ABSTRACT
Since Doi Moi (Renovation) in 1986, national education policy in Vietnam has experienced great changes, particularly under the influence of global forces. This chapter focuses on understanding to which extent the reconstruction of national culture in general, and languages as mediums of instruction in Vietnam has forged a place within a globalised world. The three law documents under analysis are the 1998 Education Law, the 2005 Education Law, and the 2012 Higher Education Law. The promotion and reinforcement of languages used in educational institutions as an aspect of national culture does more than just serve the primary educational purpose of producing efficient individuals, skilled workers, and promoting a sense of collectiveness among individuals to help maintain society and contribute to the cause of nation building. It implies a struggle over what is constructed and who constructs whose culture and signifies the politics of identity aiming at answering the question of who we are in an era of interconnectedness and interdependency within globalisation.
