The Role of Parents in Vietnamese Education: What Teachers Need to Know

Education in Vietnam is not only the responsibility of schools and teachers but also heavily influenced by parents. For foreign teachers, understanding the role of parents in Vietnamese education is essential to building strong relationships, ensuring student success, and adapting to cultural expectations. This article explores how parents shape their children’s education in Vietnam and what teachers, especially foreign ESL teachers should know.

1. High Expectations for Academic Success

Vietnamese parents often place great importance on academic achievement. English, math, and science are seen as crucial for future opportunities. Many parents:

• Encourage children to attend extra classes or tutoring.
• Closely monitor test scores and grades.
• Expect teachers to provide structured, results-oriented lessons.

Tip for teachers: Communicate clearly about student progress and show how your teaching supports exam success as well as communication skills.

2. Strong Focus on English Learning

English is viewed as a key to better careers, scholarships, and international opportunities. Parents often invest significant time and money in English education.

• Many students attend both school classes and private English centers.
• Parents often compare different teachers or schools before deciding where to enroll their child.
• Success is sometimes measured by certificates such as Cambridge PET, IELTS, or TOEIC.

Tip for teachers: Highlight how your lessons build practical communication skills while also supporting exam preparation.

3. Frequent Communication with Teachers

In Vietnam, parents often expect regular updates on their child’s performance. This may include:

• Weekly or monthly progress reports.
• Direct conversations after class or via messaging apps (Zalo, Facebook, WhatsApp).
• Feedback on both academic and behavioral development.

Tip for teachers: Be professional, polite, and responsive when communicating with parents. Showing respect helps build trust quickly.

4. Involvement in Student Discipline

Vietnamese parents usually support teachers in maintaining discipline. However, they also expect teachers to treat their children fairly.

• Parents value respectful, positive discipline rather than harsh criticism.
• Some may become defensive if they feel their child is being singled out.

Tip for teachers: When addressing behavior issues, focus on solutions and improvement rather than blame. Always communicate respectfully.

5. Investment in Extra-Curricular Learning

Parents are often the driving force behind enrolling students in extra-curricular activities such as:

• English clubs, debate competitions, or summer camps.
• Music, art, and sports programs.
• Private tutoring or additional English certifications.

Tip for teachers: Encourage students to apply English outside the classroom. Parents appreciate teachers who support their children’s personal development.

6. Balancing Traditional and Modern Expectations

While many parents still emphasize memorization and high test scores, younger generations of parents are increasingly open to modern, communicative teaching methods.

• Traditional parents may want more grammar drills.
• Modern parents may prefer interactive, student-centered learning.

Tip for teachers: Find a balance-blend structured grammar with fun, communicative activities. Show parents how this approach benefits their children.

Parents play a central role in Vietnamese education, from setting high expectations to monitoring progress and supporting discipline. For foreign teachers, understanding these parental expectations is key to building strong partnerships and ensuring students succeed academically and personally. By maintaining open communication, respecting cultural values, and demonstrating professional teaching, foreign teachers can earn both parent trust and student motivation.