Vietnamđź•Ł
Country in Southeast Asia. Official name – the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Population – 98.9 million (as of 2020). Capital – Hanoi. Official language – Vietnamese. Government type – parliamentary republic. Main religion – Buddhism.
Vietnam
Greeting
In Vietnam, handshakes are the most common way to greet someone, mainly between men. If you're introduced to a woman, wait to see if she offers her hand first. If she doesn't, a polite nod in her direction is the right move.
Women visiting Vietnam for business should remember that local men usually won't initiate a handshake—it's just not part of their culture.
If you're meeting a group of Vietnamese colleagues, start by greeting the person with the highest rank or position. It’s a sign of respect and shows you understand local customs.
Status is important in Vietnamese business culture. A person’s role, seniority, or age can affect things like who gets greeted first or who enters a meeting room first.
During a handshake, a Vietnamese businessman might place his left hand on top of your right hand and give a gentle shake. It’s a sign that he really values the chance to meet or work with you.
As your relationship grows and becomes more friendly, don’t be surprised if greetings become warmer—like a quick hug or an air kiss (cheek-to-cheek, without actually touching).
Introduction
Vietnamese names usually have several parts. For example: Nguyen Thi Yen Thu. The family name comes first—in this case, Nguyen. Thi is a common middle name that typically indicates the person is female. Yen Thu is the given name, which can be one or two words. People are usually addressed by ...
Exchange of Business Cards
Exchanging business cards is an important part of introductions and networking in Vietnam. Besides your name, job title, company name, and contact details, it’s also common to include any academic degrees, professional titles, or honors you may have.
It’s a good idea to have your business cards printed in two languages—your native language (or English) on one side, and ...
Small Talk: Overview
Building and maintaining relationships is important in Vietnamese business culture—especially when it comes to working with foreign partners. So, don’t rush through the small talk. Taking time for casual conversation shows that you value the relationship.
Vietnamese people generally don’t draw a sharp line between personal and professional life like people often do in t...
Preferred Topics
Family – and by that, it usually means the extended family, including relatives and even close family friends.
Mutual acquaintances, if you have any – always a good connection point.
Hobbies, personal interests, and travel – people enjoy talking about what they like to do outside of work.
Local cuisine – food is a great topic and often leads to warm, engaging conve...
Taboo Topics
Politics is the number one sensitive topic—best to steer clear of it altogether.
Insulting or making negative remarks about others, even in a subtle or joking way, is not appreciated.
Criticizing the Vietnamese government or the Communist Party, especially in front of your Vietnamese colleagues, is a major no-no and can be taken very badly....
Personal Space
During conversations, people—both men and women—typically stand about an arm’s length apart.
In general, physical contact or touching (other than a handshake) isn’t really welcomed or appropriate....
Communication Specifics
In Vietnamese culture, the concept of "face" (also “losing face” or “saving face”) is very important. "Face" refers to a person's reputation, public image, and how they’re perceived by others. Someone can "lose face" if they’re criticized, contradicted, or embarrassed in front of others.
For many Vietnamese people, especially those fro...
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