ABSTRACT
Science and Technology policy reform in Vietnam has taken place within the framework of market economy reform and can be divided into the following five stages: 1. Reform within the framework of state monopoly on economy, science and technology (S&T) and the centralized command economy. 2. Decentralization of the command system, but still within the framework of a state monopoly on economy and S&T. 3. Privatization of economy, science and technology. 4. New challenges in S&T development: restructuring of the S&T network. 5. The impact of government policy. S&T activities were considered the monopoly of the state. Because of this, the government established a Research and Development (R&D) plan for the whole society and all R&D funds came from the government. Vietnam is still lacking a legal framework and means to implement law in S&T activities, especially regarding the guarantee of democratic rights in scientific creation, the right to collaborate with foreign counterparts, copyright, and intellectual property rights.
