Quick answer: Why does it feel like Vietnamese people don’t apologize?

Rather than assuming “Vietnamese people don’t apologize,” it helps to see reactions as shaped by how responsibility is viewed, face, and Japanese language comprehension. At work, pressing for an apology is less effective than briefly confirming what happened, the impact, and the next action—steps that support prevention going forward.

When working with Vietnamese people, do you ever find yourself thinking, “Why won’t they just apologize?” Japanese people have a habit of apologizing first, even over minor matters or someone else’s mistake. Vietnamese people, on the other hand, may stubbornly refuse to apologize even when something is entirely their own fault—being late, forgetting something, or making a mistake at work.

It may feel unpleasant, but it comes from a difference in values. Understanding that difference makes smoother communication with Vietnamese colleagues possible. Below, we explain why Vietnamese people do not apologize lightly.

In Vietnamese, an apology is a matter of responsibility

Vietnamese people do not avoid apologizing lightly because they refuse to admit fault. The deeper reason is that their view of apology differs fundamentally from that of Japanese people.

Japan has one of the world’s strongest apology cultures

Before considering why Vietnamese people may not apologize, it helps to note that Japan is among the countries with the strongest apology cultures in the world. In Japan, people tend to apologize even when they are not at fault—passing someone on a narrow path, when a delivery driver brings a package, or when someone presses an elevator button for them. Even when the other person made the mistake, or when circumstances cannot be helped, there is often a side of “apologize first” in order to keep relationships smooth.

Vietnamese people apologize when they are 100% responsible

Vietnamese people are often said to be bad at apologizing. In reality, it is better to think that the situations in which they apologize differ from those for Japanese people. The Vietnamese equivalent of “sumimasen” or “gomen nasai” is “xin lỗi.” Literally, the phrase means something like “to ask forgiveness for a wrong,” and it is used when one’s mistaken action has caused trouble for someone else and one is apologizing for it. In other words, a Vietnamese person says “xin lỗi” only when they accept that they are 100% responsible.

When Vietnamese people don’t apologize, it is a difference in perception

Because of this difference in what the words mean, Vietnamese people rarely say “sumimasen” or “gomen nasai” when they are not 100% responsible.

Cases where Vietnamese people do not apologize

Compared with Japanese people, Vietnamese people tend to be looser about time. They are often late, and you may be surprised when they do not apologize. For example, if someone is 30 minutes late because of a train delay or traffic jam, a Japanese person will still offer a deep apology. A Vietnamese person, by contrast, will not go out of their way to apologize if the lateness was caused by a train delay or traffic jam. That is because they see the cause as lying with the means of transport, not with themselves. For that reason, if they get caught in severe traffic and decide they will not make it to work on time, they may even turn around and go home. Even then, they may only say “the traffic was terrible” and not apologize for being absent.

Vietnamese people seek understanding more than an apology

That does not mean Vietnamese people admit no fault at all. Taking lateness as an example, if they are delayed by a train accident involving injury or a similar incident, they may say “Thông cảm.” The phrase means something like “please understand” or “have sympathy.” Roughly, it conveys, “It was hard because the train was delayed—please see things from my position too.” To get others to understand the situation, some Vietnamese people stand out for offering long explanations rather than apologizing. In Japan there is a tendency to clarify where responsibility lies, but the Vietnamese style is more about mutual recognition that “everyone has it tough.”

How to work with Vietnamese colleagues who do not apologize

Among Vietnamese people, seeking mutual understanding without an apology is fine, but in Japan it can lead to misunderstanding.

Teach the Japanese sense of apology

For that reason, helping Vietnamese colleagues understand how Japanese people feel when there is no apology is important from a training standpoint. The key is to explain that the presence or absence of a simple “sumimasen” or “gomen nasai” completely changes the impression. Even when they are not at fault at all, patiently convey that adding a brief “sumimasen” helps the other person understand the situation. If you teach the points for apologizing each time they come up, they should gradually grow accustomed to Japanese communication.

Many Vietnamese people already have a sense of apology

In recent years, more Vietnamese people have gone abroad for study or work. As a result, the government has emphasized the need to develop a more international outlook. Manuals explaining when and how to apologize in different situations can even be found in bookstores. For that reason, quite a few Vietnamese people already understand that the sense of apology differs between their home country and other countries. Some even say “sumimasen” or “gomen nasai” so often that you may think, “Aren’t they apologizing a bit too much?” It is fair to say that awareness around apologizing is rising among Vietnamese people themselves.

Summary

Given this background, even if it bothers you when Vietnamese people do not apologize, it helps to accept it as a difference in apology culture. There is no need to form negative images—that Vietnamese people are proud, refuse to admit fault, or are stubborn—simply because they do not apologize. By enjoying cultural differences while teaching Japan’s communication style, Vietnamese colleagues will gradually learn when to apologize.

Confirmation methods that reduce workplace misunderstanding

How apologies and responses are received can be improved by how workplace communication is designed. For how to give feedback and confirmations, see also Japanese workplace communication with Vietnamese colleagues.

For those considering hiring international talent

As a Registered Support Organization, YourBright provides international talent placement services focused on Specified Skilled Worker. Hear from companies that have accepted talent in our case studies, and find materials useful for acceptance preparation on our downloads page.