Industry leaders at a conference on trade promotion held with Vietnam’s overseas trade offices in May 2025, emphasised the country’s growing strength in the global footwear sector, while noting emerging domestic opportunities. By ILM.

Phan Thi Thanh Xuân, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso), highlighted Vietnam’s position as the world’s third-largest footwear manufacturer, producing 1.4 billion pairs annually and the second-largest exporter, shipping 1.3 billion pairs in 2024. While exports grew 16% in early 2025, she warns of vulnerability to U.S. tariff policies.

Nguyễn Quang Vũ, Chairman of the Binh Duong Province Leather and Footwear Association, expects industry improvements as tariff policies stabilize and notes reduced concerns about Chinese imports following recent trade negotiations. Meanwhile, Nguyễn Hải Ngọc, Marketing Director of Vietnamese footwear brand Biti’s, underscored ongoing challenges from unbranded and low-cost imported products in the domestic market.