Vietnam ranks 5th best country for expats, yet many still stumble at work

By Hana Bui  (a media article on e.vnexpress.net)

When newcomers land in Vietnam, it often feels like stepping into a maelstrom. The streets pulse with the hum of motorbikes, the air is rich with the smell of street food. For many, Vietnam is exciting, but also bewildering.

And then the local office also welcomes them with hidden things!

The stories are repeated: the German engineer baffled by indirect communication, the American director surprised by how decisions get delayed, the Japanese boss not sure why his Vietnamese team improvise decisions.

Each expat brings their own expectations, and Vietnam, with its unique blend of tradition and rapid modernization, challenges them all.

Stories from the ground

Take, a Canadian IT consultant who relocated to Ho Chi Minh City, remembers his first month vividly: “In the office, people addressed me even as ‘anh Take’ or older brother, maybe because I was very friendly. At first I thought it was just a nickname. Later, I realized it reflected respect and hierarchy. But it also meant I was expected to act like a mentor, not just a colleague. That was the pressure I hadn’t anticipated.”

Sarah, a young French teacher in Hanoi, felt the rhythm of daily life pull her in two directions: “I loved the warmth of my students’ families, how they invited me for meals. But in the school meetings, no one said what they really thought. They just smiled. Later I found out the real feedback was passed quietly in side conversations. I felt left out.”

Hiroshi, a Japanese manager overseeing a manufacturing team in Binh Duong, confessed: “I was frustrated. I gave clear instructions, but the team did not follow them exactly. At first I thought it was resistance. Later I realized they were improvising because they didn’t want to say ‘No.’ They do not want to voice a different opinion from the boss.”

These stories are not isolated. They reflect the broader expat journey in Vietnam, when global meets local.

Vietnam is a place where warmth and hospitality coexist with layers of unspoken expectations, where “Yes” does not always mean agreement, and where relationships often carry more weight than rules.

In fact, a global survey of expatriates in 68 countries found 90% of executives agreeing that cross-cultural management is their biggest challenge. Vietnam is not an exception.

Two foreigners walk in Hue in central Vietnam, March 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh

Vietnam’s place in the expat world

In the Expat Insider 2025 survey, Vietnam ranked the fifth best country for expats – a remarkable position that reflects its strong appeal to expats globally.

Affordable living costs, a rich culture and professional opportunities make Vietnam especially attractive.

The ranking also highlights its dynamism: a young, energetic workforce, a growing middle class and endless opportunities.

But rankings only tell part of the story. Behind the numbers are people navigating daily realities – from handling landlords who prefer handwritten contracts to adjusting to office politics shaped by Confucian values of hierarchy and harmony.

For many, the workplace, more than the street, is where the hardest adjustments happen.

Why and how misunderstandings happen

Cultural misunderstandings in Vietnam often arise from different approaches to communication, authority and priorities.

International business leaders often tend to value directness, equality and efficiency while Vietnamese workplaces emphasize harmony, hierarchy and relationships.

A phrase often heard from expats is: “Why don’t they just tell me what they think?”

For many Vietnamese employees, voicing disagreement openly can feel disrespectful to a superior – especially an expat boss.

They prefer subtle hints, silence or private chats to express concerns. They “save face” for their boss and for themselves, fearing that a blunt “no” could embarrass either side.

The famous “yes” is another cultural nuance. In Vietnam, it often means “I hear you,” or “I’ll try,” rather than firm agreement. It reflects respect and harmony.

In fact, people do not want to say “no” bluntly, especially to their seniors.

As harmony is their key value, they are non-confrontational. Thus they believe saying no would displease others or challenge them.

Thus it may appear in the form of silence, a delay or a private comment. They may say “I am not sure…” or “Let me think about it”, or “Yes, I agree, but…”

Similarly, the hierarchical approach to authority can puzzle foreign managers.

A European manager once told me he felt confident after every project meeting because everyone nodded and said “Yes, yes.”

But weeks later he discovered that key details had never been clarified. Deadlines slipped, not because people were unwilling, but because no one felt safe enough to raise concerns.

This dynamic stems from education as well. In school, Vietnamese students are rarely encouraged to question teachers. “Asking back” may feel like challenging authority. In the workplace, many hesitate to ask for clarifications, even when unsure.

Expats used to western-style debates can misread this as passivity. Some respond by pushing harder, demanding instant feedback or calling out mistakes in meetings. The result? Team members withdraw. Collaboration fades.

When it comes to priorities, Vietnam’s relationship-oriented culture contrasts sharply with the efficiency-driven focus of the west, for instance.

Here, relationships precede transactions. The personal and professional are not clear cut – they can even be intertwined.

Breaking the “face-saving” rule can damage relationships deeply. A longtime staff member could well resign after being criticized publicly by an expat boss and feeling humiliated after “losing face.”

At work, Vietnamese colleagues often invite expats not only for coffee or lunch, but also to weddings, family dinners and sing karaoke.

These gestures go beyond hospitality – they are bridges of good relationship and trust.

In relationship-oriented cultures, trust grows through time shared together. Declining invitations too often can unintentionally create a distance, which may later affect collaboration.

As one Vietnamese woman said, she and her team were not eager to help a foreign colleague who kept to himself. “He never joined our chats or tea breaks. He was like a stranger to us, then why should we help him?”

From culture shock to thriving in Vietnam

Vietnam is a land of contrasts that can be daunting for expats: fast-changing yet deeply traditional, pragmatic yet guided by subtle cultural codes. Office life here has its own rhythm, shaped by harmony, hierarchy and relationships.

Despite the challenges, many expats eventually find Vietnam becomes home in unexpected ways.

Working with hundreds of expats over the years, I’ve come to see a pattern: with patience, openness, and proper support, the very things that once seemed like obstacles can become sources of growth and connection, when the global – local gap has been bridged.

Many people came for work but have stayed in the country for 10, 20, even 30 years.

David, a British marketing professional, said: “At first, I was overwhelmed. But after a year I realized I’d stopped comparing everything to the U.K. I’d learned to laugh when things didn’t go as planned or faced with a last-minute change. That’s when I felt I belonged.”

Such epiphanies mark a turning point when Vietnam stops feeling like a “strange land” and starts feeling like home.

Practical takeaways for expats For those about to begin their journey in Vietnam, these few things can make all the difference: – Listen between the lines. Do not take “yes” as “agree”. Pay attention not only to words, but also to silences, gestures and follow-up conversations. Ask open-ended questions to understand people’s real thoughts, check for real understanding. – Pay close attention to tone, hesitation and body language. In Vietnam, what is unsaid can matter just as much as what is spoken. – Use one-on-one conversations for sensitive issues, and never criticize people publicly. Deliver feedback constructively and tactically. Praise good work openly, and phrase criticism as opportunities for shared improvement or joint problem-solving. – Respect hierarchy – older and senior people are to respect. – Relationships are built through the warmth of shared meals and informal bonding. Invest in small gestures: a warm greeting, genuine curiosity about colleagues’ lives or accepting an invitation to a coffee break/chat or a meal. – Learn a few Vietnamese phrases – even simple greetings show respect. These small acts nurture trust, which in turn makes collaboration smoother and communication more open. – Set clear expectations, but do not leave things unattended till the deadline. Follow up to see what progress has been made – it is not about micromanagement but to make sure there is no potential problem or misunderstanding along the way. – Involve local colleagues early in decisions, and listen closely to their context-specific insights. The more you tap into local knowledge, the more agile and effective you become

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