Work culture shocks returning overseas Vietnamese

Alex Huynh's experience of returning to Vietnam after 10 years in Australia vividly illustrates the phenomenon of reverse culture shock, a common challenge for long-term expatriates readjusting to their home countries.

Upon starting a new job in Ho Chi Minh City, Huynh, who was born and raised there, was immediately struck by the prevalence of manual labor, specifically colleagues filling out surveys by hand. His suggestion to digitize the process was met with a practical, cost-benefit analysis from his manager: while digital conversion would take two weeks and cost US10,000,hiringadata entryoperatorfor1,00 0samplesovertwodaysc ostonlyVND2million(a pproximatelyUS80). This stark contrast highlighted a fundamental difference from Australian businesses, where technology is adopted to cut expenses and maintain a minimum wage of $50 per hour.

Huynh, with a master's degree and experience managing an investment fund at the National Australia Bank, had left Australia due to a perceived lack of competition, limited career opportunities for foreign workers, and the "bamboo ceiling"—a systemic barrier preventing Asians from advancing to leadership positions regardless of their capabilities. Despite his Vietnamese background, he realized his understanding of his home country's culture was outdated.

His initial shocks at the new job quickly proved his assumption wrong. He observed a different workplace time culture: unlike Australia where colleagues typically leave at 5 p.m. with overtime compensated, overtime was a normal expectation in Vietnam. Huynh noted that "Vietnamese employees have huge workloads but they rarely demand their rights," and productivity was sometimes measured by hours spent in the office.

Another significant difference was the feedback culture. Huynh's direct comments in meetings were considered too blunt, leading him to realize that Vietnamese colleagues often avoided asking questions to avoid appearing incompetent or communicated indirectly. This observation resonated with other returning overseas Vietnamese from the U.S., Canada, and Australia whom he met during his first six months back.

This "reverse culture shock" is a well-documented phenomenon. A University of Nebraska study titled "Vietnamese Graduate International Student Repatriates: Reverse Adjustment" found that most returning international students face considerable challenges, even if they had lived in Vietnam for years before studying abroad. The researchers concluded that reintegration can be harder than adapting to life in a foreign country like the U.S.

Doan Thi Ngoc, a lecturer at Hoa Sen University in HCMC, estimates that 70% of students experience reverse culture shock when returning home. She explains that it stems from the need to reset habits, mindsets, and behaviors formed abroad, as the social environment, communication styles, and principles in Vietnam can differ drastically from their overseas experiences. This conflict between past familiarity and current reality often leads to feelings of disorientation and isolation, and a "lack of support for reintegration often leaves them feeling stranded or even that they are falling behind."

Thuy Tien, 30, who returned to Vietnam in 2020 after several years in the U.S. to work for a Hanoi startup, also experienced these shocks. Her first week revealed a clear hierarchy between bosses and employees, distinct lunch break routines with afternoon naps, and prevalent drinking parties for holidays or company anniversaries—a work-over-drinks culture she struggled to adapt to. While acknowledging that "every environment has its own way of operating and communicating," she ultimately found the environment inefficient due to the emphasis on overtime as a badge of achievement and decided to leave in mid-2025 to continue studying in the U.S. She noted that Vietnam's rapidly growing economy demands a faster pace compared to her more stable life abroad.

While there is no single solution for overcoming reverse culture shock, Ngoc advises returnees to adapt by focusing on the present, maintaining old habits, practicing meditation, walking, writing, and actively building social connections. She also suggests that applying international skills, including language, to both work and life can foster a sense of fulfillment and renewal. Lastly, Ngoc encourages expatriates to recall their past achievements, values, and resilience demonstrated abroad when they feel lost or disappointed, emphasizing that despite the challenges, many overseas Vietnamese like Alex Huynh have successfully integrated, seeing opportunities in Vietnam's growing economy by embracing local cultural integration.