Doing Business in Vietnam

Vietnam is an attractive destination for entrepreneurs looking to set up their own businesses. The country has a relatively robust economy which has experienced steady growth in the past few decades and continues to offer a lot of potential for foreign investors.

In recent years, the country has seen an influx of businesspeople moving to Vietnam to diversify their operations away from China. Vietnam’s population of more than 98 million people also boasts a large, young and increasingly educated workforce, which serves to make it an even more attractive location for businesses. The Vietnamese government has taken steps to amend legislation to encourage foreign business owners to set up enterprises in the country.

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Fast facts

Business language

Vietnamese is the official language of business. While English is spoken in most business circles, it's worth hiring an interpreter to assist in dealing with government departments and other service providers.

Hours of business

Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.30pm with a one- to two-hour break for lunch around midday.

Business dress

Business attire should be formal and conservative. It is best to stick to dark-coloured suits.

Greetings

Handshakes are used when meeting business associates and usually only take place between members of the same gender. Some Vietnamese people use a two-handed shake, with the left hand on top of the right wrist. When male expats greet a woman, they should wait for her to extend her hand first. If she does not, he should not insist on a handshake but rather bow his head slightly.

Gifts

Business gift-giving is fairly common at the end of a business deal or during a meal in honour of a business partnership. Gifts should be small but not overly expensive. Ideal gifts include something with one’s company logo on, or something unique to one’s home country.

Gender equality

While there have been strides taken towards gender equality in Vietnam, women remain underrepresented in Vietnamese business circles. It's rare to see women occupying senior positions in a company.

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Business culture in Vietnam

Vietnamese business culture is very hierarchical. Respect should be shown towards elders and senior figures at all times.

Greeting

When addressing business colleagues, it's important to use appropriate titles followed by the person’s first name rather than surname. When greeting older colleagues, it is best to bow slightly; younger businesspeople will greet each other with a firm handshake.

Relationships and networking

Personal relationships are indispensable to successful business partnerships in Vietnam, so expats should expect to invest a considerable amount of time getting to know their business associates. In fact, it isn't uncommon for no actual business to be discussed at initial meetings.

Business cards are exchanged at initial meetings and should be presented with both hands. When receiving a business card, expats should show proper respect for it and not simply glance at it and put it in their pocket.

Networking is essential in Vietnam. Vietnamese businesspeople prefer to work with those recommended by a friend or business contact rather than be approached directly. Expats doing business in Vietnam will soon find that a broad social network does wonders for their business success.

Business negotiations in Vietnam can sometimes be slow. It's important to bear in mind that there is often a lot of red tape that has to be contended with when doing business in Vietnam. Furthermore, group consultation can also delay final decisions. Patience is therefore critical when conducting business in the country.

Saving face

The concept of maintaining 'face' is important in Vietnamese business circles. Vietnamese people will go to great lengths to avoid embarrassment ('losing face') during business proceedings. Usually, when one person disagrees with another, they will remain quiet to avoid causing a loss of face. Silence is, therefore, a common means of communication in business.

Trust is also important in Vietnam. Business people take each other at their word, and therefore expats should never make promises they cannot keep. Backtracking on an agreement will impact negatively on one’s reputation and create difficulty when it comes to future business proceedings.

Timekeeping

The Vietnamese value punctuality. Arriving late or being unprepared for a scheduled meeting is seen as disrespectful.

Expat entrepreneurs should be sure to plan ahead when doing business in Vietnam. It's best to arrange meetings far in advance and then confirm the appointment closer to the time.

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Dos and don’ts of business in Vietnam

• Do dress conservatively and modestly. Despite the hot weather, Vietnamese businesspeople still wear formal business suits.

• Don’t assume business associates will speak English. While English is widely spoken in business circles, it is recommended that expats hire an interpreter to assist them, especially at initial meetings.

• Do present Vietnamese business associates with a small gift at the end of a successful business deal.

• Don’t backtrack on the terms of a business agreement. Trust is an important element of business relationships in Vietnam.