Vietnam Life

Soviet Legacy and the 2026 Education Overhaul: Why Vietnamese Universities Look the Way They Do

Vietnam has 243 universities, most single-discipline, a direct Soviet legacy. After Doi Moi, private universities and international schools flooded in. Now 2026 brings five reforms at once, but a 120,000-teacher shortage looms.

Vietnam Life

How Vietnamese Students Go to School: The 5-4-3 System, No Winter Break, and One Exam to Rule Them All

Vietnam runs a 5-4-3 school system where students choose their path right after junior high. One exam decides both graduation and university admission. Tutoring costs 4 million VND a month. Adjusted for income, Vietnamese students score just behind Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea.

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