MEKONG PARTNERS / PRACTICAL TOOL / EXPORT PREPARATION
Export Readiness: preparing Vietnamese businesses for international markets
Turn export ambition into a clear preparation plan. Use this self-review to identify the evidence, capabilities and ownership needed before approaching international buyers.
Can you fulfil the first order?
Use buyer requirements, delivery evidence and realistic commercial terms to find the gaps—not a general confidence score.
From readiness gaps to a buyer conversation
Prepare the buyer evidence pack
Test one target segment
Build a practical improvement plan
DEFINE THE OFFER
An export plan starts with a product-market match.
Begin with a defined product and destination, not a broad promise to sell internationally. Understand the buyer’s specification, service expectations and purchasing process. Then test whether the business can deliver the offer reliably and at a sustainable margin.
Buyer fit
Identify the customer segment, route to market and competitive alternatives. Test the buying conditions with evidence rather than relying only on market size.
Delivery capability
Connect the sales promise with production, quality control, packaging, documentation and shipment readiness.
Commercial discipline
Review price, cost, working capital, payment terms and exposure to returns, delay or non-conforming goods.
A PRACTICAL SELF-REVIEW
Which statements can your business support with evidence?
Tick a statement only when you can point to evidence. Leave it unchecked when the answer is uncertain, then turn the gap into a preparation task.
This checklist is an internal discussion tool, not an export certification or eligibility assessment. Your selections stay in this page and are not submitted to Mekong Partners.
FROM GAPS TO ACTIONS
Create a preparation register that someone owns.
| Gap | Evidence or action required | Owner & next decision |
|---|---|---|
| Unclear customer requirements | Buyer discussions, specification review and channel validation. | Commercial lead; decide which product-market opportunity to pursue. |
| Unproven delivery capability | Capacity evidence, quality controls and a realistic fulfilment plan. | Operations lead; decide the conditions for a trial order. |
| Uncertain margin or cash requirement | Delivered-cost model and scenarios for payment terms and delays. | Finance/commercial lead; decide whether the offer is sustainable. |
| Unresolved documentation | Product- and destination-specific specialist review. | Named coordinator; decide which checks are required before shipment. |
EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICAL RESOURCES
Continue with the relevant support.
October 2026 · Original Mekong Partners planning framework. Further reading: International Trade Centre: Quality for Trade . Project-specific legal, tax, customs and technical requirements should be confirmed with the relevant qualified specialists before commitment.
Discuss the decision behind your project
Bring your objective, current evidence and next commitment into a focused conversation.