When the topic of Vietnamese national character comes up, people mention many different sides—diligent, skillful, reserved, easygoing, and more. Sometimes completely opposite traits are described, such as “serious” and “easily bored.” This article explains why such gaps arise and covers key points for understanding Vietnamese national character.

Vietnamese National Character Differs Between North and South

Vietnam’s long north–south geography means the climate varies considerably by region. Partly because of that influence, differences in national character can be seen between the north and the south.

Northern Vietnamese, Who Have Winter, Are Diligent

The north, centered on the capital Hanoi, surprisingly has four seasons. Summers are extremely hot, while spring and autumn are relatively comfortable despite the humidity. In winter, temperatures drop sharply, and down jackets and scarves become essentials. For that reason, Vietnamese people in the past got through winter on stored food. From that history, northerners still tend to work diligently and save money to prepare for the unexpected.

Southern Vietnamese, Where It Is Hot Year-Round, Are Cheerful

By contrast, the south, including the commercial city of Ho Chi Minh City, is steamy and hot year-round and, while there is some variation, does not have four seasons like the north. With abundant food from the sea and mountains, there was historically little need to stockpile. As a result, Vietnamese people from the south are cheerful and optimistic. They tend to save little and spend what they have on enjoying the present.

Central Vietnamese Who Want to Move to the City Have Strong Ambition

The central region, home to the port city of Da Nang, has seen remarkable growth in recent years with a surge of foreign companies. In the past, however, while it thrived as a port town, it was not a city full of appeal for young people. Young people aimed for Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Because of their strong longing for urban life, many Vietnamese in the central region are said to keep striving with high ambition.

Vietnamese National Character Also Differs by Gender

Among Vietnamese people, differences in national character between men and women can also be seen, stemming from the long history of the Vietnam War.

Women Who Want to Protect Their Families Have a Strong Sense of Responsibility

During the Vietnam War, men went to the battlefield, so it was women who protected the children and the home. For that reason, Vietnamese women have a strong awareness of working for their families. Compared with Japanese people, Vietnamese workers are said to have a higher turnover rate. Even so, women with children in particular will patiently continue working despite some dissatisfaction in order to bring money home.

Men Are Characterized by Individual Differences

Vietnamese men are said to prioritize the present, perhaps because they once faced situations where they did not know when their lives might end on the battlefield. For that reason, more than a few men suddenly quit their jobs over small matters or live day to day. That said, not all men are lazy. Taking such adults as a cautionary example, more Vietnamese men are ambitious and aim higher. Cases of starting businesses in their twenties are also conspicuous.

Vietnamese Women Lead Men

Personality differences between Vietnamese women and men can also be seen in male–female relationships. In Vietnam, patriarchal traditions remain, yet women tend to have stronger personalities and take the lead in many situations. At the same time, because the custom of ladies first is well established, men also tend to look after women—even when they are not a couple.

How Differences in National Character Affect Work

In Vietnam, differences in national character by region and gender are reflected in hiring patterns for men and women, working hours by region, and the types of jobs people excel at.

Employment in Vietnam Has Little Gender Gap

In Vietnam, there is no concept of the full-time homemaker. Women are basically hard workers, so they work after marriage and even immediately before and after giving birth. Likewise, the idea that the man is the sole breadwinner is weak. It is normal for the whole family to manage on everyone’s income. Because both men and women are expected to work, the impression is that men and women are hired relatively equally.

Working Hours Differ Between North and South

In Vietnam, northerners are patient and southerners are easily bored. For that reason, working hours tend to be set longer in the north than in the south. However, because wage levels are lower in the south, some Vietnamese people hold several short-hour jobs at once. In the central region, there is a more relaxed pace of work partly due to the laid-back rural atmosphere, but with many foreign companies present, it is case by case.

Northerners Excel at Office Work; Southerners Excel at Customer Service

Northern Vietnamese people often steadily build skills, so they tend to be good at office work. Many also perform well on factory production lines. Within the south, Ho Chi Minh City is a merchants’ town. With outgoing, unflappable personalities, many people there excel at customer service and sales. People from the central region tend to split into two groups: those who take over family businesses such as farming in their hometowns, and those who work hard to advance their careers in urban areas.

Conclusion

When considering hiring, not everything will apply in every case, but place of origin and gender can offer one angle for assessing fit. That said, younger generations of Vietnamese people in particular have many opportunities to encounter overseas values, and there are many ways they do not fit previous molds. Looking not only at general tendencies in national character but also at the impression from actual conversation and the person’s track record of effort should make it easier to judge whether someone will be a positive addition to the workplace.