Abstract

Against the backdrop of urbanization in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), this study examines value negotiation in family education in relation to the openness of southern Vietnamese culture. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of J. Habermas and K. Mannheim and ethnographic fieldwork, it explores the shift from models based on parental imposition to intergenerational dialogue. The findings indicate that family education in HCMC involves a synthesis of values, in which traditional values, including filial piety and responsibility, are flexibly adapted to accommodate modern values such as equality and democracy. This synthesis reflects the distinctive adaptive capacity of southern Vietnamese culture.

Keywords: Family education, Ho Chi Minh City, intergenerational relations, southern Vietnamese culture, value negotiation.