Cultural Diversity in Greetings

Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings  intentionally make their presence known to each other, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship or social status between individuals or groups of people coming in contact with each other. While greeting customs are highly culture- and situation-specific and may change within a culture depending on social status and relationship, they exist in all known human cultures, which makes the diversity in culture.

Let’s start with the USA, which is ultimately a nation of immigrants. American greetings are generally quite informal. This is not intended to show lack of respect, but rather a manifestation of the American belief that everyone is equal. A handshake, a smile, and a 'hello' are all that is needed.. Light handshakes are considered distasteful. Use a firm grip. Although it is expected in business situations, some Americans do not shake hands at social events. Instead, they may greet you with a casual "Hello" or "How are you?" or even just "Hi." In larger groups, many may not greet you at all. In social situations, Americans rarely shake hands upon leaving.

Unlike the America, handshake in France is very important. The French shake hands more than any other culture. When you meet (whether this is the first time or not) use a complete yet quick handshake.  It should not be too strong like a bone crusher or pumper handshake.  When you depart company you would also shake hands the same way. Kissing between friends, family and long-time colleagues is common. The French kiss twice starting with the left cheek, then the right.  If you are not French, don’t initiate the kiss but be ready to respond is it is offered to you. Wait for a woman to shake hands first.

In Japan, greetings are given great importance. It is considered rude to fail to greet someone or even to greet them in a lazy or offhand manner. As you've probably noticed, people in Japan also greet each other by bowing. A small head nod is a considered casual and is used when greeting family or friends.·  15 degree bow. This is the most informal bow. It is used for casual greetings, such as if you are rushing to work and see someone you know, or if you run into a friend on the streets. (Remember, no matter how informal it may be, it is incredibly impolite not to return a bow if someone bows to you).

·  30 degree bow. The most common type of bow is done to a 30-degree angle to greet customers or to thank someone. It's often seen in Japanese business situations, and is not used for formal events. It equates to welcoming a customer to your shop or inviting a friend to come into your home. When greeting a superior, it is a sign of respect to use a deep, longer bow: roughly a 90-degree bend at the waist. Most Japanese people don't expect foreign travelers to understand bowing etiquette and so will usually accept a nod of the head or a handshake.

Most of the Vietnamese in urban areas no longer bow when they meet each other. In formal gatherings, at religious place, and sometimes in the country areas, one may see the people clasp their hands together in a prayer-like gesture and bow slightly. This is not practiced to any extent in everyday life in Vietnam as it is in neighboring Thailand.

The custom of handshaking, formerly considered barbaric to the Vietnamese, is now achieving popularity due to the Western influence in the country. Men will generally shake hands and say the equivalent of "how are you" and tip their hats when greeting people. Women, especially those in the countryside, still shy away from shaking hands, especially with men from their own country. It is best not to offer to shake hands with a woman unless she offers her hand first.