13 October 2025
Integrating Cultural and Ethical Dimensions - The Case for Vietnam
Vietnam's trajectory in ASEAN since 2000 has been marked by its emergence as a bridge between traditional values and modern integration, particularly in balancing economic growth with ethical governance.
As part of the East Asian cultural sphere, Vietnam shares significant historical and philosophical values with China. These include Confucian principles such as harmony (hòa), hierarchy, reciprocity, and collective well-being, which have influenced its societal norms, governance, and diplomacy over more than 2,000 years of cultural exchange.
This shared heritage—evident in Vietnam's historical use of Chinese characters, Confucian education systems, and emphasis on social order—distinguishes it culturally from many Southeast Asian neighbours, positioning Vietnam as a unique actor in ASEAN that can leverage these affinities for dialogue with China while advancing regional cohesion. In the context of ASEAN, this cultural relevance enhances Vietnam's role in fostering mutual understanding and cooperation. It mitigates tensions like those in the South China Sea through ethical, value-based diplomacy that echoes Confucian reciprocity, even as it promotes ASEAN's centrality amid great-power dynamics.
Globethics publications on Vietnamese ethics incorporate elements related to business ethics, which stem from the Confucian code of conduct applicable in East Asian and Southeast Asian contexts. The ten-volume publication project, initiated by the Vietnam Hoc Institute in Geneva and led by Anh Tho Andres, aims to identify shared values of the Vietnamese people with other ASEAN members. The work focuses on the cultural transitions of Vietnam, a particular case that shares the same values with Ancient Chinese culture but has been influenced by Marxist ideology imported from the West, similar to China. Being geographically located in the intersection between India and China, and interacting with its neighbours, Cambodia and Laos, who had been influenced by Buddhist thinking, Modern Vietnamese face the challenges in their effort to identify values that are still relevant to their way of life, while coping with new challenges caused by the globalising trends.
As Vietnam's role as a sovereign becomes increasingly essential in dealing with issues pertaining to the security of the region, as well as a supply base of goods produced in the trade arena, the Vietnamese are facing a dilemma linked to the US-China trade war: on which side to choose or how to handle business partners. Shall Vietnam remain loyal to its Chinese partners who have supported the Vietnam War through ups and downs over 30 years? Shall Vietnamese people inside and outside reunite to move on to the road of freedom promised by the free world and take ownership of their sovereignty? Shall Vietnamese students start to shift their focus on learning Chinese-led values to secure their future, or shall they opt for aligning with their regional partners in ASEAN to become part of the strong ASEAN community?
All these questions lead to my reflections on the ethical dimensions and Vietnam's role in ASEAN, including geopolitical considerations (e.g., Vietnam's navigation of China-ASEAN ties amid shared Confucian heritage), strategic thinking on change management (governance and rule of law infused with ethical values), and educational purposes aiming to design a curriculum for Gen Z (leveraging cultural ethics for engaging, value-based learning). The final outcome is to evaluate how Vietnam's ASEAN role exemplifies Confucian-inspired collectivism and harmony, driving regional cooperation, even as it adapts to global business ethics and geopolitical challenges.
Inspired by the published documents by Globethics on various topics in applied ethics, covering some Asian contexts such as the Philippines, Indonesia, India and China, the Vietnam Ethics Series explores Vietnam's East Asian cultural ties to Ancient China and India, whose cultural values have influenced the Vietnamese thinking for centuries. At the same time, the research aims to provide elements of applied ethics in cultural diplomacy and regional integration, drawing inspiration from other cultural contexts such as Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe, in dealing with change and consolidating their positions as sovereign nations in the context of globalisation.
Geopolitical Considerations: Relations with China and the ASEAN Community
Vietnam's ASEAN diplomacy since 2000 has leveraged Confucian values for "harmonious" relations, as seen in its handling of South China Sea disputes. Publications like National Values in Vietnam and the World (2025) explore how Vietnamese ethics, rooted in Confucianism, inform foreign policy by balancing China's influence (shared Confucian heritage) with ASEAN centrality.
For instance, Vietnam's 2020 ASEAN chairmanship emphasised ethical cooperation amid COVID-19, echoing Confucian collectivism. In business ethics, Intercultural Business Ethics discusses Chinese investments in Southeast Asia, highlighting ethical tensions (e.g., labour practices) that Vietnam navigates to foster mutual benefits with China while strengthening ASEAN ties. This geopolitical balancing act promotes regional stability, using Confucian-inspired diplomacy to mitigate conflicts. Other ASEAN nations, including Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, also share cultural and economic values with China through significant Chinese diaspora communities, which often form a substantial portion of successful businessmen in these countries.
These communities exhibit strong business ethics rooted in trust, family networks, and relational harmony—hallmarks of Chinese capitalism—that have facilitated the integration of Vietnamese businesses into existing regional networks since the launch of Vietnam's Doi Moi policy in 1986. This integration has enhanced economic ties, allowing Vietnam to tap into diaspora-driven trade and investment flows while aligning with ASEAN's broader connectivity goals.
Vietnam's Ongoing Effort to Align with the ASEAN Concept on Shared Values
Incorporating the 2025 Globethics publication National Values in Vietnam and the World: New Contexts, Challenges, and Opportunities (edited by Nguyen Tai Dong and Christoph Stückelberger), this aspect of your research highlights Vietnam's strategic alignment with ASEAN's foundational principles—such as mutual respect, non-interference, consensus-building, and shared prosperity—while navigating geopolitical interests in a globalised world.
The book examines how Vietnam balances universal global values (e.g., human rights, sustainability, and democratic governance) with contextual ethical values rooted in its cultural heritage, including Confucianism, Buddhism, and socialism. In the context of globalisation, the discussion covers challenges like cultural erosion, economic disparities, and external pressures, offering opportunities for Vietnam to assert its national identity through ethical frameworks that promote harmony and reciprocity.
Relevant to ASEAN, the book underscores Vietnam's efforts to integrate these values into regional mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Charter (2007) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (2019, updated 2025), where shared values mitigate geopolitical tensions with China (e.g., over maritime claims) by emphasising dialogue and collective security. This alignment has strengthened Vietnam's leadership, as seen in its push for ethical trade practices in the AEC and sustainable development goals, fostering mutual benefits across the bloc.
Change Management: Governance and the Rule of Law
Vietnam's governance reforms, influenced by ASEAN's rule-based frameworks (e.g., AEC 2015), integrate business ethics with Confucian values for ethical leadership.
Vietnam in Transition (2022) examines cultural ethics in economic shifts, showing how Confucian duty enhances the rule of law in anti-corruption drives. Similarly, Vietnam Integration (2023) features teachers' voices on ethical education, linking to change management in governance—e.g., harmonising traditional values with ASEAN legal standards. In a business context, Globethics' intercultural approaches underscore how Confucian ethics support the transparent rule of law, aiding Vietnam's CPTPP accession and digital governance initiatives. The National Values book (2025) adds depth by exploring how globalisation challenges Vietnam to adapt contextual ethics to global norms, promoting resilient governance amid geopolitical shifts.
Building a Curriculum in Vietnamese Studies for Gen Z
For Gen Z learners, these publications offer tools to create engaging curricula on Vietnam's ASEAN role, blending ethics and culture. For instance, we can use Intercultural Business Ethics for case studies on ethical dilemmas in Southeast Asian trade, incorporating Confucian scenarios via interactive simulations (e.g., role-playing Vietnam-China negotiations).
Based on the book National Values in Vietnam (2025), one can create modules on "Confucian values" by using digital podcasts or VR explorations of Vietnamese history to discuss ethics in modern geopolitics, including ASEAN alignment on shared values. We can connect with Gen Z's values by framing Confucian harmony as sustainable business ethics, incorporating group projects on ASEAN's green initiatives. The book Religion and Public Policy adds diverse angles for inclusive curricula. This approach fosters global citizenship, making Vietnamese studies relevant and action-oriented.
In particular, the volume Vietnam Integration: Education, Cultures and Ethics – Voices of Teachers (2023) provides a foundational proposed curriculum in "Building a Vietnam Hoc Collection and Study Programme". This chapter outlines a comprehensive curriculum framework for Vietnam Hoc (Vietnamese studies) as a global discipline, emphasising integration of education, cultures, and ethics to bridge local traditions with international standards, including ASEAN contexts. It proposes a structured five-term program with specific volumes and themes, adaptable for Gen Z through online, interactive formats focusing on critical thinking, sustainability, and ethical leadership.
Key elements of our Vietnam Ethics Series aim to
- To integrate Vietnamese values (e.g., Confucian harmony, Buddhist impermanence) into global program education for Gen Z Vietnamese and address historical disruptions such as colonialism, war, in relation to the will to modernisation and openness, such as the Doi Moi policy. Globethics Academy courses on sustainability and CSR may help address some gaps identified by Vietnamese teachers in teaching business ethics in the global context.
- To identify gaps in education for Gen Z, which include life skills such as critical thinking, values-based competencies, and cultural integration that enhance ASEAN students' competitiveness in the workplace, as well as international exposure through academic publications. The Gen Z students programme can benefit from Globethics digital tools to develop intercultural skills, initiate EQ frameworks for emotional stability, and adopt more ethical behaviour in learning about codes of conduct and international crime prevention standards.
- The curriculum aligns with ASEAN's shared values through Globethics' ethical governance modules. It addresses geopolitical integration, fostering Gen Z's global citizenship through projects on cultural preservation in the context of globalisation.
Building a Bridge Between Teachers
In our first volume, Vietnam in Transition: Education, Culture and Ethics (2022), we mentioned "Overcoming the Aftermaths of Wars" through a reconciliation process between teachers from both sides. Indeed, while the diaspora possesses a wealth of competencies and looks forward to sharing them with the people in the country, there is a real crisis at home in developing talent due to a lack of information and resources. These are due to some gaps that need to be overcome.
Key summary points in this volume include:
- Economic and Social Analysis: The editor reviews Vietnam's GDP growth, Gini index, and CPI over three decades, concluding that economic restructuring has benefited most citizens but left rural populations facing infrastructure deficits, high healthcare/education costs from privatisation, and low productivity. A sustainable strategy is needed for a population nearing 100 million, with over 50% in the workforce, emphasising education reform for global competitiveness.
- Ideological and Mindset Challenges: Under conservative Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) leadership since 1945, development must align with ideology. The first step is changing mindsets, working habits, and integration processes. Issues hindering growth: low labour productivity (linked to agriculture), IT deficiencies in education, inadequate business management resources, and limited humanities/philosophy materials in Vietnamese.
- Post-War Management and Persistent Divides: Managing macroeconomic changes post-war was complex; cultural/political divides from ideological and geographical differences persist, denying freedoms and causing emigration. Peace remains elusive, with parallel thought systems. Southern Vietnamese educational legacies are under-recognised, representing a loss for reconciliation and global integration.
In our second volume, "Vietnam Integration", we propose to use education as a tool for overcoming the aftermaths of war, promoting reconciliation, and building bridges between internal/external teachers through shared ethical and cultural narratives, directly informing Gen Z curricula on ASEAN integration and resilience.
Key summary points in this volume include:
- Alignment with International Standards: As a WTO and ASEAN member, Vietnamese education shall follow international business practices and UNESCO educational guidelines. The curriculum needs objective learning resources on Vietnam's history, geography, politics, philosophy, and literature to foster understanding of shared values.
- Vietnam Hoc Institute Vision: Propose a curriculum for Vietnam Hoc that integrates general knowledge of Contemporary Vietnam with high-quality learning resources. Our mission is to equip Vietnamese-origin students with an awareness of their cultural identity and their rights to access high-level education and work opportunities as global citizens. Another critical mission is to introduce non-Vietnamese to Vietnamese cultural values, traditions, and perspectives on cohabitation in a peaceful environment. The program addresses the IR 4.0 challenges related to competencies and educates students on the challenges and dilemmas in dealing with geopolitical and international trade between nations, covering peace/security, globalisation, human rights, and trade.
- Geopolitical and Research Focus: Understanding contemporary history and world politics while sharing common values is the priority of all citizens of the world. Exploring topics like post-communism property rights, state-owned enterprise CSR, governance ethics, and sovereignty in globalisation. The knowledge gap—beyond language, rooted in philosophical/intercultural differences—justifies the curriculum as a platform for bridging.
Global dimensions of change under the lens of Globalance
Our proposed curriculum centres on teachers' voices for authentic, values-driven learning, adaptable for Gen Z through hybrid formats and ASEAN-focused simulations.
Overall, these Globethics resources substantiate Vietnam's ethical pivot in ASEAN, where Confucian values underpin business ethics and regional harmony.
For more information on Globethics Ethics in context publications work, please consult the following link:
https://globethics.net/vietnam-ethics-series.
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YourVietBooks is a selection of books and articles on and about Vietnam. Categories include: Culture, History, Vietnam War, Politics, Biographies, Contemporary Vietnam, International Relations, Doing Business in Vietnam, Reference and Languages, Zen Buddhism, Philosophy, Art and Literature.
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