Education
the education system in vietnam was originally based on the french model, but the government has changed it a lot since the country achieved independence in 1954.
kindergarten : kids can enter play group as young as two years old, but it is not mandatory nor is it free. There is some basic instruction of numbers and litters, but mostly it's playtime and naps.
primary school : grades 1-5. Moat students only go to school for a half day. This is the only level of education that is both mandatory and partially paid for by the government; about half the cost is still paid by the parents. Consequently, only about 60 per cent of vietnamese students outside the big cities finish primary school. In cities like hanoi, it is over 95 per cent.
intermediate school : grades 6-9. Most students still only attend school for a half day, and it is not mandatory. Many different subjects are taught at this level, foreign languages (english, french and russian ) being one of them.