Ordering directly from an eyelash factory in Vietnam is one of the best moves a lash business can make for margins, quality control, and long-term supplier reliability. But for buyers doing it for the first time, the process can feel opaque: How do you find a real factory? What do you say in the first message? What happens between placing the order and receiving your shipment?
This guide walks through the full process step by step, from finding a verified factory to receiving your first shipment at your door.
Why Order Direct from a Vietnam Lash Factory?
Vietnam is the world’s leading source of handcrafted lash extensions. Vietnamese artisans combine decades of precision handcraft tradition with factory-scale production infrastructure, producing the handmade lash extensions that supply major US and European brands at a fraction of what those brands charge retail.
The key benefits of factory-direct ordering:
- Price: Removing the distributor margin saves 30-60% per tray compared to buying from US or UK wholesalers
- Quality control: You are dealing directly with the people making your product, not an intermediary with limited visibility into production
- Customization: Factories can accommodate specific curl, length, and thickness combinations that distributors cannot
- Private label: Direct factory access unlocks branded packaging options at a fraction of the cost charged by domestic private label suppliers
- Relationship: A direct factory relationship gives you a stable, predictable supply chain that grows with your business
Step 1: Find and Verify a Real Factory
The first challenge is distinguishing genuine factories from trading companies and resellers, many of whom present themselves as manufacturers online.
Where to find Vietnam lash factories:
- Direct web search: “lash extension factory Vietnam” or “lash manufacturer Vietnam” returns a mix of factories and agents
- Alibaba and Made-in-China: Listings from Vietnam are common, but trading company listings outnumber genuine factories
- Industry referrals: Other lash business owners in your network who already order from Vietnam are the most reliable source of verified supplier referrals
- Direct factory websites: Established Vietnam factories like BabeEyelash have dedicated export-facing websites with clear factory credentials
How to verify a factory before contacting them:
- Look for a physical factory address in Vietnam (not just a city name)
- Check whether their website shows production floor images alongside product photos
- Look for export credentials and client testimonials from US, UK, or EU buyers
- Check response quality: real factories respond with specific production details, not just “yes we can do anything”
Step 2: Make First Contact and Request a Price List
Your first message to a Vietnam factory should be specific. A generic “how much are your lashes?” inquiry gets a generic response. A specific inquiry signals that you are a serious buyer and gets you a useful price sheet faster.
What to include in your first inquiry:
- Your business type (lash tech, salon owner, distributor, brand builder)
- The product types you need (classic, volume, mega volume, mixed)
- Your target curls, thicknesses, and lengths
- Your estimated monthly or quarterly volume
- Whether you need private label or unbranded wholesale
- Your shipping destination (US, UK, EU, etc.)
A reputable factory responds within 24-48 hours with a price list, MOQ details, and a request for clarification on any details they need to quote accurately. If a factory takes more than 3-4 days to respond to an initial inquiry, that is often a sign of poor responsiveness that will carry through to production and shipping communication.
Step 3: Request and Evaluate Samples
Before any bulk order, request samples. This is the single most important step in the entire process and should never be skipped, even if a factory comes highly recommended.
What to order for samples:
- 5-10 trays across your target styles (curls, thicknesses, lengths)
- If testing volume fans: 3-5 trays of your target fan count and thickness
- Request a packaging sample if you are evaluating private label options
Sample lead time: Most Vietnam factories ship samples within 3-7 business days. Express delivery to the US or UK takes a further 3-5 days, meaning you can have samples in hand within 1-2 weeks of your first inquiry.
What to evaluate in samples:
- Fiber softness, flexibility, and overall feel
- Curl consistency across all rows in each tray
- Curl memory after handling
- Adhesive strip tension and release quality
- Lash count accuracy versus what was quoted
- Glue compatibility with your current adhesive
- Application performance across 3-5 real client sets
Do not rush the sample evaluation. Give yourself at least 2 weeks and test across multiple real appointments before deciding whether to place a bulk order.
Step 4: Place Your Bulk Order
Once samples pass your evaluation, contact your factory contact to confirm your order specifications.
Information to confirm before placing the order:
- Exact product specifications: curl, thickness, length, tray count per style
- Total quantities per style
- Packaging requirements (unbranded or private label)
- Shipping method preference (express or standard)
- Delivery address including any specific import requirements for your country
- Payment method and timing
Get the order confirmation in writing, either via email or a formal proforma invoice, before making payment. The proforma invoice should list every product line, quantity, unit price, total cost, and estimated production and shipping timeline.
Payment methods commonly accepted by Vietnam factories:
- Bank wire transfer (most common for larger orders)
- PayPal (common for smaller first orders)
- Wise (popular for international transfers with lower fees)
Step 5: Production and Quality Control
After payment confirmation, production begins. Here is what happens on the factory side during this period:
| Stage | What Happens | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material preparation | Fiber sorted and prepared by curl and thickness | 1-2 days |
| Production | Artisans handcraft trays to your specification | 3-7 business days |
| In-process QC | Curl angle and alignment checked during production | Ongoing |
| Post-production QC | Tray-by-tray check of curl, count, and strip quality | 1-2 days |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Final batch check before packing | 1 day |
| Packing and dispatch | Packed for international transit, courier booked | 1 day |
Total production lead time: 5-10 business days for standard orders. Private label first orders add 10-15 days for design setup and packaging production.
A good factory sends you production updates proactively. Ask upfront whether they send photos of your order before dispatch. Many factories offer this as standard, and it allows you to spot any packaging or labeling issues before the shipment leaves Vietnam.
Step 6: Shipping, Customs, and Delivery
Shipping options from Vietnam:
- Express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS): 3-5 business days to US, UK, and EU. Higher cost but reliable tracking and predictable delivery windows.
- Standard international postal service: 7-15 business days. Lower cost but less reliable tracking and wider delivery window variance.
Customs and import considerations:
- US imports: Lash extensions are classified under cosmetic goods. Most small orders under $800 USD enter duty-free under the de minimis threshold. Larger orders may incur import duty — confirm with a customs broker if you are regularly ordering in high volume.
- UK imports: Post-Brexit UK has its own import tariff schedule. Lash products from Vietnam may benefit from the UK’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (DCTS) for developing countries, reducing or eliminating duty.
- EU imports: Vietnam has a Free Trade Agreement with the EU (EVFTA), which reduces tariffs on Vietnamese goods imported to EU member states. Ask your factory for origin documentation (Certificate of Origin) to claim this benefit.
Your factory should provide a commercial invoice and packing list with every shipment. Keep these documents. They are required for customs clearance and for any insurance claims if goods are damaged in transit.
Full Order Timeline: What to Expect
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| First inquiry to price list received | 24-48 hours |
| Samples ordered to samples in hand (US/UK) | 7-14 days |
| Sample evaluation period | 1-2 weeks recommended |
| Order placed to production complete | 5-10 business days |
| Express shipping (Vietnam to US/UK/EU) | 3-5 business days |
| Total: first inquiry to first bulk delivery | 4-6 weeks |
Plan your first factory-direct order 6 weeks ahead of when you need the stock. Subsequent reorders are faster because you skip the sample evaluation stage and your factory already has your confirmed specifications on file.
Why BabeEyelash Is Built for First-Time Factory Buyers
BabeEyelash is a Vietnam factory that has been supplying international lash businesses since 2015. We understand that ordering factory-direct for the first time can feel uncertain, so we have built our process around making it straightforward for new clients.
- Low entry MOQ: Start with just 5-20 trays per style. No need to commit to large quantities before you have verified quality.
- Fast sample dispatch: Samples ship within 3-5 business days of your request.
- Shipping support: We support shipping costs on qualifying orders, reducing the cost of your first factory-direct order compared to ordering through a domestic distributor.
- Factory verification: We provide business registration documents, export licenses, and video factory tours on request. We welcome in-person visits.
- Dedicated contact: You deal with the same account contact throughout — not a rotating customer service queue.
- 24-hour response: We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours, including first contacts from new buyers.
Contact BabeEyelash to start your first factory-direct order — price list sent within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it risky to order from a Vietnam factory for the first time?
The risk is manageable with proper verification. Ask for factory documentation, order samples before bulk, start with a small first order, and use a payment method with some buyer protection (PayPal for smaller orders). The factories listed in this guide have established export track records with US and EU buyers.
What is the minimum order from a Vietnam lash factory?
It varies by factory. The lowest MOQs in the industry are from smaller dedicated factories like BabeEyelash, where you can start at 5-20 trays per style. Larger factories often require 50-100 trays per style minimum.
Do I need to pay import duty on lashes from Vietnam?
For US buyers, most small orders under $800 USD enter duty-free. For larger volumes, check with a customs broker. UK and EU buyers may benefit from preferential tariff rates under trade agreements Vietnam has with these markets. Ask your factory for a Certificate of Origin to support any tariff preference claims.
What if my order arrives damaged?
Document the damage immediately with photos before unpacking fully. Contact your factory and the shipping carrier. A reputable factory will work with you to resolve damage claims, either by reshipping affected items or issuing a credit on your next order. Always request that the factory insure shipments above a certain value.
