Vietnam’s Factories Face Turmoil Amid Tariff Threat

The imposition of a staggering 46 percent tariff, among the highest globally, is causing panic among managers and workers in Vietnam's factories, along with numerous exporters.

Economic Uncertainty in Ho Chi Minh City

Life was already challenging for Vietnam’s factory workers, even before President Trump revealed his plan to impose significant tariffs on their produce.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Hanh juggled two factory positions, working six days per week for almost a year after her spouse lost employment in 2023. The family's survival and their children's education left her with no choice.

“It was incredibly tough,” Ms. Hanh, 40 years old, explained. Her husband has resumed full-time work in a factory, yet the threat of new tariffs on Vietnamese imports looms over their household, established in a series of concrete apartments on Ho Chi Minh City's perimeter.

“We lived through such a difficult period and I dread the thought of repeating that,” stated Ms. Hanh, who earns $577 monthly while managing 138 employees in the shoe production line for global brands like Nike and the French company Salomon.

The Perpetual Fear in Factory Halls

The sense of anxiety lingers on the shop floor where the constant hum of sewing machines fills the air, creating footwear bound for U.S. markets. Although President Trump has temporarily put off the tariffs for 90 days, the looming possibility of their return is already hindering Vietnam's economic advancements heavily reliant on American consumers.