How to Audit a Factory in Vietnam
Last updated: 2026-08-31
Quick answer
To audit a factory in Vietnam, confirm the enterprise registration and the Investment Registration Certificate where relevant, verify the production site is real and matches the address, review quality and social compliance records, then order an on-site audit before you pay a deposit.
Definition
Auditing a factory in Vietnam means confirming that the supplier is a registered enterprise, that the site named is where production happens, and that quality and labour practices meet your requirements. Vietnam's registration system is public but split between the National Business Registration Portal and sector licences, so the first checks are about which records prove the entity.
Key points
- · Confirm the Enterprise Registration Certificate and, for foreign-invested plants, the Investment Registration Certificate.
- · The registered address on the certificate is not always the production site; verify the factory physically.
- · Vietnam clusters manufacturing in the north (Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Phong) and the south (Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh).
- · Social compliance matters for EU and US buyers; review labour, fire safety and environmental permits.
- · A deposit should follow an on-site audit, not precede it, for a first or high-value order.
Step by step
- 1. Confirm registration
Pull the Enterprise Registration Certificate from the National Business Registration Portal and match the legal entity to the contract.
- 2. Verify the site
Visit or commission a visit to confirm the factory exists at the stated address and can make your product.
- 3. Review quality and compliance
Ask for the quality system, inspection records, labour files, fire safety and environmental permits.
- 4. Order the on-site audit
Book an independent audit before the deposit; grade findings and require corrections with proof.
Examples
A buyer verified a Bac Ninh plant through the registration portal, then audited on site before releasing a deposit for a new product line.
An audit in Binh Duong found the registered address was a trading office; the buyer required the actual production site to be added before ordering.
Checklist
- ☐ Enterprise Registration Certificate confirmed
- ☐ Investment Registration Certificate where applicable
- ☐ Production site verified at the stated address
- ☐ Quality system and inspection records reviewed
- ☐ Labour, fire safety and environmental permits checked
- ☐ On-site audit booked before deposit
Frequently asked questions
Is Vietnamese company data public?
Yes, through the National Business Registration Portal, though it is less centralised than China's system and some sector licences sit outside it.
Do I need a local auditor?
Use an independent auditor who knows Vietnamese registration and labour rules; a local language and site access improve the result.
How does Vietnam compare with China for verification?
Both need site verification. China's company records are more centralised; Vietnam's are public but spread across more systems, so confirmation takes a little more care.
Sources
- Vietnam National Business Registration PortalPublic source for Enterprise Registration Certificates.
- Vietnam Law on EnterprisesThe basis for enterprise registration and legal status checks.
- FactoryAuditB2B Vietnam coverageCountry-specific verification and audit notes for Vietnam.
Related guides
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