Between January and August 2024, Vietnam imported nearly 19,650 vehicles from China, amounting to $582 million—an increase of 47.6 percent in value and 8,648 more units than the same period last year, according to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs. While Vietnam traditionally imported trucks and special-use vehicles from China, this year saw a shift, with cars making up the majority of vehicle imports from the country.

In 2023, Vietnam imported 11,002 Chinese vehicles valued at $394.2 million. The overall vehicle imports during the first eight months of 2024 totaled 106,630 units, with August alone accounting for 15,061 completely built-up (CBU) units, primarily from Thailand, Indonesia, and China. In particular, over 84 percent of the vehicles were passenger cars, reflecting changing consumer preferences.

Vietnam also spent $426 million on auto parts from countries like China, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan last month.

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