Except in some regions, Vietnam has no winter, and vegetables and fruit are abundant year-round. The prolonged impact of the Vietnam War has also helped shape a distinctive sense of money. When working with Vietnamese people, you may often be surprised by attitudes toward money that differ from those of Japanese people. Here, we explain Vietnamese attitudes toward money while comparing them with Japanese ones.

Vietnamese Attitudes Toward Money ①: Regional Differences

Vietnam stretches long from north to south, so climate differs by region. As a result, even within Vietnam, attitudes toward money vary by area.

The North, Which Has Winter, Has a Stricter Sense of Money

Northern Vietnam, including Hanoi, has four seasons, and winter brings cold that calls for down jackets and scarves. Though rare, snow can fall in mountainous areas. Having historically gotten through winter on stored food, northerners have a habit of saving. However, unlike in Japan, where savings are set aside for retirement, a distinctive trait is that they spend large amounts at once for key moments such as a child's education or building a house.

In the South, They Spend It All Within the Day

The south, including Ho Chi Minh City, has a warm climate year-round and abundant vegetables, fruit, and seafood, so even without luxury, people did not struggle for food. There was no need to stockpile food for winter. Even today, there is a tendency to spend almost all of one's pay within a few weeks of receiving it, and to make large purchases that do not match income levels.

Central Vietnam, Rich in Food, Also Has a Loose Sense of Money

Central Vietnam has many of the country's leading fishing ports and is rich in seafood. Da Nang in particular has been branded as a vegetable-producing region, and the environment has long yielded abundant food. As in the south, there is no habit of saving. However, except in some areas, most places are quiet rural towns, so more young people dream of going to the city. As a result, people who spare no expense on self-investment for career advancement stand out.

Vietnamese Attitudes Toward Money ②: Gender Differences

Among Vietnamese people, men and women differ in how they think and act. Therefore, in addition to region, attitudes toward money also differ by gender.

Men Spend Money to Keep Up Appearances

Vietnamese people have strong pride and want to present themselves as larger than life. This tendency grows stronger with age. They also like being praised and thanked when they spend generously. At the same time, they can be soft-hearted and find it hard to refuse when asked or urged. As a result, they tend to make expensive purchases beyond their income.

Women Spend Money with Family First

Vietnam is a male-dominated society, but within the household women hold more authority. Women have strong affection for family and put family first when making decisions. Their sense of money is stricter than men's, and they waste less, but when they judge something benefits the family—such as children's health—they spend boldly.

Money Is Shared Family Property

What men and women share is that money is the family's common property. The majority of technical intern trainees who come to Japan send most of their Japanese wages home to family, and sometimes support not only immediate family but the entire extended family. Although they care about money, their sense of individual ownership seems thin.

Vietnamese Attitudes Toward Money ③: How They Spend

When working with Vietnamese people, you will likely shop or eat together at times. You may then be puzzled by ways of spending money that differ from Japanese ones.

Payday Is a Long-Awaited Day

For Vietnamese people, payday is a long-awaited day. Of course some save, but most spend almost everything within a month. Japanese people often plan carefully over a long span after receiving pay. What Vietnamese people prioritize is basically “today.” For about a week after payday, families go out to shopping malls and thoroughly enjoy shopping and dining.

Attitudes Toward Treating Others

In Japan, it is common for a boss to treat subordinates, or seniors to treat juniors, at after-work drinks. In Vietnam, treating someone is not much different from saying “you are poor.” Quite a few Vietnamese people consider being treated by others as dishonorable. There is also a custom that, regardless of age or position, the person who invited shows gratitude by paying. Depending on the flow, saying “thank you” when treated can actually be better for Vietnamese people.

Before Tet Is the Once-a-Year Shopping Season

Vietnamese people rarely plan spending over a long span, but an exception is Tet, equivalent to Lunar New Year. During Tet, relatives gather and hold banquets every day. So before Tet, Vietnamese people go shopping as a whole family and stock up on large amounts of ingredients, seasonings, tea, alcohol, sweets, and more. This is also when they buy gifts for people they deal with. Saving money toward Tet is therefore essential for Vietnamese people.

Summary

For Vietnamese people, money is necessary to live, but it is also important for maintaining pride and social status. What is ordinary in Japan may be unfamiliar in Vietnam or leave a bad impression. If someone seems offended, it may be a good opportunity to explain what it means in Japan.