A process for the manufacture of vancomycin.HCl which does not require preparation of a phosphate intermediate. The process consists of loading a vancomycin onto a suitable adsorbent and eluting the vancomycin solution therefrom with an ammonium solvent followed by loading the vancomycin solution onto a suitable adsorbent and eluting the purified, vancomycin solution therefrom with a solvent of alcohol and acid. The purified vancomycin is then crystallized from the solution by combining the solution with a sufficient amount of NH.sub.4 Cl to provide a pH of about 2.0 to about 3.5. The crystals are then dissolved in solution. The dissolved solution is combined with acid and the vancomycin recrystallizes from the solution.