Top 10 DON'Ts to doing business in Vietnam

1. DON'T be late to business meetings
You may have heard that Vietnamese are casual about punctuality when meeting with friends or attending various social events. There is even a term called "gio day thung" meaning "rubber band time" that is often used as a joke among Vietnamese. However, when it comes to business meetings Vietnamese are very punctual and you’ll need to be on time--it’s a huge sign of disrespect when you are late although they might not tell it to your face.

2. DON'T talk about religion, politics, or the Vietnam War
If these topics are brought up by others, resist the temptation to join in. It might be best to gently change the topic.

3. DON’T say anything to offend the Vietnamese government
There may be times when foreign press (or the local press) may ask you for an interview. Foreign press representatives in Vietnam must follow strict guideline on what they can and cannot do in Vietnam. Make sure the reporter has been authorized by the Vietnamese government to interview you. During the interview, remember the adage, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

4. DON'T assume the current Vietnamese laws will not be changed
Vietnamese rules and regulations are constantly changing. Many foreign operators have said this is one of the most frustrating things about doing business in Vietnam right along with going through the slow application procedure dozens of times to get the necessary permits to operate in Vietnam.

5. DON'T expect to sleep in late
Vietnamese start their day early (6 a.m.). Most merchants start wheeling their cargo around 5 a.m. Do expect the noise in the morning to be a little overwhelming for first timers.

6. DON’T expect to reach an agreement quickly
Most decisions are made by committee in Vietnam and negotiations can be quite lengthy.

7. DON’T touch a person's head
It is very disrespectful to touch someone's head. The head is considered the sacred and only parents may touch the head of their young children.

8. DON'T accept an on-the-spot invitation to dinner at someone’s house
If you happened to stop by someone’s house near or during dinner time, more often, you will be invited to sit down for dinner. This is only a formality and the invitation should always be declined even if they repeat the offer the second time. Unless you know the family very well and it’s their third or fourth offer, you may accept but only eat a few bites—most Vietnamese only make enough food to consume at one sitting so there may not be enough to go around when there is an unexpected guest.

9. DON’T accept a compliment
This may sound strange but in Vietnam it is customary to deny a compliment. When you receive a compliment, be polite, smile, and play it down. For example, if someone said you're a good speaker, just reply, "Oh, I am not that good really but thanks." To get a feel for it, try offering a Vietnamese a compliment and see how to they turn it down.

10. DON'T cause someone to lose face in front of others
This is a big one. Vietnamese put a very high value in maintaining and saving face. Embarrass or insult someone in a business meeting (or in a social setting) and they will remember it for a long time. On the other hand, if you go out of your way to save face for someone, they will definitely know it and will remember your kind gesture.

Top 10 DO's (view details)

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