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Doing business in other countries can be a tricky proposition, as a specialist in providing manpower overseas. Vietnam Manpower has the changes to meet customers from all over the world. Here are a few regional pointers from Vietnam Manpower that might help you avoid cultural faux pas.
China
- Allow Chinese affiliates to leave your meeting first.
- Shake hands upon meeting. Chinese may nod or bow instead of shaking hands, although it is far less common to greet someone with a hug or kiss.
- Use family names and appropriate titles until specifically invited by your Chinese host or colleagues to use their given names.
- It is customary to present and receive gifts with both hands.
- Business cards should be printed in English on one side and Chinese on the other. Make sure the Chinese side uses “simplified” characters and not “classical” characters, which are used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- They usually enter a room with the highest-ranking person entering first.
India
- When entering a resident, you are expected to remove your shoes outside.
- Men shake hands with men when meeting or leaving. Men do not touch women when meeting or greeting. Western women may offer their hand to a westernized Indian man, but not normally to others. Traditional Indian women may shake hands with foreign women but not usually with men.
- Avoid saying “no” in a business discussion; it’s consider rude. Instead of, you could use “we’ll try”, “possibly”, “we’ll see”.
- Use your right hand only to touch someone, pass money or pick up merchandise. The left hand is considered unclean.
- Never order beef at a business meal.
Japan
- Nodding is very important, like a culture. When they say, especially in English, you should nod to show you are listening and understanding the speaker.
- Do not stand close to a Japanese person. Avoid touching.
- The most senior person often leads discussion.
- Japanese may exchange business cards even before they shake hands or bow.
- Try to avoid saying “no.” Instead, say, “This could be very difficult,” allowing colleagues to save face.
- Never pour a drink for yourself; always allow someone else to pour for you.
Vietnam
- A long struggle for independence has given the Vietnamese a deep sense of national pride.
- The Vietnamese usually shake hands either when greeting or saying good-bye. They bow to the elderly to show their respect.
- The Vietnamese are generally quite punctual and expect foreigners to be the same. However they could be very flexible and accommodating when situations occur that are beyond the control of one of the parties involved
- Your local partner in Vietnam is very important and should be chosen very carefully.
Saudi Arabia
- Men and women would not greet each other in public or from outside the family.
- If you are invited to a Saudi's house: You would usually remove your shoes and dress conservatively.
- Saudis prefer to work with people they know and trust and will spend a great deal of time on the getting-to-know-you part of relationship building.
- Business meetings start after prolonged inquiries about health, family, etc. Never inquire about a Saudi's wife.
For further guidance on international business etiquette, access: vnmanpower.com
China
- Allow Chinese affiliates to leave your meeting first.
- Shake hands upon meeting. Chinese may nod or bow instead of shaking hands, although it is far less common to greet someone with a hug or kiss.
- Use family names and appropriate titles until specifically invited by your Chinese host or colleagues to use their given names.
- It is customary to present and receive gifts with both hands.
- Business cards should be printed in English on one side and Chinese on the other. Make sure the Chinese side uses “simplified” characters and not “classical” characters, which are used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- They usually enter a room with the highest-ranking person entering first.
India
- When entering a resident, you are expected to remove your shoes outside.
- Men shake hands with men when meeting or leaving. Men do not touch women when meeting or greeting. Western women may offer their hand to a westernized Indian man, but not normally to others. Traditional Indian women may shake hands with foreign women but not usually with men.
- Avoid saying “no” in a business discussion; it’s consider rude. Instead of, you could use “we’ll try”, “possibly”, “we’ll see”.
- Use your right hand only to touch someone, pass money or pick up merchandise. The left hand is considered unclean.
- Never order beef at a business meal.
Japan
- Nodding is very important, like a culture. When they say, especially in English, you should nod to show you are listening and understanding the speaker.
- Do not stand close to a Japanese person. Avoid touching.
- The most senior person often leads discussion.
- Japanese may exchange business cards even before they shake hands or bow.
- Try to avoid saying “no.” Instead, say, “This could be very difficult,” allowing colleagues to save face.
- Never pour a drink for yourself; always allow someone else to pour for you.
Vietnam
- A long struggle for independence has given the Vietnamese a deep sense of national pride.
- The Vietnamese usually shake hands either when greeting or saying good-bye. They bow to the elderly to show their respect.
- The Vietnamese are generally quite punctual and expect foreigners to be the same. However they could be very flexible and accommodating when situations occur that are beyond the control of one of the parties involved
- Your local partner in Vietnam is very important and should be chosen very carefully.
Saudi Arabia
- Men and women would not greet each other in public or from outside the family.
- If you are invited to a Saudi's house: You would usually remove your shoes and dress conservatively.
- Saudis prefer to work with people they know and trust and will spend a great deal of time on the getting-to-know-you part of relationship building.
- Business meetings start after prolonged inquiries about health, family, etc. Never inquire about a Saudi's wife.
For further guidance on international business etiquette, access: vnmanpower.com
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