Corruption in Vietnamese higher education

More than two decades have passed since Vietnam began the transition to a market economy. The policy of Doi Moi, generally translated as economic renovation, has fostered major changes in social and economic institutions and highly improved production capabilities and the standard of living. These positive developments notwithstanding, Vietnam remains a less-developed country and many of the ills associated with this environment have not been alleviated. Corruption for instance still plagues most sectors of the economy. In 2007, Transparency International gave Vietnam a dismal 2.6 rating score on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being least corrupt. This article presents the problem of corruption specifically in higher education in Vietnam. It argues that misconduct in this sector is a norm, rather than exception. It focuses on teachers, examinations and the use of bribes.