Huawei and ZTE have secured a series of 5G supply contracts in Vietnam throughout 2025, marking a notable shift in Hanoi’s approach to Chinese technology. The deals reflect closer Vietnam–China ties amid cooling relations with the United States following new US tariffs on Vietnamese goods. Historically cautious about using Chinese vendors in sensitive infrastructure, Vietnam has recently opened more tenders to Chinese firms, particularly among state-owned operators.
While Ericsson, Nokia and Qualcomm continue to provide Vietnam’s 5G core network and key equipment, Chinese suppliers are increasingly winning smaller procurement packages. A Huawei-led consortium obtained a USD23 million 5G equipment contract in April 2025, shortly after Washington announced tariffs on Vietnamese exports. ZTE has secured at least two contracts worth over USD20 million for 5G antennas, with one awarded last week. The first publicly reported deal emerged in September, following the implementation of US tariffs.