Abstract

This paper aimed to examine and compare the value systems of youth from the ethnic minority and majority
groups in the South of Vietnam. Rokeach’ value theory and value system survey (Rokeach Value Survey – RVS)
are employed to investigate these value systems. Research samples were conveniently selected from a total of
102 students (60.6% females) in a youth ethnic minority vocational college and two public universities. The
findings were consistent with the previous studies conducted in Vietnam and other developed countries. Results
indicated that terminal values of students from both groups tended to have more emphasis on personal and
political values that reflected the concern of psychological stability and independence. Youth from minority
groups showed less tendency toward a relational and social orientation, whereas youth from ethnic majority
group displayed a less concern on values related to hedonistic and individualistic values. For the instrumental
values, both groups gave a higher ranking for moral values than competency and intrinsic values. Youth from
ethnic minority groups tended to have more emphasize on accomplishment and competent values than youth
from ethnic majority group. The terminal values of young people from ethnic minority and majority groups are
more alike than their instrumental values. Significant differences between two groups were only found in some
values. The findings contribute to the existenting literatures and suggest longitudinal studies on comparing value
systems among ethnic groups in order to promote the value exchanged trend happened during the context of
globalization in Vietnamese modern society.

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