Non-verbal Expressions/ Behaviors Meaning in Vietnamese Culture

Showing respect to people senior in age or status or of

Avoiding eye contact
the opposite sex

Bowing Greeting, great respect

Crossing arms Sign of respect

Frowning Frustration, anger, or worry

Holding hands with or putting an arm over the

Not usually done in public
shoulder of a person of the opposite sex

Holding hands with or putting an arm over the Friendly gesture with no sexual
shoulder or a person of the same sex connotation

Nodding Greeting; affirmative reply; agreement

Palm of right hand out, fingers moving up and down "Come here."Not used with
several times people senior in age or status.

Patting a person's back, especially someone senior in

disrespectful
age or status

Placing one or both hands in the pockets or the hips

Arrogance, lack of respect
while talking

Pouting Disdain, Disregard, Contempt

Putting one's feet on a table or sitting on a desk while

Rude
talking

Friendly greeting between men (but not the elderly).

Not customary between women or between a man and
Shaking hands
a woman; acceptable between a Vietnamese woman
and non-Vietnamese man.

Shaking one's head Negative reply; disagreement

Agreement, embarrassment, disbelief, mild

Smiling
disagreement, appreciation and apology

Touching a child's head Not appreciated, but not offensive

VIETNAMESE NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION EXPRESSIONS & BEHAVIORS