In the years immediately following 1975, family background was often a factor that could determine a person’s future. [1] Having relatives connected to the Republic of Vietnam government could effectively end one’s educational and professional prospects. While this policy may be difficult to accept, it is understandable when viewed in the context of a communist government wary of the remnants of the former regime.

Today, most of the stringent background-screening requirements in education and employment have been relaxed. However, the Vietnamese government still maintains a three-generation background-check system for anyone seeking to join the police, the military, and certain specialized sectors within the state apparatus.