A Vietnamese introduction requires a decision before the first word: how you relate to the person in front of you. Everything after that follows from the term of address you choose, so it is worth getting comfortable with early.
- Choose a term of address before you begin
- Vietnamese order is family name first, given name last
- People go by their given name, not their family name
- Prepare a short version and a longer one
The frame
Greet, give your name, say where you are from, say what you do or why you are in Vietnam, and close with a phrase about being pleased to meet. The whole thing runs three or four sentences and you expand or contract it depending on the situation. The frame is stable; only the term of address and the level of detail change.
Adapting to context
At work, add your role and keep the term of address respectful. Among people your own age, shorten it and expect the conversation to become informal quickly. In every case, saying that you are learning Vietnamese early on is worth doing, because it usually prompts people to slow down and stay in Vietnamese rather than switching to English.
What foreigners get wrong
Three things. Using one term of address for everyone, which is understood but marks you permanently as a beginner. Being startled by questions about age or marital status, which are ordinary social placing rather than intrusion. And addressing someone by their family name, when Vietnamese people go by their given name.
Common mistakes
- Using a single term of address with everyone regardless of age
- Reacting to a question about your age as though it were intrusive
- Calling someone by their family name, which Vietnamese people do not do
Frequently asked questions
Why do people call me by my given name?
Because that is the Vietnamese convention: even in formal settings, people are addressed by given name, often with a title. Being called by your family name would sound strange to a Vietnamese speaker.
What if I cannot judge someone's age?
Ask, or use a more neutral option. Asking is completely normal and reads as considerate rather than ignorant, because everyone needs the information to speak correctly.
Should I mention that I am learning Vietnamese?
Yes, and early. It usually results in people slowing down and continuing in Vietnamese instead of switching to English, which is exactly what you want.
How long should an introduction be?
Three or four sentences in most situations. Prepare a longer version of about a minute for interviews or formal introductions, since one version will always be wrong for one of the two settings.