Does Vietnam have a tardiness culture?

We reached the sports hall on time at 6:30 a.m., only to find hundreds of children already waiting. Most were elementary and middle school students, yawning and nibbling on snacks or sipping milk. The teachers started roll call at 7:00 a.m., but even after that, the children continued to wait. By 7:45 a.m., representatives from local departments, sports federations, and the People's Committee began to trickle in. It was not until 8:00 a.m. that the guests had finally settled, and the exam commenced; an hour and a half after the children had been told to arrive.

This is not an isolated incident. A few weeks ago, many schools required students to be present by 6:45 a.m. for the opening of the academic year, yet the ceremonies did not begin until 8:00 a.m. It seems children, just like adults, are often left waiting for others.

Anyone who has attended a parent-teacher meeting is familiar with the sight of teachers waiting for parents to show up, some of whom arrive well after the meeting has begun. Sociological studies suggest that the "habit of being late" in Vietnam is rooted in the country's long history of agricultural production, where strict adherence to time was not necessary compared to industrial work. But is this historical "legacy" still relevant in today's urban environments, where people are largely unaffected by agricultural traditions?

I believe that while there are historical and cultural influences, the modern "lateness epidemic" also stems from a herd mentality: if everyone else is late, why should I bother to be on time? Those who arrive early simply end up waiting longer. Additionally, there's a cultural aversion to confrontation. People hesitate to call out latecomers, preferring to avoid turning a "small issue" into a big one. But is being late really just a small issue? Only those who have lost jobs, missed opportunities or damaged relationships due to tardiness truly understand its impact.

Another cause of habitual lateness is selfishness, a lack of discipline and an absence of self-respect. Being late is essentially a form of theft, as it wastes others' time, effort, enthusiasm, even opportunities.

The habit of "rubber time" among adults often extends to children. A child who frequently observes their parents being late is unlikely to develop strong discipline themselves. A friend of mine, who runs a private business, instituted a rule: being five minutes late incurs a fine of VND200,000 ($8.14), which goes into the company fund. Despite this, some Gen Z employees asked to "bulk buy" their lateness for the month at a discounted rate. My friend found it amusing yet disheartening that they did not view punctuality as a serious matter.

In the workplace, this lax attitude leads to missed deadlines, delayed responses and procrastinated decisions, all justified by a litany of excuses. In Vietnam, these excuses are always readily available: bad weather, floods, extreme temperatures, traffic jams, vehicle breakdowns, headaches, stomachaches, or even being stopped by traffic police. When it comes to work, tardiness is often accompanied by blame-shifting: partners are uncooperative, customers too demanding, or colleagues unsupportive. Few are willing to admit their own shortcomings.

I have traveled to several countries with agricultural backgrounds similar to Vietnam's. Yet, these nations now prioritize punctuality, often to the minute, even the second. In South Korea, public venues have staff stationed by doors with watches in hand, opening the doors exactly at the appointed time, not a second earlier or later. A Chinese partner once scheduled a meeting with a Vietnamese company six months in advance. On the designated day and time, they arrived on time, while the Vietnamese hosts were still gathering their department representatives.

Consider the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Yoshitaka Sakurada, Japan's Minister of Cybersecurity, was criticized and forced to issue a public apology for arriving three minutes late to a meeting. Some may wonder, "What’s the big deal about being three minutes late?" But a 2017 report by Heathrow Express in the U.K. revealed that tardiness costs the country $11.7 billion annually. In the U.S., employee lateness costs New York State $700 million each year, and in California, the figure is even higher, reaching $1 billion.

Half a century ago, Japan pioneered the JIT (Just In Time) system, with its core principle of delivering "the right product, in the right quantity, at the right place, at the right time." The system's goals of "no waiting, no inventory, no additional costs" were designed to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. JIT has been adopted in many countries, including Vietnam, but the ability to apply it varies greatly between nations, businesses, and individuals.

Punctuality is not just about respect for others; it reflects self-respect. Being on time costs us nothing, but it can yield countless "profits" in the future. In contrast, habitual lateness invites immeasurable "losses", even if we don't initially recognize their significance.

*Trinh Hang is a documentary film director.