Working in a Vietnamese voice

Abstract

Executive Overview Vietnam is on the move, gaining experience with the global economy and attracting foreign investors, development workers, scholars, and artists. The last decade has brought unprecedented changes. Nevertheless, Vietnam remains challenging to expatriates working with Vietnamese partners. Of course, not all Vietnamese are alike: some are more Western, while others are more traditional. This article describes Vietnam's culture and work relationships. During recent years, management practices have emerged that increase the need for transparent management systems. Ten principles for working with Vietnamese counterparts are offered to help managers guide their organizations toward long-term success. A version of this article published in 1994 was the first description of work practices in Vietnam, and thus the first piece to name and describe the concepts sketched herein. Business executives, journalists, academics, and the staffs of international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), bilaterals, businesses, the IMF, and the World Bank used the 1994 version. This revision incorporates their suggestions; it is not heavily documented, since it is original work expanded through comprehensive consultation, as defined below.1