From Viet Cong to Team USA: Hanoi garment factory's Olympic transformation

SUMMARY

The sprawling, Soviet-built complex on the outskirts of Hanoi churns out millions of units a year for global sportswear brands like Nike and the US Olympic team, Team USA. The factory was used to produce boots and uniforms for the Vietnamese army during the Southeast Asian country's long war with the United States.

By ReutersJul 17, 2019 5:37:44 PM IST (Updated)

The sprawling, Soviet-built complex on the outskirts of Hanoi churns out millions of units a year for global sportswear brands like Nike and the US Olympic team, Team USA. REUTERS/Kham

Maxport General Director Jef Stokes sits next to the machines and a shoe which were used during the Vietnam War and now are exhibited at Maxport garment company in Hanoi. The factory was used to produce boots and uniforms for the Vietnamese army during the Southeast Asian country's long war with the United States. REUTERS/Kham

A bag for Vietnamese military officer which was produced during the Vietnam War by X40 garment company is seen exhibited at Maxport garment company in Hanoi.

REUTERS/Kham

At the height of the Vietnam War, the "X40" factory, as it had been code-named by the Vietnamese defence ministry, was one of three factories producing uniforms for the North Vietnamese army and its Viet Cong guerrillas in the south. But with the collapse of the Soviet Union, state-owned factories came under extra pressure to focus on export-oriented products and raise much-needed hard currency. REUTERS/Kham

In 2006 it was transformed into Maxport Limited, a sportswear manufacturer that now boasts as clients Nike, Asics and a handful of Olympic teams. REUTERS/Kham