Tips for asking for help or advice via email?

To write email to an expert, particularly in English or in other foreign languages, first, you should write the email in short and clear sentences. For that, your questions or your thought should be simply and clear. If not, the experts can not understand what you are interest in. And second, you should write email in sincere manner with a progress seeking attitude. To me, they are a very important step to set up the relation with the experts via email.

One of many good tactics is always STAY ON POINT or BE DIRECT TO THE POINT. You should put yourself in the shoes of the expert when writing the email to ask for help. Think: he does not have much time to read a long email and he needs to understand your issue before giving advice. So, keep it simple when writing, as Mr. Nguyen Ho Nguyen said: use short & clear sentences.

Practicing writing in English would be helpful, too. Write, read, then cut-short, then rewrite and ask someone to help you read those pieces of writing and comments. You'll see much progress in your email writing skill for sure :) Good luck!

Hi Trang,
Now that you’re bringing this further, you may need to clarify the followings:
Are you writing to a Vietnamese or a foreign expert? Where are they based? Vietnam or overseas? If they are Vietnamese and live in Vietnam, I also second Minh’s brilliant idea. But keep in mind that not everyone will be open to meeting up with you. If you are able to make it to a few meetings with them, I personally don’t think writing them an email would now be an issue at all, don’t you agree?
If you are to write to a foreign expert, which country they are from? Do a quick research in order to make your writing relevant to their culture, interests and preferences etc (with a click, you can almost get anything you need to know on the internet) or ask someone if necessary. This is only about first few times effort. After a while you’ve been real into this, a so-called habit is built, you can see you there at the point where the question on ‘How to write’ doesn’t really a matter but you will find yourself thinking more of ‘What to write’.
As to being professional or friendly, without a specific scenario, I won’t be able to say much but below are two examples:
Expert A. You have never met before -> be professional but sound natural.
Expert B. Few meets up on hands, then no harm to write in a friendly tone but don’t overdo it. So, be friendly in a professional manner : )
Good luck Trang : )

Hi Trang,

My humble tips:
1/Asking yourself first before emailing out: You need to be completely clear in your own mind about the purpose of your email = ‘What you are asking for’+’What to ask’. The latter details the first. Say, first, ‘I am writing to seek his advice on how to raise funds for campaign A’. Next, brief on campaign A then list out questions to ask *Who should I contact? *Do I need to get approval from the Culture and Information Department? etc.
Those two, more or less, help to avoid confusing yourself asking over and over again as you are composing: Is this relevant? Should I cut out thing A and add in thing B?
2/Who you are writing to? A PR expert, fine. But are they of your long-lasting relationship/partnership/acquaintance or someone to reach out of your network? This holds the key of your communication style.
3/ In my pov, an email receiver often doesn’t read your every words, they read your ideas. That way saves their time and brain. So yes, as already mentioned by others, be concise = clear, specific, brief yet comprehensive and certainly be written in a proper tone. So, don’t let a lengthy consideration of word usage hold you back. Also use bullet points whenever possible but this needs to refer to 2/
Hope this helps : )

Thanks everybody for the tips. Hana, according to the 2nd questions you gave out, if the purpose is to build a long-lasting relationship, I think Minh's idea is good. The question is the tone, should it sound professional or friendly? Where should I start with? Introducing myself or a sentence to compliment him/her? Sort of. I agree with the short, simple, clear, direct,... especially the "sincere manner" according to Mr.Nguyen.