Vietnamese Culture: 3 Key Differences Expats Must Know

Discover 3 essential cultural differences in Vietnamese culture every expat in Vietnam should know. Learn how to show respect and adapt with ease.

Why Understanding Vietnamese Culture Matters

Moving to Vietnam or living here as an expat can be exciting — but it can also be challenging if you don’t understand Vietnamese culture. From simple greetings to everyday interactions, cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings, awkward moments, or even unintentional offense.

As an expat, knowing how to show respect in Vietnamese culture and navigate social norms is essential for building relationships, working effectively, and enjoying your time here. Whether it’s interacting with colleagues, neighbors, or local shopkeepers, understanding these nuances will make your life smoother and more enjoyable.

In this guide, we’ll explore three key cultural differences that expats must know, providing practical tips so you can adapt confidently and make the most of your experience in Vietnam.

The Importance of Respect in Vietnamese Culture

As an expat in Vietnam, understanding how to show respect in Vietnamese culture is essential for building positive relationships and avoiding misunderstandings. Respect is a cornerstone of daily interactions, and getting it right can make your life much smoother.

1. Respect for Hierarchy and Age

In Vietnam, age and social position are important. People often greet elders and superiors first, and the way you address someone can show your awareness of hierarchy. Simple gestures, like a slight bow, using polite pronouns, or waiting for elders to start a conversation, demonstrate respect and help you connect better with locals.

2. Politeness and Indirect Communication

Vietnamese people tend to communicate politely and indirectly. Direct criticism or confrontation is usually avoided. As an expat, learning to recognize subtle hints, soften your language, and respond courteously will make your interactions more comfortable and culturally appropriate.

3. Everyday Acts of Respect

Small actions in daily life go a long way:

• Offering a gift politely when visiting someone’s home.
  
• Treat your friends, colleagues, and business partners with respect.
  
• Don’t accuse or reprimand anyone publicly.

By focusing on these aspects of respect, you can navigate social situations with confidence, show genuine consideration for Vietnamese customs, and make a positive impression in both personal and professional settings.

Key Cultural Differences Between Vietnam and the West

As an expat in Vietnam, it’s vital to understand that Vietnamese culture is shaped by values and social structures that differ significantly from typical Western norms. These contrasts don’t arise by chance. They come from Vietnam’s long history, philosophical traditions, and social evolution. Here are three major cultural differences that frequently affect how people communicate, make decisions, and relate to one another.

1. Collectivism vs. Individualism

In Vietnam, collectivism remains deeply ingrained: people tend to think about the group, whether family, community, or workplace, before themselves. This is not just a cultural preference but a legacy of historical, social, and philosophical forces. 

While many Asian cultures value collectivism, Vietnam’s communal mindset has its own unique historical roots. Traditional Vietnamese society was shaped by wet-rice agriculture and a settled lifestyle, where families and entire villages depended on cooperation to manage irrigation, adapt to unpredictable seasonal changes, and maintain stability across generations. This environment naturally encouraged harmony, mutual support, conflict avoidance, and long-term relationships, because survival required people to live and work closely together.

This form of collectivism differs from both Western individualism and from the collectivist models of other Asian societies. Western cultures, shaped by industrialization, private property, and an emphasis on personal autonomy, tend to prioritize individual rights, self-expression, and personal achievement. Social expectations are often centered on independence rather than interdependence.

Even within Asia, not all collectivist cultures developed in the same way. For example, communities shaped by nomadic or semi-nomadic traditions, such as Mongolian groups or northern Chinese populations above the Yellow River, cultivated systems that emphasized mobility, discipline, and strong hierarchical leadership. Their collectivism was grounded in group strength and military coordination, with a greater emphasis on individual excellence and assertiveness.

Vietnam’s values, by contrast, are grounded in stability, cooperation with nature, and adaptable social harmony, traits that continue to influence communication, workplace expectations, and relationships today.

It’s also worth noting that while Confucianism influenced Vietnamese etiquette and education, it arrived after the formation of the Vietnamese communal structure. Therefore, it shaped certain rituals and social norms but did not redefine the core Vietnamese worldview, which was built long before Confucian ideas entered the region.

As an expat, you may find it surprising that some Vietnamese do not “sell themselves” as much in public or make big decisions without considering the impact on their close-knit group. Recognizing this difference will help you adapt to the more consensus-driven and community-oriented way people think here.

2. Hierarchy and Communication Style

Another key cultural difference lies in how hierarchy and authority are respected in Vietnam. Vietnamese society tends to accept and expect unequal power distribution more than many Western cultures. According to Hofstede’s cultural model, Vietnam scores very high on the power distance dimension, meaning people accept that leaders or elders hold significantly more authority. 

In daily life, this respect is visible in how younger people address their elders, or how employees speak to their managers; they may use formal pronouns, speak politely, and rarely challenge authority openly.

This behavior is reinforced in Vietnam’s Confucian heritage, which has long stressed the importance of respect, order, and the proper roles of each person in society. In contrast, many Western cultures champion egalitarianism and open dialogue. It’s common in Western workplaces to question superiors, debate ideas, and challenge decisions.

For someone coming from a Western background, this difference can be a big adjustment. Your straightforward approach or insistence on open debate might be misinterpreted as rude or disrespectful. On the other hand, showing deference and speaking carefully can go a long way in building rapport and trust.

3. Blending Tradition and Modernity: Cultural Additivity

A particularly nuanced feature of Vietnamese culture is its ability to blend traditional and modern values, a phenomenon sometimes called cultural additivity. Rather than rejecting older beliefs, many Vietnamese integrate Confucian, Buddhist, and even Taoist philosophies into their modern worldview. This means that respect for ancestors, social harmony, and duty coexist with openness to globalization, modern business practices, and self-expression.

This cultural flexibility has historical roots. Vietnam has endured long periods of external influence (especially from China) and colonialism, yet maintained a distinct cultural identity. Over time, traditional values evolved rather than disappeared, allowing the society to adapt without losing its core.

Compared to many Western societies where modern, secular values tend to dominate, Vietnamese culture often maintains a dual identity. 

As an expat, you may see older generations observing ancestral rituals, while younger people embrace innovation and global trends, both without a sense of contradiction. This blending is important to grasp because it means that Vietnamese cultural behavior can’t always be neatly categorized as purely traditional or purely modern; it’s often both.

Summary for Expats:

• In Vietnam, you’ll see decisions made with the group in mind, not just the individual (collectivism).
  
• Authority and age matter deeply, and communication may lean toward politeness and indirectness.
  
• Tradition and modernity are not in conflict — they coexist in a uniquely Vietnamese way.

By understanding these cultural dynamics, you as an expat in Vietnam can engage more sensitively, communicate more effectively, and build deeper connections with people around you.

How Expats Can Show Respect and Adapt in Vietnamese Culture

Understanding how to show respect in Vietnam is essential for any expat. Vietnamese culture values politeness, hierarchy, and social harmony, and even small gestures can make a big difference. Here’s a practical guide broken down into key areas:

1. Greetings and Polite Language

One of the first ways to show respect is through greetings. A slight bow, a nod, or a smile demonstrates awareness of social norms. Correct pronouns are very important: addressing someone as “ông/bà” for elders or “anh/chị” for peers shows politeness and recognition of hierarchy. 

Using polite words such as “xin lỗi” (sorry), “cảm ơn” (thank you), or “vâng/ạ” (yes/polite acknowledgment) in conversation is highly appreciated.

2. Gift-Giving Etiquette

Gift-giving is a culturally significant way to show thoughtfulness and respect. When visiting a Vietnamese home or during festivals like Tết, small gifts such as fruit, tea, or symbolic items are ideal. How you present the gift matters: offer it with both hands and a slight nod. Observing these subtle gestures signals your understanding and appreciation of local customs.

3. Participating in Festivals and Social Events

Vietnamese festivals provide an opportunity to learn about social norms and show respect in context. During Tết, Mid-Autumn Festival, or weddings, observe rituals, greetings, and proper etiquette. Participating respectfully demonstrates interest in local culture and helps build connections with the community.

5. Observing Social Cues and Daily Etiquette

Respecting social cues and daily behaviors is equally important. This includes simple actions such as waiting for elders to start eating, avoiding direct confrontation, and following subtle non-verbal cues in communication. Paying attention to body language, tone, and timing in interactions ensures that you are perceived as polite and culturally sensitive.

Summary:
By focusing on greetings, gift-giving, festival participation, politeness phrases, and observing social cues, you as an expat in Vietnam, can effectively show respect and integrate smoothly into Vietnamese society. These actions help avoid misunderstandings, build trust, and create meaningful social connections.

Thriving as an Expat in Vietnam with Cultural Awareness

Living and working in Vietnam as an expat can be a rewarding experience, but it requires understanding and adapting to local cultural norms. From the collectivist mindset, to the emphasis on hierarchy and polite communication, to the unique blend of tradition and modernity, Vietnamese culture offers both challenges and opportunities for those willing to learn.

By focusing on how to show respect in Vietnamese culture, through greetings, polite language, gift-giving, festival participation, and careful observation of social cues, you can integrate more smoothly into local life. These practical actions not only prevent misunderstandings but also help you build meaningful connections with colleagues, neighbors, and friends.

At VLS, we understand that learning the language is deeply connected to understanding the culture. That’s why our programs combine structured Vietnamese lessons with real-world cultural insights, helping expats gain confidence, communicate effectively, and enjoy life in Vietnam to the fullest. 

Additionally, we offer special classes focused on Vietnamese culture, which you can join if you want to dive deeper and practice cultural skills in a supportive environment. With the right guidance, you can not only learn Vietnamese quickly but also thrive socially and professionally in your new environment.