Things You Should Know About Vietnamese Culture

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This one infuriates business people all the time as they come to Vietnam with their own ideas about how things should operate. The business culture here isn’t that simple, though. It’s based on trust and reputation; legal documents are fine, but until your new partners know you as a person, there will always be suspicion. Trust takes years to build here and just seconds to destroy – so tread carefully.

When you speak to students in Vietnam, it can be a bit disheartening to hear how restricted their lives can be – but this is the norm. The job market is competitive, so young people have to be at the top of their classes if they want to succeed. There are amazing opportunities in this booming economy – but only for those who put in the work. That means long school days, with tutors and extra classes at night – especially English, which is now a requirement for many students graduating from higher education.

After name and nationality, age is one of the first questions you’ll be asked in Vietnam. Their society is built on Confucian beliefs, where experience and wisdom are highly respected. This means the older you are, the more respect you command. You shouldn’t swear or bring up inappropriate topics when you’re with older people, such as death or sex. At dinners, the eldest people are served first – and at home or work, their opinions carry more weight.

Some people have learned this the hard way: don’t speak ill of Vietnamese war heroes or make jokes about anything related to the war. Generally speaking, Vietnamese people have a great sense of humour, but they don’t joke about the war years. Those were difficult times for everyone in this country. As a foreigner, you need to be careful with this topic and be extremely mindful when speaking about their colonial past.

Shopping in Vietnam is often a battle of subtleties and strategy. Foreigners should expect an extra fee. In this case, your best weapons are your feet. Negotiate with the shopkeeper until they won’t move any more and then threaten to walk away. For most shops, a smaller profit margin beats getting nothing.

Many Vietnamese traditions and customs are based around their ancestral beliefs. One of the greatest fears in Vietnam is that the dead won’t find peace in the afterlife – that they’ll be left to wander as tortured spirits. Most people in Vietnam have a ghost story: from a butterfly landing on them during a funeral to strange voices at night. No matter your thoughts on the supernatural, don’t make light of ghosts or the deceased here.

There is so much opportunity in Vietnam these days. People are working hard to improve both themselves and the lives of their families with the belief that today’s long hours will pay off later. You won’t hear too many people grumbling about their hardships, so try not to complain about your own problems too much. As a foreigner who can afford international travel, you won’t find much sympathy.

Tipping isn’t expected in Vietnam. If you feel the service has gone above and beyond, feel free to leave a little extra – but if you do, be discrete. Hide it under a plate or behind the bill. When you make an overt show of tipping, it could make a person feel like they’re losing face – like they’re begging. Some people will just flat out refuse a tip because they think you’ve made a mistake in counting your money.

Vietnam’s rivers, paddies, mountains and seas are deeply ingrained in the culture. Because of this, it’s rude to leave food uneaten, especially when you’re in someone’s home and they’ve cooked for you. It’s an insult to the land and the workers who made the meal possible. Try not to take more than you can eat and be sure to give out many compliments.

Vietnamese people talk about their societal problems all the time – be it pollution, traffic, corruption or academic cheating. But they’re less patient when it’s a foreigner doing the criticising. It comes off as arrogant, as though you’re saying why your country is better than theirs. When it’s understood like that, of course, it’s upsetting. If you make a joke about the crazy traffic, you’ll be fine – but don’t go on and on about it without also recognising there is so much to love about this amazing country.

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