A customer recently asked me if he should be looking to Vietnam for the next project, not China. I told him that based on my estimates of population (specifically skilled labor) comparisons, and the relatively poor infrastructure in Vietnam, that it would be a very long time before he should consider that choice. The guys at China Law Blog recently posted about the same subject, with the same basic conclusion.
I visited Ho Chi Minh City and Natrong last year. While I was amazed at the natural beauty, and relatively more western-oriented people, an industrial powerhouse it is not. When people ask me how long I’ll focus on China, I assure them that I lose absolutely no sleep over this issue. Certainly for the duration of my career, China is the place to manufacture.
Tags: Vietnam
