Shuffling to Success: From Poker to Business.

Have you ever taken a moment to realize how many World Series of Poker winners hail from Vietnam? Have you ever wondered why?

One big reason is the sweet spot gambling holds in Asian hearts, overshadowing many other forms of entertainment. This love affair with luck is why Macao's casinos rake in more than Las Vegas's — and we're talking gambling money, not hotel or dining bucks. And because concerns over gambling addition, casinos, gambling's pretty much a no-fly zone

for the Vietnamese locals, and limited only to tourists. Maybe they're thought to have a better grip on their gambling impulses?

Another reason lies in a national card game of Vietnam called Tien Len, which bears similarities to Texas Hold'em Poker. Except that the Vietnamese version is much more complex with no folding allowed. Most Vietnamese know how to play this native game, often during holidays like Tet. Comparing Texas Hold'em to the Vietnamese Tien Len is like comparing college-level math to middle school math. That's the level of advantage the Vietnamese people have regarding these types of gambling activities - where skill, strategy, and an unyielding mindset are crucial.

This sophisticated ability to calculate odds, read others, and commit to a long-term strategy underlies much of Vietnamese business negotiations. Understanding Vietnamese culture is crucial to business strategy. We have often successfully negotiated dramatic discounts with business partners and suppliers within our culture, but it is a different playing field when it comes to foreign investment. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the culture before making any business decisions.