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The Vietnamese View
e constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam guarantees
freedom of religion. e country’s diverse population follows many
religious beliefs. Confucianism (which is a philosophy more than a
religion) has had a great eect on Vietnamese thought and tradition.
Historically, the largest and most important religion in Vietnam was
Buddhism. Although the Communist government describes Bud-
dhism as currently “in decline,” it acknowledges that 70 percent of
Vietnamese are “strongly inuenced” by Buddhist tradition.
Many other religions are represented in Vietnam. Also, as is com-
mon in Asia, religious beliefs oen overlap. Vietnamese Catholics also
may go to Buddhist temples; Vietnamese Muslims also may engage in
ancestor worship. e current breakdown of religion in Vietnam is:
Buddhist
Roman Catholic—10 percent (Catholicism entered Vietnam in the
seventeenth century and was supported by the French colonials.)
Cao Dai—approximately 2 million
Hoa Hao—over 1 million
Protestant—less than a half-million
Islam—approximately 50,000 (Islam is concentrated among the
Cham ethnic minority near the coastline in Central Vietnam.)
As you would expect, views on Vietnam vary between groups.
Anti-Communists and supporters of the defeated South Vietnamese
government view today’s Vietnam rather critically. Many of these
Vietnamese le around the time Saigon was overrun in 1975. e so-
called “Boat People” who ed aer the Communist absorption of all
South Vietnam in 1976 may have cynical views of both Communist
governments and the West, because many Boat People were le to

To date, Vietnam has had only one Nobel Prize laureate. In 1973, the Nobel Peace Prize was
jointly awarded to Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho for their contributions to the Vietnamese
peace negotiations. These were (to say the least) controversial choices—especially because
the peace negotiations did not prevent North Vietnamese forces from overrunning South
Vietnam in 1975–76. As it happened, Le Duc Tho declined to accept his peace prize.
●
3
CULTURAL ORIENTATION
Vietnam’s recent history has been highly dynamic and there has
not been much detailed study of Vietnamese cultural orientations at
Vietnam

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the time of this publication. Pending further research, the following
observations can be made:
Cognitive Styles: How Vietnamese Organize
and Process Information
Historically, by accepting the foreign concept of Marxism, the
leaders of Vietnam became closed to outside information. Because
the Communist victory took the better part of a century, unswerv-
ing dedication to Marxist ideals became a necessity. However, the
Communist reunication of divided Vietnam took place during the
decline of global Communism. e dissolution of Vietnam’s primary
benefactor, the USSR, required the Vietnamese leadership to become
more open to other, non-Communist ideals.
As a market-oriented society, Vietnam’s decision makers and
businesspeople have—of necessity—become more open to outside

e ethnic Vietnamese have traditionally looked down upon the
country’s ethnic minorities. e rural minorities, such as the Mon-
tagnards (mountain people), have oen reinforced Vietnamese ste-
reotypes by trying to remain separate from mainstream Vietnamese
society.
e Communist ideal includes gender equality, and women have
equal rights under the law. However, Vietnam is still a male-dominated
country, both in business and government. In most ethnic groups,
the husband remains the titular head of the home. e aged are con-
sidered more knowledgeable than the young, and their opinions are
highly respected.
●
3
BUSINESS PRACTICES
Punctuality, Appointments, and Local Time
●
Ocial business hours are generally from 7:00 or 7:30 .. to 4:30
or 5:00 .., Monday through Friday. Many people take a long
lunch break.
●
Punctuality is key; be on time for all business engagements.
●
Being prompt is not as vital for social events, but do not be more
than a half-hour late.
Vietnam

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to tell the dierence between honest agreement and a polite-but-
insincere “yes.”
●
High pressure and emotion have little place in business in Viet-
nam. Most would rather let a deal fall through than be rushed.
Business Entertaining
●
Your Vietnamese host will give at least one meal in your honor.
You should return the favor by hosting a meal at an international
hotel or ne restaurant.
●
Business meetings are oen held over lunch. Dinners are usually
considered social occasions, but work can be discussed—if your
Vietnamese counterpart initiates the topic.