Keywords: Vietnam pharmaceutical industry, Vietnam pharmaceutical potential, Vietnam pharmaceutical market, pharmaceutical manufacturing in Vietnam, pharmaceutical exports from Vietnam, GMP-WHO pharmaceutical factories in Vietnam, pharmaceutical OEM Vietnam, pharmaceutical R&D Vietnam, Vietnam pharmaceutical growth potential 2026, pharmaceutical product portfolio in Vietnam, internationally certified pharmaceutical factories in Vietnam, Vietnam pharmaceutical market analysis 2025, investment opportunities in Vietnam pharmaceutical industry, Audace Pharma, Audace Vietnam…
Over the past decade, Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry has undergone remarkable transformation – not only in market size, but also in manufacturing capacity, internationally certified factory networks, and its growing position on the regional pharmaceutical export map. Vietnam is increasingly recognized as a high-potential pharmaceutical market and an attractive destination for product development partnerships and export-oriented manufacturing.
1. Overview of Vietnam’s Pharmaceutical Industry: A Market with Stable Growth
In recent years, Vietnam’s pharmaceutical sector has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries in Southeast Asia.
Domestic Market Advantages
Per capita healthcare expenditure in Vietnam has steadily increased, reflecting stronger purchasing power for healthcare services and pharmaceutical products. At the same time, the prevalence of chronic diseases – such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, digestive disorders, and respiratory illnesses – continues to rise, driving sustained and long-term demand for pharmaceutical treatments.
2. Manufacturing Capacity: A Broad GMP-Certified Production Network
2.1. Extensive Network of GMP-WHO, PIC/S-GMP, and EU-GMP Factories
One of the strongest pillars of Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry is its well-invested manufacturing infrastructure. Currently, Vietnam has more than 200 GMP-WHO-certified pharmaceutical factories, with many facilities upgraded to PIC/S-GMP and EU-GMP standards – strict international benchmarks suitable for export markets and high-quality pharmaceutical segments.
Manufacturing capabilities are highly diversified, covering tablets, hard and soft capsules, syrups, effervescent tablets, granules, liquid medicines, antibiotics, ophthalmic solutions, and more. This diversity enables Vietnam not only to meet domestic demand but also to compete effectively with regional manufacturing hubs in pharmaceutical production.
2.2. Competitive Production Costs
Beyond modern GMP infrastructure, Vietnam’s production cost structure represents one of its most compelling competitive advantages, drawing strong interest from international partners. Manufacturing costs in Vietnam are widely regarded as more optimized than in many regional markets, thanks to reasonable labor costs, stable raw material supply, and lower operational expenses compared to mature pharmaceutical markets.
Vietnam benefits from a skilled workforce of pharmacists, technicians, and production operators with solid expertise and experience, while labor costs remain competitive relative to Thailand, Malaysia, and China. This allows local manufacturers to maintain stable pricing without compromising product quality.
In addition, input material costs and operational expenses – such as electricity, water, and domestic logistics – are relatively low, further reducing unit production costs. As a result, Vietnam has become an ideal destination for pharmaceutical OEM manufacturing, ODM formulation development, and private-label production, offering competitive pricing while meeting international quality standards.
→ Thanks to these cost advantages, Vietnam is increasingly regarded as an “optimal pharmaceutical manufacturing hub” in the region, capable of competing directly with major production centers such as India and China.
3. Export Potential of Vietnam’s Pharmaceutical Registry
Over the past five years, Vietnam’s pharmaceutical exports have recorded steady growth, driven by a combination of strategic geographic location, continuously upgraded manufacturing capacity, and increasingly favorable international trade policies. Export value has expanded across multiple regions, particularly Southeast Asia, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.
3.1. Strategic Location within ASEAN
Vietnam’s central position within ASEAN enables efficient connectivity to fast-growing markets. Land transportation routes linking Vietnam with Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar allow Vietnamese companies to access neighboring markets quickly, with low logistics costs and fast delivery times.
Beyond land routes, Vietnam also possesses a strong network of seaports and international airports, facilitating exports to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and further to India, Bangladesh, the UAE, and African countries. Logistics costs along these routes remain relatively competitive, helping Vietnamese pharmaceutical products maintain a price advantage over competitors.
→ Geographic and logistics advantages directly enhance the global competitiveness of Vietnam’s pharmaceutical exports.
3.2. Emerging Markets Seeking Affordable, High-Quality Medicines
Emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa share common characteristics: relatively low average income levels combined with strong demand for medicines and healthcare products. These markets prioritize affordable, good-quality, and accessible pharmaceutical products suited to the purchasing power of the general population.
High-demand product categories include:
- Antibiotics
- Vitamins, minerals, and health supplements
- Cardiovascular and antihypertensive medicines
- Gastrointestinal medicines
- Anti-allergy drugs
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Analgesics and antipyretics
- Cough and expectorant medicines
- Antifungal, antiviral, and anti-tuberculosis medicines
- Pediatric products such as probiotics, cough syrups, and cold syrups
- Intravenous infusion solutions
- These are precisely the product segments where Vietnam demonstrates strong manufacturing capabilities, supported by modern production lines, cost efficiency, and a broad product portfolio
→ The alignment between international market demand and Vietnam’s domestic manufacturing strengths creates a “golden opportunity” for Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies to expand exports over the next decade.
4. A Diverse Pharmaceutical Product Portfolio
A major advantage that distinguishes Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry on the regional manufacturing map is the diversity of its product portfolio. Domestic factories are capable of producing nearly all common dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, granules, syrups, oral liquids, injectables, and more.
Key product groups include:
- Medicines for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and gastrointestinal conditions
- Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, including cough, cold, and allergy treatments
- Pediatric products such as cough syrups, probiotics, and multivitamins
- Premium product lines using imported raw materials from Europe, the United States, and Japan
- Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies also demonstrate high flexibility in:
- Customizing formulations for different markets
- Tailoring packaging, languages, and color schemes to market requirements
- Shortening R&D timelines and reducing time-to-market
- Optimizing costs to suit emerging market conditions
→ These strengths align perfectly with the Audace Pharma model: factory connection – proprietary product development – regulatory support – international distribution.
5. Government Support and the “Made in Vietnam” Trend
The Vietnamese government has set long-term strategic goals to enhance pharmaceutical self-sufficiency and position the pharmaceutical industry as a key economic sector. These policies aim to improve product quality, promote internationally certified manufacturing facilities, and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese companies to integrate more deeply into the global pharmaceutical value chain.
6. Future Outlook of Vietnam’s Pharmaceutical Industry
Market research reports indicate that Vietnam is on the right trajectory to become a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.
VIETNAM’S PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IS AT A GOLDEN TURNING POINT
With a large domestic market, modern manufacturing capacity, competitive costs, and strong export potential, Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry is entering a phase of accelerated growth.
This is an ideal time for:
Pharmaceutical companies to expand their product portfolios
International partners to seek reliable, high-quality supply sources
Investors to participate in pharmaceutical manufacturing, R&D, and export value chains
Vietnam is no longer producing solely for domestic consumption – it is producing for the world.
If you are an international distributor or are looking to develop exclusive products for your local market, contact Audace Pharma for consultation on:
Customized pharmaceutical and health supplement products
Private-label brand development
Manufacturing, design, regulatory registration, and export cooperation
Audace Pharma – Connecting Vietnam’s pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain to global markets.