Why Working Late Is Seen as Dedication in Vietnam

Uyen, a 32‑year‑old marketer in Ho Chi Minh City, now works until after 7:30 p.m.; she changed her habit after a performance review deducted points for her “work attitude” because she left on time.

In Hanoi, 29‑year‑old IT specialist Van Vy also reshaped his day, pushing tasks into the afternoon so he can stay until about 7 p.m. after his supervisor warned that leaving at 5:30 p.m. every day suggested a lack of effort.

A VnExpress survey conducted in August 2026 reported that 13 % of Vietnamese companies evaluate employees partly based on the number of hours they spend in the office, reflecting a growing pressure to be visibly present.

Dr. Le Trung Hieu, deputy head of the human‑resource management department at the School of Business Administration, Vietnam National University, explains that the habit is linked to East Asian foreign investment, which introduced hierarchical, obedience‑oriented work cultures; because many firms lack clear performance indicators, managers often use office hours as a proxy for commitment.

Supporting this view, a survey by the UK‑based health and wellbeing firm Vitality found that presenteeism—working long hours without real productivity—costs each employee an estimated 35 working days per year, a loss greater than that caused by absenteeism.

Some managers still defend late‑hour presence. Thanh Toan, a 45‑year‑old director of an import‑export company in Hai Phong, says that having staff physically in the office after hours can simplify coordination and signal responsibility and willingness to put collective goals before personal ones.

The combined pressure from performance reviews, managerial expectations, and cultural norms means many Vietnamese workers equate staying late with dedication, even though research shows the practice can lower overall productivity and strain personal health.

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