BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Business Card

• When you meet someone for the first time in Vietnam, it is polite to offer your card with both hands. Upon receiving a card, do not stuff it into your pocket. Place it in your wallet or purse to show respect. Business cards should be presented and received with both hands.
• If you have a business card which is in English and Vietnamese, it is good etiquette to present the card with the Vietnamese side facing up.

• Keep in mind that many Vietnamese have learn English at university and may not have had much contact with native English speakers so you will need to speak slowly and concisely. It is impolite to undermine the authority of a more senior Vietnamese person by directing questions or responding to a more junior person whose English skills may be better. When using interpreters, it is polite to talk directly to the person you are dealing with and to maintain eye contact.

• Vietnamese are a very polite people and will often smile and agree with you when in fact they may not have fully understand what you have said. The smile and head nod are usually to confirm that they acknowledge you have spoken, and may not always indicate a firm agreement.
• It is advisable to have bilingual sales literature, including business cards and product manuals, for more complex negotiations. It is useful to have an agenda and relevant papers translated in Vietnamese prior to the meeting so both sides are clear on what they wish to discuss.
• Eating and drinking are a major part of doing business in Vietnam. Toasting at banquets and after-dinner activities such as singing are common practices. Vietnamese men often smoke during the meal.
• When cognac or whisky is served at a meal, the custom is for individuals to drink only after a toast is made. The glass should be held in the right hand supported by the left. Returning a toast is standard practice. Common toasts are "Tram phan tram " (empty your glass - 100%) and "Chuc Suc Khoe" (good health).

• Gifts are not commonly exchanged when meeting for the first time, but a small token over dinner or at an appropriate moment is always appreciated. The gift is not as important as the sentiment.
• A box of chocolates, a bottle of cognac (for a man), or a small souvenir from your country will show that you are a considerate person. Do be careful, don't give anything too valuable. One gift can lead to another, and the next thing you know, you're holding a thousand-dollar watch that you can't keep, yet you can't return without completely offending the giver.