The Influences of Confucian Heritage Culture on Education and Teaching Activities in Vietnam

This paper investigates the influence of Confucian heritage culture on education and teaching activities in Vietnam, particularly within the context of the country’s transition toward competency-based curricula. While prior studies have predominantly focused on pedagogical methods or curriculum design, there remains a significant gap in examining how deeply-rooted cultural values shape the implementation of education reform. This paper addresses this gap by adopting an integrative literature review methodology and drawing upon empirical findings from the author’s previous studies. The study explores how Confucian heritage culture manifests in classroom practices, teacher-student interactions, and instructional approaches in primary schools. A theoretical framework grounded in cultural embeddedness theory provides the analytical basis for understanding these cultural continuities. The findings highlight both enabling and constraining effects of Confucian heritage culture on the shift toward student-centred, competency-based education. The paper concludes by proposing practical recommendations for educators and policymakers to align traditional values with contemporary educational goals

Asian culture · Asian studies · Context (archaeology · Cultural heritage · Curriculum · Embeddedness · Empirical research · Grounded theory · China's Ethnic Minorities and Relations · Global Education and Multiculturalism · Vietnamese History and Culture Studies

• Becoming from the Margins

  Open Access•Nguyễn Minh Trí, Dadang Rahmat Hidayat et al.•Human Arenas•2026

  Add to list