International Journal of Human Research and Social Science Studies

Vietnam has undergone profound historical transformations throughout its long process of nation-building, warfare, social transition, and modernization. These historical experiences have shaped a system of traditional cultural values that played an important role in maintaining social stability, community cohesion, and national identity over many centuries. However, within the contemporary context of globalization, marketization, and international integration, many traditional cultural values have gradually transformed and now face new challenges of adaptation. This article examines the transformation of traditional Vietnamese cultural values in relation to contemporary concepts of sustainable development and social modernization. The study applies methods of historical analysis, contextual interpretation, and generalization to analyze the formation, continuity, and transformation of Vietnamese traditional cultural values across different historical and socio-cultural contexts. In particular, the article evaluates both the positive and negative dimensions of traditional culture in relation to present-day sustainable development goals. The findings suggest that while many traditional values—such as social harmony, community solidarity, and aspirations for stability—continue to provide important foundations for sustainable development, certain conservative cultural patterns may also constrain innovation, individual creativity, and adaptive capacity in modern society. Therefore, the article argues that contemporary Vietnam should both inherit positive traditional cultural values and critically reassess outdated cultural norms in order to build a more sustainable and adaptive cultural framework for the future.

culture, sustainability, sustainable development, values.

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