Vietnam's footwear industry employed 1.5 million workers directly last year. Its exports reached a record $21.3 billion, driven by strong demand from the United States and European Union. This article examines the latest data on employment, production, investment, and domestic market trends.
Key Takeaways
- Vietnam footwear industry employed 1.5 million workers directly in 2023
- Vietnam's footwear exports totaled $21.3 billion in 2023, up 14.5% from 2022
- FDI into Vietnam footwear reached $2.1 billion in 2023
- Vietnam footwear market size reached $4.5 billion in retail value 2023
- Vietnam's footwear production reached 1.35 billion pairs in 2022, marking a 5.2% increase from 2021
Vietnam’s footwear industry continues to grow, driven by strong exports and expanding production capacity.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Statistics25 stats
01
Vietnam footwear industry employed 1.5 million workers directly in 2023
02
Footwear sector created 120,000 new jobs in Vietnam in 2023, up 8%
03
Female workers comprised 65% of Vietnam's footwear workforce in 2022, totaling 975,000
04
Average monthly wage in footwear industry was VND 7.2 million ($290) in 2023
05
Migrant workers in footwear factories numbered 800,000 in southern Vietnam 2023
06
Footwear employment in Binh Duong province reached 400,000 in 2023
07
Youth under 25 years old made up 35% of footwear workers in 2022
08
Training programs certified 200,000 footwear workers in skills in 2023
09
Labor productivity in footwear rose 7% to VND 150 million/worker annually in 2023
10
Overtime hours averaged 48 per month per worker in footwear sector 2023
11
Dong Nai footwear employment totaled 350,000 workers in 2023
12
Unionized workers in footwear reached 1.2 million with 85% membership rate 2023
13
Skilled workers shortage affected 40% of footwear factories in 2023
14
Footwear apprenticeships trained 50,000 youths in 2023
15
Foreign managers in footwear firms numbered 15,000 in 2023
16
Turnover rate in footwear workforce was 12% in 2023
17
Night shift workers comprised 25% of footwear employment in 2022
18
Footwear industry absorbed 60% of rural migrants in Mekong Delta 2023
19
Average age of footwear workers was 28 years in 2023 survey
20
Disability-inclusive employment in footwear reached 2% or 30,000 workers 2023
21
Digital skills training covered 100,000 footwear workers in 2023
22
Ho Chi Minh City footwear jobs totaled 250,000 in 2023
23
Part-time footwear workers numbered 150,000 amid seasonal peaks 2023
24
Safety training reached 90% of 1.5 million footwear workers in 2023
25
Footwear employment growth projected at 5% to 1.58 million in 2024
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While one might say Vietnam’s footwear industry is striding confidently forward—creating thousands of jobs, particularly for women and migrants, while boosting productivity and skills—it’s also walking a tightrope, balancing decent growth against long hours, high turnover, and a persistent shortage of skilled labor that could trip up its future steps.
02 · Category
Export Statistics28 stats
01
Vietnam's footwear exports totaled $21.3 billion in 2023, up 14.5% from 2022
02
Footwear exports to the US reached $10.2 billion in 2023, 48% of total
03
EU markets imported $4.5 billion worth of Vietnamese footwear in 2023
04
Exports of leather footwear from Vietnam hit $5.8 billion in 2022
05
China imported $1.1 billion in Vietnamese footwear in 2023
06
Athletic footwear exports grew 18% to $7.5 billion in 2023
07
Footwear export volume was 1.28 billion pairs in 2023, valued at $21.3 billion
08
Japan received $1.8 billion in footwear exports from Vietnam in 2022
09
Rubber footwear exports declined 5% to $800 million in 2023
10
South Korea imported $1.4 billion Vietnamese footwear in 2023
11
Footwear exports under EVFTA grew 25% to $2.1 billion in 2023
12
US-Vietnam footwear trade surplus for Vietnam was $9.8 billion in 2023
13
Exports to India reached $500 million in footwear from Vietnam 2023
14
Synthetic footwear exports totaled $12.4 billion in 2022, 58% of total
15
Footwear shipment containers from Vietnam ports hit 2.5 million TEUs in 2023
16
Exports of women's shoes from Vietnam were $8.2 billion in 2023
17
Men's footwear exports valued at $6.9 billion in 2023
18
UK post-Brexit footwear imports from Vietnam rose to $900 million in 2023
19
Footwear exports via air freight accounted for 2% of volume but 15% value in 2023
20
CPTPP countries imported $3.2 billion Vietnamese footwear in 2023
21
Footwear export growth to ASEAN was 9% reaching $1.2 billion in 2023
22
High-value footwear exports (over $20/pair) surged 22% in 2023
23
Footwear re-exports through Vietnam totaled $300 million in 2023
24
Exports to Australia under AANZFTA hit $400 million in 2023
25
Digital orders for footwear exports increased 30% to 40% of total in 2023
26
Footwear exports to Canada grew 16% to $600 million in 2023
27
Sustainable certified footwear exports from Vietnam reached $2.5 billion in 2023
28
Footwear export tariffs averaged 8.5% reduction via FTAs in 2023
Interpretation
Export Statistics Interpretation
Vietnam has literally put its best foot forward, striding to a $21.3 billion export record by cleverly stepping up high-value and sustainable styles for America and Europe, while cautiously navigating declines in rubber boots and ensuring its digital orders are as sharp as its stitching.
03 · Category
Investment Statistics21 stats
01
FDI into Vietnam footwear reached $2.1 billion in 2023
02
Pou Chen Group invested $500 million in new Vietnam footwear plants 2023
03
South Korean FDI in footwear totaled $800 million cumulative by 2023
04
New footwear factories licensed 150 projects worth $1.2 billion 2023
05
Nike expanded facilities with $200 million investment in 2023
06
Binh Duong attracted $600 million FDI for footwear in 2023
07
Taiwanese firms invested $400 million in footwear automation 2023
08
Green technology investments in footwear hit $150 million 2023
09
Dong Nai FDI inflows for footwear were $350 million in 2023
10
Adidas committed $300 million to sustainable production lines 2023
11
Venture capital for footwear startups reached $50 million 2023
12
Cumulative FDI stock in footwear sector $15 billion by 2023
13
Italian leather tech investments $100 million in Vietnam 2023
14
Footwear park developments cost $800 million across 5 provinces 2023
15
Chinese FDI shifted $250 million to high-end footwear 2023
16
R&D investment in footwear materials totaled $80 million 2023
17
US firms invested $120 million in supply chain upgrades 2023
18
Logistics infrastructure for footwear got $200 million FDI 2023
19
Joint ventures in footwear numbered 500 with $3 billion capital 2023
20
Expansion projects by existing FDI firms $900 million in 2023
21
Blockchain traceability tech investment $30 million in footwear 2023
Interpretation
Investment Statistics Interpretation
The numbers don't lie: Vietnam's footwear sector, once prized for its nimble hands, is now being strategically rewired with global capital for high-tech, sustainable, and automated manufacturing, proving it's serious about stepping up in the global supply chain.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Statistics24 stats
01
Vietnam footwear market size reached $4.5 billion in retail value 2023
02
Domestic footwear consumption was 250 million pairs in 2023
03
E-commerce footwear sales grew 25% to $1.2 billion in 2023
04
Nike held 18% market share in Vietnam footwear retail 2023
05
Per capita footwear spending was $45in Vietnam 2023
06
Sportswear footwear segment valued at $1.8 billion in 2023
07
Counterfeit footwear seized worth $100 million in 2023 raids
08
Footwear retail outlets numbered 15,000 across Vietnam 2023
09
Middle-class demand drove 12% growth in premium footwear market 2023
10
Shopee captured 35% of online footwear sales in 2023
11
Leather footwear domestic sales hit $1.1 billion in 2023
12
Urban footwear consumption per person was 3.2 pairs annually 2023
13
Sustainable footwear market share reached 8% or $360 million in 2023
14
Children's footwear retail grew 10% to $600 million 2023
15
Hanoi footwear market valued at $800 million in 2023
16
Inflation adjusted footwear prices rose 4.2% in 2023
17
Brand footwear imports for domestic market totaled $500 million 2023
18
Footwear advertising spend was $150 million in media 2023
19
Rural footwear penetration reached 75% households in 2023
20
Luxury footwear segment grew 20% to $200 million in HCMC 2023
21
Second-hand footwear market valued at $100 million online 2023
22
Seasonal sales peaked at 40% of annual revenue during Tet 2023
23
Footwear market projected to reach $6 billion by 2027 CAGR 7%
24
Lazada footwear sales share was 22% of e-com total 2023
Interpretation
Market Statistics Interpretation
While Nike may be leading the pack and e-commerce is sprinting ahead, Vietnam's $4.5 billion footwear market is truly walking on two legs: one stepping into premium trends and urban style, and the other firmly planted in practical, nationwide demand, all while carefully navigating a path littered with counterfeits and inflation.
05 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
Vietnam's footwear production reached 1.35 billion pairs in 2022, marking a 5.2% increase from 2021
02
In 2023, Vietnam manufactured over 1.4 billion pairs of footwear, with leather shoes accounting for 25% of total output
03
Footwear factories in Vietnam operated at 85% capacity utilization in Q4 2023 due to rising global demand
04
Binh Duong province produced 350 million pairs of footwear in 2022, representing 26% of national total
05
Vietnam's athletic footwear production surged 12% year-on-year to 450 million pairs in 2023
06
Dong Nai province contributed 280 million pairs of footwear production in 2023
07
Synthetic footwear output in Vietnam hit 900 million pairs in 2022, 67% of total production
08
Ho Chi Minh City footwear production reached 200 million pairs in 2023, up 8% from prior year
09
Vietnam's footwear industry used 1.2 million tons of leather and synthetic materials in 2022 for production
10
Export-oriented footwear production accounted for 90% of Vietnam's total output of 1.3 billion pairs in 2021
11
In 2023, Vietnam produced 150 million pairs of high-end leather footwear for international brands
12
Footwear production in the northern region of Vietnam grew 7% to 180 million pairs in 2022
13
Vietnam's rubber footwear production declined 3% to 50 million pairs in 2023 amid shifting preferences
14
Total footwear production capacity in Vietnam exceeded 1.5 billion pairs annually as of 2023
15
In Q1 2024, footwear production increased 6.5% to 320 million pairs year-on-year
16
Women's footwear production in Vietnam reached 550 million pairs in 2022, 41% of total
17
Men's footwear output was 420 million pairs in 2023, growing 4.8%
18
Children's footwear production totaled 380 million pairs in 2022
19
Vietnam's eco-friendly footwear production rose 15% to 100 million pairs in 2023
20
Automated production lines in Vietnam's footwear sector increased to 2,500 units by end-2023
21
Footwear production in Tra Vinh province hit 120 million pairs in 2023
22
Vietnam produced 250 million pairs of sports shoes for Nike in 2022
23
Leather processing for footwear reached 400,000 tons in Vietnam 2023
24
Footwear OEM production dominated with 80% share of 1.4 billion pairs in 2023
25
Casual footwear production grew 10% to 600 million pairs in 2022
26
In 2023, Vietnam's footwear industry recycled 50,000 tons of waste materials in production
27
Production of vegan footwear in Vietnam surged to 80 million pairs in 2023
28
Footwear factories numbered 5,800 in Vietnam as of 2023
29
Output per worker in Vietnam footwear reached 250 pairs annually in 2022
30
High-tech footwear production facilities increased by 20% to 1,200 in 2023
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Vietnam's footwear industry is sprinting ahead in a global marathon, churning out over 1.4 billion pairs while deftly pivoting from synthetic workhorses to premium leather and eco-conscious sneakers, proving it's not just about quantity but also about stepping up its qualitative game.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Vietnam Footwear Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vietnam-footwear-industry-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Vietnam Footwear Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/vietnam-footwear-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Vietnam Footwear Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vietnam-footwear-industry-statistics.
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