B2 – Upper Intermediate
In the global landscape of fast-food giants, McDonald’s has managed to establish an iconic presence in numerous countries.
However, its venture into Vietnam, a nation renowned for its rich culinary traditions, presented a unique set of challenges leading to a less-than-successful outcome.
Watch the video to know more about it and be able to answer the questions that follow.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does the idiom “to get one’s hands on” mean? “The launch drew crowds of locals who waited hours to get their hands on a Big Mac.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “rock-bottom “mean? “For the Vietnamese, we have our banh mi sandwiches and those sandwiches are sold on the streets at rock-bottom prices compared to McDonald’s and Burger King.” Make one sentence.
- What does the idiom ” mend fences” mean? “It wasn’t until that the United States and Vietnam mended fences and opened the door for trade.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- In your opinion, how much of McDonald’s struggle in Vietnam can be attributed to cultural differences, and to what extent should multinational companies adapt their strategies to fit local cultures?
- Do you believe McDonald’s could have succeeded in Vietnam with a different menu tailored specifically to Vietnamese tastes, or was the issue more deeply rooted in other factors? Share your thoughts.
- How did changing consumer trends towards healthier eating impact McDonald’s in Vietnam, and what lessons can other international fast-food chains learn from this experience?
4 replies on “McDonald’s Flopped In Vietnam”
1) Mc Donald’s struggle in Vietnam has a lot to do with cultural differences. As I can understand watching the video, in Vietnamese culture sharing food is like a way of life. We all know that Mc Donald’s is not the restaurant where people can share food. Maybe, the strategy to fit the local culture, apart from the taste and the ingredients, could be to create some courses that could be shared in family reunions.
2) I do not think that Mc Donald’s could have succeeded in Vietnam only with a different menu tailored to the local taste. We are talking about a country where, spending 2 o 3 dollars just for a meal, is considered a high-priced meal. And we are talking about a country where the business around the food is stuck. The issue is deeply rooted in other factors and I do not think that Mc Donald’s politic has a deep vision of that.
3) In my opinion, the trend towards healthier eating has a negative impact all around the world. Mc Donald’s is not the restaurant where to go when you are following a healthy diet. I do not think that, in general, international fast-food chains can learn something. Their business is make money, and the make money selling. For selling more they should have (very) low prices. And if they sell low-priced food, all is to the detriment of quality.
Welcome to the Phone English blog! Thank you so much for writing your answers to this lesson’s vocabulary and discussion questions. You did a good job.
See how these sentences can be revised:
Practice consistently to achieve your progress goals.
to get one’s hands on: I HAD TO NEGOTIATE A LOT TO GET MY HANDS ON THIS BOOK.
rock-bottom: TALKING TO HIM, I HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT HE WAS A ROCK-BOTTOM MAN.
mend fences: WE HAN AN ISSUE, BUT WE MENDES FENCES AND FIXED IT
MENDES* = MENDED