Hall’s Framework
Space and individual boundaries, context, and time are essential when evaluating the cultures of business destinations. Vietnam is a high-context due to the various elements, such as communication styles where most people prefer non-verbal cues like gestures or facial expressions to relay information. The country mainly uses indirect communication to air their grievances and not direct expressive words regarded as rude and confrontational. For instance, individuals would avoid the word ‘no’ and employ phrases shared across communities that can be interpreted as no. The other element is collectiveness and willingness to embrace the societal nature where families and maintaining one’s dignity are recommended in all interactions (Tuan & Anh, 2023). Some significant aspects like loyalty and hierarchical relationships foster group harmony and instigate high-context communication. Long-term orientation is another element Vietnamese hold dear as it is embodied in their customs, and they tend to capitalize on continuity and acknowledge the past and future offsprings (Tran, 2020). Politeness and respect are accorded to leaders and older adults, which boosts peaceful coexistence and safeguarding reputation.
Trompenaars’ Concepts
The features will centralize human relationships and how they dictate teamwork and dialogues and expound on how cultures perceive components like time. The country favors particularism as it emphasizes relationships and overall stipulations during decision-making or business proposals. The other dimension is communitarianism, where individuals publicly regard their family or close-knit members before addressing personal desires and establishing cooperation. It is a diffuse culture where personal reputations and appreciating chances to build social connections by honoring invites are common. Vietnamese would depict their emotions in public but non-verbally via color choices or facial expressions. However, they will try to remain neutral as a maturity indicator and self-control. It hinders outbursts and irrationality when interacting with investors or in other formal spaces. The country embraces ascription over achievement as age and social structure highlight individuals deserving of respect regardless of their accomplishments. It allows people to actively question and participate in deciding business aspects or use suitable titles when talking to peers. It is a sequential culture where Vietnamese regard punctuality and handling tasks in phases but within the stipulated period. Most individuals perceive external controls like supernatural beings or fate when examining misfortunes or success.
Challenges
Expansion and globalization have enabled firms to operate in several countries and must adapt to the host’s norms and practices. The US has faced some challenges in Vietnam, such as different communication styles, where Americans prefer a direct approach. The latter employs implicit communication accompanied by non-verbal communication, which may be misinterpreted, ignored, or evoke conflicts between both parties. US industrialists may fail to establish informal relationships with partners as opposed to Vietnamese, who embrace or invest in individual relationships. The differing modes of interaction may hinder partnerships or bled suspensions among Vietnamese and Americans due to their transactional nature in addressing organizational issues. The consensus-oriented notion considered in Vietnam is regarded as time-consuming by American investors who would rather make decisions based on hierarchical roles. Most Americans believe in honoring people in authority, compared to Vietnamese, who acknowledge age and social structures as the paramount factors that may counter business connections. The citizens embrace protocols like offering gifts, greetings, and appreciating social calls to build rapport, which varies among the US nationals who may not be conversant with such business etiquette or lose partnerships unknowingly by failing to attend social events or champion personal ties.
Opportunities
Learning and incorporating customs from many regions trigger international ventures, and the USA has encouraged cultural exchange with Vietnamese to understand their norms. The traditional festivals offer the greatest chance for investors to indicate they are flexible and can delve into personal lives to pinpoint their needs or preferences. It has created vibrant business relations and indicated an honest interest in its market, causing its dominance in Vietnam’s market. The US has integrated communitarianism concepts into corporate social responsibility, which allows representatives to interact with the locals via beneficial projects, creating a better image and attracting more clients (Phan, Le, Duong & Phan, 2021). The social initiatives allow Vietnamese to recognize products and enhance harmony, which are essential aspects that enable local sourcing and partnerships. Investors have understood the need for consensus, and they have capitalized on this notion to boost collaborative engagements, resulting in innovations and loyalty. It enables firms to avoid confrontations or resolve misunderstandings in a friendly manner and savor collaborations. Local employees can witness American investors back the staff and treat them like family, which enhances devotion. The management has adjusted to the social structures where older adults must be consulted and respected in decisions like establishing a business in various localities. The move has led to efficient business deals and minimized conflicts.
Recommendations
Cross-cultural training would be my initial suggestion to explore the nuances of interactions and enhance empathy when handling Vietnamese clients or allies by focusing on a specific group. Having adequate background skills will ease conversations, instigate decision-making by involving all participants, and cultivate interpersonal connections to streamline operations. I would advocate for social responsibility where companies initiate links with NGOs and community frontiers to mitigate some crises like inadequate social amenities. Bridging such gaps and supporting their livelihood will ensure both factions resonate with each other.
References
Phan, C. X., Le, L. V., Duong, D., & Phan, T. C. (2021). The impact of corporate social responsibility on brand image: A case study in Vietnam. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 8(4), 423-431.
Tran, Q. H. (2020). The organizational culture of Vietnamese and Chinese Corporations: do age and gender make a difference?. Public Organization Review, 20(3), 549-562.
Tuan, V. V., & Anh, H. B. (2023). Cross-cultural Collectivistic and Individualistic Comparison between Vietnamese and Western Cultures. Handbook of Research on Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology, 153.
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