ABSTRACT
In Vietnam the development of social work has been driven by the growth of social work education, rather than the other way round (as has happened in many parts of the world). This has raised many issues for social work education, including the lack of qualified practice teachers and university educators, as well as limited employment opportunities for graduates. Furthermore, the influence of international advice and support has been vital, while at the same time it has been necessary for social work theories and practices to be rethought in order to be socially and culturally authentic for Vietnam. In addition, the strong central direction of university curricula has meant that social work theories and practices have not occupied as prominent a place in students’ learning as in many other countries, until recently.
This chapter considers these issues and examines the ways in which social work in Vietnam is overcoming obstacles to become a viable profession. It concludes that despite these challenges social work education has grown rapidly in the last 30 years and now provides a basis for the development of a contemporary social work profession.
