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Cultural Etiquette
Cultural Dos and Taboos
1. Do not cross your index finger with the middle finger as a gesture of good luck.
2. When dinning in a Vietnamese home bring a gift to show the family respect and appreciation. Do not present the host or friends with a gift wrapped in white paper. The gift itself should not be white. White is associated with death and is considered bad luck.
3. Remove shoes before entering a private home or place of worship.
4. A handshake is an acceptable form of greeting between persons of the same age, but it is customary to bow to those who are older or of high social rank.
5. When dining out with Vietnamese friends or business associates expect the person who initiated the invitation to pay.
6. There is a great respect given to elders. They are always greeted first. Never use direct eye contact when speaking to an elder. Never insult an elder, it will be a poor reflection on you and will damage personal and business relationships.
7. When initiating contact with a Vietnamese entity, it is often best to be introduced through a third party as people outside a person's known circle may be regarded with suspicion. An introduction from a mutual friend, acquaintance or known business associate before initial contact can help alleviate some of the problems that arise in initial correspondence or meetings.
8. 'Face' is extremely important to many Vietnamese. It is very important to try not to put your Vietnamese counterparts in an embarrassing situation or one that calls for public back tracking. You should be careful not to cause your Vietnamese contact embarrassment in front of superiors, peers, or subordinates. Tact, sensitivity and discretion are considered the most effective approach in dealing with disagreements or uncomfortable situations.
9. Vietnamese names begin with the family name, followed by the middle name and finally the given name. To distinguish individuals, Vietnamese address each other by their given names. Therefore, Mr. Nguyen Anh Quang would be addressed Mr. Quang. Pronouns are always used when addressing or speaking about someone. You should always address your contacts as Mr., Mrs., Ms. or Miss followed by the given name. Vietnamese often reciprocate this custom when addressing foreigners. Ms. Jane Doe would typically be addressed as Ms. Jane. If you are unsure how to address someone, just ask for advice.
10. Normal business attire consists of a suit and tie for men and suit or dress for women. During the hotter months, formal dress for men is a shirt and tie. Open collar shirts and slacks may be worn to more informal meetings depending on the situation. The trend in the South is to be more casual; suit jackets are worn only on very formal occasions and first meetings.
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