Group An, Phuong Thanh, Hong Hanh, Duc Thang. Viet Nam Culture. Intercultural Communication.

1. Viet Nam Culture
Nguyen Hong Hanh
Nguyen Duc Thang
Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Thanh
Nguyen Thi Thien An

2. General characteristics
• Multi-ethnic coountry with 54 ethnic groups, each with its own language,
lifestyle and cultural heritage; most popular: Kinh group (86.2%)
• Official language: Vietnamese
• Religion:
• Mixed of Triple Religion ( Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism)  hard to identify the
religion, mostly considered Vietnamese Buddhism
• Modern: Catholicism
• Culture varies throughout the country from North to South

3. Ethnic
minorities

4. Main cultures
Northern Vietnam
Central Vietnam
Southern Vietnam

5. Communication style
• Formality, respect and interpersonal harmony are highly valued
• Countless forms of address
• Indirect
• Frequent use of small talks
• Often ask about family or marital status
HUOM!!! Saying yes and nodding repeatedly while listening to someone does
not mean acceptance or agreement. It’s merely being polite and showing
respect.

6. Non-verbal communication
• Showing respect by gentle bows, smiles, nods and avoiding
direct eye contact (especially with the elders or higher status)
• Inappropriate gestures: winking, whistling, pointing at
someone,
• Keep distance, avoid touching, especially on the head
• Poker face, very difficult to read emotions

7. Dress code

8. Traditional costume

9. Taboos
• Never call a senior by name
• Expressing strong (intimate) emotions in public is frowned
upon
• In a family meal or social gathering, never start eating
before your seniors do
• Do not show off, keep a low profile
• Do not cause a Vietnamese to lose face!

10. Stereotypes
• Nationality confusion
• Short to medium height, brown skin
• Eat rice, cats and dogs too
• Good at maths
• Like to gossip
• Like to hang around in groups
• Studying is all we do!

11. Meetings
• One week prior to the appointment
• Reconfirm your meeting one or two days ahead
• Greeting by making handshaking
• Small talk comes first
• Giving business cards
• Normal greeting in informal situation

12. Business Etiquette
• dinners are held in hotels, restaurants, or government
facilities
• Business is not usually discussed at dinners, although it may
be at luncheons
• with the host usually going first

13. Other cultures
• The initial approach
• Business Relationship
• Seniority is important in Vietnam
• Giving Face
• Addressing Vietnamese
• Business Dress

14. Doing Business in Viet Nam
Working age: minimum is 15, an apprentice at a job training centre must be at
least 13 years old. In general, workers must be sufficiently healthy and knowledgeable
to meet the requirements of the job.
 Recruitment procedures: direct or via an employment service agency (FIEs)
 Contracts: must be in writing (more than 3-month contract), in accordance
with model labor contract issued by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social
Affairs.
 Contracts less than 3 months, probation periods range from 30 to 60 days, salary is not less than
70% of the agreed salary. During this period, contracts can be terminated by either party without a
notice period and payment of compensation.
Investment & Trade Promotion Center. Labor Regime.
http://www.itpc.gov.vn/investors/how_to_invest/labor_regime/index_
html/mldocument_view/?set_language=en

15. Business Gifts
• At the end of a meeting or during a
meal in honor of business associates.
• Should be small , nice and not
expensive. Something with company’s
logo or typical of a country.
• Should be wrapped in colorful paper.
• Don’t give gifts related to cutting like
sharp objects, scissors, knives, etc.
• A signal of interpersonal relationships
• A total difference between business
gifts and bribery.
• Nice expression of respect, appreciation
or gratitude on certain occasions:
anniversary, Tet holiday, etc.
• Gifts open or not, up to receivers and
vice versa. As long as with a thank.

16. EQUALITY
Female vs Male
• Primarily seen as mothers, considered
to show “respect” to their husband’s
lineage if they give birth to a boy
• Local credit associations do not feel
secure giving loans to single mothers,
which has resulted in a poverty
increase for households that are led
by a woman
• Vietnamese society tends to follow
the ancestral line through males,
pushing women to the secondary
• Women and men tend to be
segregated into different jobs, with
more women serving in educational,
communications, and public services
than men.

17. Shift in gender relations and attitudes
• In addition to global influences to Vietnam changing perceptions of female
sexuality in some ways, but there is still a large focus on women’s role in
the family

18. Traditional family in Viet Nam
• Multi-generational family (parents, sons and daughters (in-
law), children, etc.). The most respected person: the elder.
The decision-makers: parents and grandparents.
• Man > woman (because man is the main source of income
while woman is housewife). A birth to boy is a lucky signal
for a family.
• Family meal is important.
• Discipline and physical punishment were acceptable
remedies for disobedience. When parents grew old,
children were expected to take care of them to compensate
for the gift of birth and upbringing.
• Girls are under strict supervision. No hangout at midnight.

19. How different regional foods
NORTH
• BÚN CHẢ
CENTRE
• BÚN THỊT NƯỚNG
SOUTH

20. HOW TO EAT VIETNAMESE FOODS?
• With hands
• Chopsticks
• Spoons, forks, knives

21. Thank you
for
attention!