

This advantage has become Vietnam’s key competitive edge as the US-China trade war prolongs. Apple, which still manufactures over 90 percent of its iPhones in China, began diversifying its supply chain in 2024, ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House for a second term.

Commenting on the tariff impact, CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple’s exposure depends on product origin. For the June quarter, most iPhones sold in the US are expected to originate from India, while nearly all iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods sold in the US will carry Vietnam as their country of origin.

In addition, there are several other key benefits to electronics manufacturing in Vietnam’s north. These include transport infrastructure and the availability of low-cost, high-skilled labor.

See also: Impact of Tariffs by President Trump on Vietnamese Exports

Infrastructure in northern Vietnam

Hai Phong, for example, has the largest deep-sea port in Northern Vietnam. The provincial government is also planning to expand the port to accommodate vessels of 100,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT).

See also: Vietnam’s Hai Phong: An Industrial Gateway and Port City

Hai Phong’s port is also linked to the surrounding provinces by both road and rail. This has allowed for other parts of northern Vietnam to also develop strong manufacturing bases with industrial parks spread out across the north of the country.

For Apple, this has materialized in three key manufacturing hubs in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and Hai Phong. This is also leading to a snowball effect whereby greater investment in the manufacturing sector is leading to greater investment in surrounding infrastructure, facilitating smoother and easier transportation of goods.

See also: Bac Giang: An Emerging Investment Destination – Vietnam Briefing News

Labor in northern Vietnam

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Vietnam also has an abundance of low-cost, yet relatively high-skilled labor. Northern Vietnam, in particular, has been an electronics manufacturing hub for years, and this has allowed workers to flourish in terms of skill development.

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, is also located in the north and is Vietnam’s second biggest population center. With the full gamut of amenities of any metropolis in the world, workers can have a high quality of life within its borders while also commuting to factories beyond the city’s borders–many companies bus their staff into and out of the city.

See also: Salary and Wages in Vietnam

Vietnam’s role in Apple’s diversification strategy

Apple has, for some time now, been in the process of diversifying its supply chain. Though China-plus-one is often touted as the new paradigm, in reality, what is more likely is a China-plus-many strategy. India, for example, is shaping up as a key competitor to Vietnam for FDI.

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Vietnam, however, as a manufacturing location, with its vast coastline, proximity to China and to the United States, and its youthful, low-cost workforce, has distinct advantages that its competitors do not.

In this light, as part of Apple’s diversification strategy, Vietnam is set to become Apple’s largest final assembler. As a result, Vietnam, and northern Vietnam in particular, should see a much more experienced, higher-skilled workforce develop, which will benefit the manufacturing sector more broadly, including new entrants into the market.

If you are looking for your next high-tech manufacturing destination, we can support you with customized location selection advisory.

This article was originally published January 25, 2023. It was last updated September 15, 2025.

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