diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/__tests__/client/LDVueClient.test.ts b/packages/sdk/vue/__tests__/client/LDVueClient.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..170e5c3109
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/__tests__/client/LDVueClient.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { createClient as createBaseClient } from '@launchdarkly/js-client-sdk';
+
+import { createClient } from '../../src/client/LDVueClient';
+
+jest.mock('@launchdarkly/js-client-sdk', () => ({
+  createClient: jest.fn(),
+}));
+
+const createBaseClientMock = createBaseClient as jest.Mock;
+
+type Result = { status: string; error?: Error };
+
+const makeBaseClient = (overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) => ({
+  getContext: jest.fn(() => ({ kind: 'user', key: 'context-key' })),
+  start: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve<Result>({ status: 'complete' })),
+  identify: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve<Result>({ status: 'completed' })),
+  boolVariation: jest.fn(() => true),
+  on: jest.fn(),
+  off: jest.fn(),
+  close: jest.fn(),
+  ...overrides,
+});
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  createBaseClientMock.mockReset();
+});
+
+it('passes wrapper metadata to the base client', () => {
+  createBaseClientMock.mockReturnValue(makeBaseClient());
+
+  createClient('env-id', { kind: 'user', key: 'k' });
+
+  expect(createBaseClientMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    'env-id',
+    { kind: 'user', key: 'k' },
+    expect.objectContaining({ wrapperName: 'vue-client-sdk', wrapperVersion: expect.any(String) }),
+  );
+});
+
+it('tracks initialization state through start()', async () => {
+  createBaseClientMock.mockReturnValue(makeBaseClient());
+  const client = createClient('env-id', { kind: 'user', key: 'k' });
+
+  expect(client.getInitializationState()).toBe('initializing');
+  expect(client.isReady()).toBe(false);
+
+  await client.start();
+
+  expect(client.getInitializationState()).toBe('complete');
+  expect(client.isReady()).toBe(true);
+  expect(client.getInitializationError()).toBeUndefined();
+});
+
+it('notifies init-status subscribers and replays the cached result to late subscribers', async () => {
+  createBaseClientMock.mockReturnValue(makeBaseClient());
+  const client = createClient('env-id', { kind: 'user', key: 'k' });
+
+  const early = jest.fn();
+  client.onInitializationStatusChange(early);
+
+  await client.start();
+
+  expect(early).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ status: 'complete' });
+
+  const late = jest.fn();
+  client.onInitializationStatusChange(late);
+  expect(late).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ status: 'complete' });
+});
+
+it('exposes the initialization error when start fails', async () => {
+  const error = new Error('boom');
+  createBaseClientMock.mockReturnValue(
+    makeBaseClient({ start: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve({ status: 'failed', error })) }),
+  );
+  const client = createClient('env-id', { kind: 'user', key: 'k' });
+
+  await client.start();
+
+  expect(client.getInitializationState()).toBe('failed');
+  expect(client.getInitializationError()).toBe(error);
+});
+
+it('notifies context subscribers after a successful identify', async () => {
+  createBaseClientMock.mockReturnValue(makeBaseClient());
+  const client = createClient('env-id', { kind: 'user', key: 'k' });
+
+  const onContext = jest.fn();
+  client.onContextChange(onContext);
+
+  await client.identify({ kind: 'user', key: 'new-key' });
+
+  expect(onContext).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ kind: 'user', key: 'context-key' });
+});
+
+it('does not notify context subscribers when identify does not complete', async () => {
+  createBaseClientMock.mockReturnValue(
+    makeBaseClient({ identify: jest.fn(() => Promise.resolve({ status: 'error', error: new Error('x') })) }),
+  );
+  const client = createClient('env-id', { kind: 'user', key: 'k' });
+
+  const onContext = jest.fn();
+  client.onContextChange(onContext);
+
+  await client.identify({ kind: 'user', key: 'new-key' });
+
+  expect(onContext).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+});
diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/package.json b/packages/sdk/vue/package.json
index bb4a69bc81..c2a20a789b 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/vue/package.json
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/package.json
@@ -32,22 +32,27 @@
     "clean": "rimraf dist",
     "build": "tsup",
     "lint": "eslint .",
-    "test": "npx jest --ci --passWithNoTests",
+    "test": "npx jest --ci",
     "coverage": "yarn test --coverage",
     "check": "yarn lint && yarn build && yarn test"
   },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@launchdarkly/js-client-sdk": "workspace:^"
+  },
   "peerDependencies": {
     "vue": "^3.3.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "^9.0.0",
     "@types/jest": "^29.5.12",
+    "@vue/test-utils": "^2.4.6",
     "eslint": "^9.0.0",
     "eslint-import-resolver-typescript": "^4.0.0",
     "eslint-plugin-import-x": "^4.0.0",
     "eslint-plugin-jest": "^28.0.0",
     "globals": "^16.0.0",
     "jest": "^29.7.0",
+    "jest-environment-jsdom": "^29.7.0",
     "rimraf": "^5.0.5",
     "ts-jest": "^29.1.1",
     "tsup": "^8.5.1",
diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDClient.ts b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDClient.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fe632ed61d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDClient.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import type {
+  LDClient,
+  LDContextStrict,
+  LDWaitForInitializationResult,
+} from '@launchdarkly/js-client-sdk';
+import type { Ref } from 'vue';
+
+/**
+ * Represents the current initialization state of the LaunchDarkly client.
+ */
+export type InitializationStatus = LDWaitForInitializationResult | { status: 'initializing' };
+
+/**
+ * Initialization state of the client as a string union.
+ * Derived from {@link InitializationStatus} for consistency.
+ */
+export type InitializedState = InitializationStatus['status'];
+
+/**
+ * The LaunchDarkly client interface for Vue.
+ *
+ * Extends the base {@link LDClient} with initialization-status and context-change subscriptions that
+ * the Vue provider and composables use to react to `start()` and `identify()`.
+ */
+export interface LDVueClient extends LDClient {
+  /**
+   * Returns the initialization state of the client. Useful to determine whether the client can be
+   * used to evaluate flags on initial render.
+   */
+  getInitializationState(): InitializedState;
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the error that caused initialization to fail, if any. Only set when
+   * {@link getInitializationState} returns `'failed'`.
+   */
+  getInitializationError(): Error | undefined;
+
+  /**
+   * Subscribes to context changes triggered by `identify()`. The callback is invoked after each
+   * successful `identify()` call (and once after a successful `start()`) with the resolved context.
+   *
+   * @returns An unsubscribe function.
+   */
+  onContextChange(callback: (context: LDContextStrict) => void): () => void;
+
+  /**
+   * Subscribes to initialization status changes. The callback fires when `start()` resolves. If the
+   * client has already resolved, the callback is invoked immediately with the cached result.
+   *
+   * @returns An unsubscribe function.
+   */
+  onInitializationStatusChange(
+    callback: (result: LDWaitForInitializationResult) => void,
+  ): () => void;
+
+  /**
+   * Returns whether the client is ready to evaluate flags. True once initialization has completed
+   * (successfully or not), or when bootstrap data was provided.
+   */
+  isReady(): boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The reactive value provided to Vue components via inject. Composables read from these refs.
+ */
+export interface LDVueInstance {
+  /**
+   * The LaunchDarkly client.
+   */
+  client: LDVueClient;
+
+  /**
+   * The current LaunchDarkly context. Undefined until the client has initialized.
+   */
+  context: Readonly<Ref<LDContextStrict | undefined>>;
+
+  /**
+   * The initialization state of the client.
+   */
+  initializedState: Readonly<Ref<InitializedState>>;
+
+  /**
+   * The error that caused the client to fail to initialize. Only set when `initializedState` is
+   * `'failed'`.
+   */
+  error: Readonly<Ref<Error | undefined>>;
+}
diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDOptions.ts b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDOptions.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b50ea97d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDOptions.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import type { LDOptions, LDStartOptions } from '@launchdarkly/js-client-sdk';
+import type { InjectionKey } from 'vue';
+
+import type { LDVueInstance } from './LDClient';
+
+/**
+ * Options for the underlying LaunchDarkly client.
+ */
+export type LDVueClientOptions = LDOptions;
+
+/**
+ * Options for creating a Vue provider.
+ */
+export interface LDVueProviderOptions {
+  /**
+   * Options for the LaunchDarkly client.
+   *
+   * @see {@link LDVueClientOptions}
+   */
+  ldOptions?: LDVueClientOptions;
+
+  /**
+   * Options for starting the LaunchDarkly client. Useful when not deferring initialization.
+   *
+   * @see {@link LDStartOptions}
+   */
+  startOptions?: LDStartOptions;
+
+  /**
+   * If true, the client will not start automatically. Start it manually via `useLDClient().start()`.
+   *
+   * @defaultValue false
+   */
+  deferInitialization?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * A custom injection key, for running multiple LaunchDarkly clients in the same application. If not
+   * provided, the default key is used. Create one with {@link createLDVueInstanceKey}.
+   */
+  injectionKey?: InjectionKey<LDVueInstance>;
+
+  /**
+   * Bootstrap data from the server. When provided, the client immediately uses these values before
+   * the first network response, eliminating the flag-fetch waterfall on page load. Merged into
+   * `startOptions.bootstrap`; this top-level value takes precedence.
+   */
+  bootstrap?: unknown;
+}
diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDVueClient.ts b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDVueClient.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd13afe803
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/LDVueClient.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import {
+  createClient as createBaseClient,
+  type LDContext,
+  type LDContextStrict,
+  type LDIdentifyOptions,
+  type LDIdentifyResult,
+  type LDOptions,
+  type LDStartOptions,
+  type LDWaitForInitializationResult,
+} from '@launchdarkly/js-client-sdk';
+
+import type { InitializedState, LDVueClient } from './LDClient';
+import type { LDVueClientOptions } from './LDOptions';
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new instance of the LaunchDarkly client for Vue.
+ *
+ * @remarks
+ * This factory is provided to allow the caller to own the client lifecycle. When using this
+ * function, the caller is responsible for calling `client.start()` before or after mounting
+ * and for subscribing to client lifecycle events.
+ *
+ * TODO(scaffold): add recommendation to prefer createLDProvider / LDVuePlugin once those
+ * arrive in the next PR, and restore the createLDProviderWithClient cross-reference.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * import { createClient } from '@launchdarkly/vue-client-sdk';
+ *
+ * const client = createClient('your-client-side-id', { kind: 'user', key: 'user-key' });
+ * await client.start();
+ * ```
+ *
+ * @param clientSideID the LaunchDarkly client-side ID @see https://launchdarkly.com/docs/sdk/concepts/client-side-server-side#client-side-id
+ * @param context the initial LaunchDarkly context @see https://launchdarkly.com/docs/sdk/concepts/context
+ * @param options options for the client @see {@link LDVueClientOptions}
+ * @returns the new client instance @see {@link LDVueClient}
+ */
+export function createClient(
+  clientSideID: string,
+  context: LDContext,
+  options: LDVueClientOptions = {},
+): LDVueClient {
+  const baseClientOptions: LDOptions = {
+    ...options,
+    wrapperName: options.wrapperName ?? 'vue-client-sdk',
+    wrapperVersion: options.wrapperVersion ?? '0.1.0', // x-release-please-version
+  };
+
+  const baseClient = createBaseClient(clientSideID, context, baseClientOptions);
+  let initializationState: InitializedState = 'initializing';
+  let hasBootstrap = false;
+  let startCalled = false;
+  let startNotified = false;
+  const subscribers = new Set<(context: LDContextStrict) => void>();
+  const initStatusSubscribers = new Set<(result: LDWaitForInitializationResult) => void>();
+  let lastInitResult: LDWaitForInitializationResult | undefined;
+
+  function notifyContextSubscribers() {
+    const newContext = baseClient.getContext();
+    if (newContext) {
+      subscribers.forEach((cb) => cb(newContext));
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    ...baseClient,
+    start: (startOptions?: LDStartOptions) => {
+      // The base client start method is idempotent, so just return its result if already called.
+      if (startCalled) {
+        return baseClient.start(startOptions);
+      }
+      startCalled = true;
+      if (startOptions?.bootstrap) {
+        hasBootstrap = true;
+      }
+      return baseClient.start(startOptions).then((result: LDWaitForInitializationResult) => {
+        initializationState = result.status;
+        lastInitResult = result;
+        if (!startNotified) {
+          startNotified = true;
+          notifyContextSubscribers();
+        }
+        initStatusSubscribers.forEach((cb) => cb(result));
+        return result;
+      });
+    },
+    identify: (ldContext: LDContext, identifyOptions?: LDIdentifyOptions) =>
+      baseClient.identify(ldContext, identifyOptions).then((result: LDIdentifyResult) => {
+        if (result.status === 'completed') {
+          notifyContextSubscribers();
+        }
+        return result;
+      }),
+    getInitializationState: () => initializationState,
+    getInitializationError: () =>
+      lastInitResult?.status === 'failed' ? lastInitResult.error : undefined,
+    onContextChange: (callback: (ldContext: LDContextStrict) => void) => {
+      subscribers.add(callback);
+      return () => {
+        subscribers.delete(callback);
+      };
+    },
+    onInitializationStatusChange: (callback: (result: LDWaitForInitializationResult) => void) => {
+      if (lastInitResult) {
+        callback(lastInitResult);
+      }
+      initStatusSubscribers.add(callback);
+      return () => {
+        initStatusSubscribers.delete(callback);
+      };
+    },
+    isReady: () => initializationState !== 'initializing' || hasBootstrap,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/index.ts b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6a0f29ad8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/src/client/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+export type {
+  InitializationStatus,
+  InitializedState,
+  LDVueClient,
+  LDVueInstance,
+} from './LDClient';
+export type { LDVueClientOptions, LDVueProviderOptions } from './LDOptions';
+export { createClient } from './LDVueClient';
+// TODO(scaffold): provider and composables arrive in the next PR
diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/src/index.ts b/packages/sdk/vue/src/index.ts
index b174ea05c5..43cb33cabf 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/vue/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/src/index.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,15 @@
-// TODO(scaffold): full implementation arrives in the next PR
-export {};
+/**
+ * This is the API reference for the LaunchDarkly Client-side SDK for Vue.
+ *
+ * TODO(scaffold): restore the createLDProvider / LDVuePlugin references in the @packageDocumentation
+ * summary once those symbols arrive in the next PR.
+ *
+ * @packageDocumentation
+ */
+export * from './client';
+// TODO(scaffold): the following arrive in the next PR:
+//   export { LDVuePlugin, type LDVuePluginOptions } from './plugin';
+//   export type { LDClient, LDContext, LDContextStrict, LDOptions, LDEvaluationDetail,
+//     LDEvaluationDetailTyped, LDEvaluationReason, LDFlagSet, LDFlagValue, LDInspection,
+//     LDLogger, Hook, LDIdentifyOptions, LDIdentifyResult, LDStartOptions,
+//     LDWaitForInitializationResult } from '@launchdarkly/js-client-sdk';
diff --git a/packages/sdk/vue/tsconfig.json b/packages/sdk/vue/tsconfig.json
index 4b3fa864b9..ff3a1edbbe 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/vue/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/sdk/vue/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 {
   "compilerOptions": {
+    "rootDir": ".",
+    "outDir": "dist",
+    "target": "ES2020",
+    "lib": ["ES2020", "dom"],
+    "module": "ESNext",
+    "moduleResolution": "bundler",
+    "strict": true,
+    "noImplicitOverride": true,
     "allowSyntheticDefaultImports": true,
+    "esModuleInterop": true,
+    "sourceMap": true,
     "declaration": true,
     "declarationMap": true,
-    "lib": ["es2017", "dom", "dom.iterable"],
-    "module": "ESNext",
-    "moduleResolution": "node",
-    "noImplicitOverride": true,
-    "outDir": "dist",
     "resolveJsonModule": true,
-    "rootDir": ".",
-    "skipLibCheck": true,
-    "sourceMap": true,
-    "strict": true,
     "stripInternal": true,
-    "target": "ES2017",
-    "types": ["jest", "node"]
+    "types": ["jest", "node"],
+    "skipLibCheck": true
   },
-  "include": ["src/**/*"],
-  "exclude": ["**/*.test.ts", "dist", "node_modules", "__tests__", "example", "contract-tests"]
+  "exclude": ["**/*.test.ts", "dist", "node_modules", "__tests__"]
 }