Nebria, Jemelyn B

CBET-19-401E
Vietnam
Language and Dialects

Vietnamese, Vietnam's official language, is a tonal language that can be compared to

Cambodia's official language, Khmer. With each syllable, there are six different tones
that can be used, which change the definition and it often makes it difficult for foreigners
to pick up the language. There are other languages spoken as well such as Chinese,
Khmer, Cham and other languages spoken by tribes inhabiting the mountainous
regions. Although there are some similarities to Southeast Asian languages, such as
Chinese, Vietnamese is thought to be a separate language group, although a member
of the Austro-Asiatic language family.In written form, Vietnamese uses the Roman
alphabet and accent marks to show tones. This system of writing called quoc ngu, was
created by Catholic missionaries in the 17th century to translate the scriptures.
Eventually this system, particularly after World War I, replaced one using Chinese
characters (chu nom), which had been the unofficial written form used for centuries.

Facts and Statistics

 Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and
South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
 Capital: Hanoi
 Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to
mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
 Population: 97 million (2019 est.)
 Ethnic Make-up: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham,
various mountain groups
 Religions: Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic,
some Protestant), indigenous beliefs and Muslim.

Special Occasions

 Tet, meaning ‘festival of the first day’, is the lunar New Year and the biggest festival
in Vietnam. It is a celebration of renewal and hope, and the majority of Vietnam
closes for a week to honour it (see ‘Tet’).
 Both men and women usually wear the “Ao Dai” for special occasions such as Tet
(Vietnamese New Year), weddings, festivals, and ceremonies.

 Wearing a white head band is reserved for funeral only.

Confucianism

 The teachings of Confucius influence the Vietnamese describe the position of the
individual in Vietnamese society.
 Confucianism is a system of behaviors and ethics that stress the obligations of
people towards one another based upon their relationship.

 The basic tenets are based upon four different relationships:

 Husband and wife

 Parents and children
 Brothers and sisters
 Friend and friend

 Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honour, filial piety, respect for age and seniority,
and sincerity. 

The Family

 Vietnamese life revolves around the family.

 The Vietnamese family consists of the nuclear as well as the extended family.
 It is not uncommon for three generations to be living together under one roof.
 In Confucian tradition, the father is the head of the family and it is his
responsibility to provide food, clothing and shelter and make important decisions.
 Within the same tradition it is believed that after someone dies their spirit lives
on. Descendent will "worship" their ancestors to ensure their good favour. On the
anniversary of a person's death, ceremonies are held in their memory. They are also
remembered during certain lunar festivals and souls are consulted prior to important
decisions or occasions such as a birth or a wedding.

Face

 As with many other Asian nations, the concept of face is extremely important to
the Vietnamese.
 Face is a tricky concept to explain but can be roughly described a quality that
reflects a person's reputation, dignity, and prestige.
 It is possible to lose face, save face or give face to another person.
 Companies as well as individuals can have face or lose face.
 For foreigners it is important to be aware that you may unintentionally cause a
loss of face so it is important to be aware of your words and actions. Understanding
how face is lost, saved or given is critical.
 Someone can be given face by complimenting them for their hospitality or
business acumen. Accusing someone of poor performance or reprimanding them
publicly will lead to a loss of face. 

Greetings and Customs in Vietnam

 Vietnamese people generally greet each other by joining hands and bowing slightly
to each other.

 When introducing yourself to a group address yourself to older people first.

 To address people formally, use Mr. or Ms. or a title plus the first `name.

 Do not touch someone's head.

 Do not cross middle finger over forefinger
 Do not point with your finger - use your hand.
 Do not cross your arms on your chest.
 Do not pass anything over someone's head.
 Do not touch a member of the opposite sex.
 Shorts should only be worn at the beach.
 They often do not express feelings of thankfulness or apology by verbal
expressions such as ‘thank you’ or ‘I am sorry’, but instead do so through non-verbal
means such as slight bow or a smile.

Giving Gifts

 Simple gifts are exchanged after a first meeting

 Bring fruit, sweets, flowers, fruit, or incense.
 Gifts should be wrapped in colourful paper.
 Do not give handkerchiefs, anything black, yellow flowers or chrysanthemums

Table Manners

 Wait to be shown where to sit.

 The oldest person should sit first.
 Pass dishes or items with both hands.
 The most common utensils are chopsticks and a flat spoon.
 Chopsticks should be placed on the table or a chopstick rest after every few
mouthfuls or when breaking to drink or speak.
 People hold bowls close to their faces.
 Hold the spoon in your left hand while eating soup.
 Meals are typically served family-style.
 Try to finish everything on your plate.
 When you are finished eating, rest your chopsticks on top of your rice bowl.
 Cover your mouth when using a toothpick.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

 Appointments are required and should be made several weeks in advance.

 The Vietnamese are punctual and expect others to be so to.
 Dress conservatively.
 Handshakes are used upon meeting and departing. Handshakes only usually
take place between members of the same sex.
 Some Vietnamese use a two-handed shake, with the left hand on top of the right
wrist.
 Always wait for a woman to extend her hand. If she does not, bow your head
slightly.
 Business cards are exchanged on initial meetings and should be presented with
both hands. When receiving business cards ensure you show proper respect to it
and do not simply glance at it and put it on the table.
 Hierarchy and face manifest in different ways within business meetings. For
example, the most senior person should always enter the room first.
 Silence is also common in meetings where someone disagrees with another but
remains quite so as to not cause a loss of face.
 Relationships are critical to successful business partnerships. Always invest time
in building a good relationship based on both personal and business lines. Any initial
meeting
 Business gift giving is fairly common at the end of a meeting or during a meal in
honour of your business associates. Gifts should be small but not expensive.
Something with your company logo or something typical from your country both
make excellent gifts.