An employee examines smartphones produced at VinSmart's factory in northern Hai Phong city. (Photo by VnExpress/Tuan Hung)

The news site quoted Le Thi Thu Thuy, general director of VinSmart, as saying at a press conference last week that the first consignment was sent a month ago. The phones carry the American service provider’s logo.

The US company has such stringent standards that despite having a team in Vietnam to supervise the VinSmart factory 24/7, it still thoroughly inspects the phones once they reach the US.

The contract is for four models, all of them supporting 4G.

A confidentiality agreement prohibits VinSmart from disclosing the name of its partner.

VinSmart is currently sold in Russia, Myanmar and Spain, but the company expects to sell its Aris 5G in the US by next year.

VinSmart had a 16.7% market share in the first quarter, and surpassed Apple to become the third largest smartphone brand in Vietnam behind Samsung and China’s Oppo.