Comparative Law Research and Teaching in Vietnam: The Case of the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

This article examines international trends in comparative law research and teaching and considers practice at the University of Economics and Law (UEL). It draws on a literature review, the Comparative Law syllabus, and a survey of 310 theses, dissertations, and articles completed or published between 2023 and 2025. The findings show that functionalism remains dominant alongside contextual, deep-level, and quantitative approaches. At UEL, Comparative Law is offered as an elective from the first year; 203 of the 310 works surveyed contain a comparative element, mainly within a functionalist framework, while explanations of legal differences and contextual analysis remain limited. The extent of comparison also varies across legal fields. The article recommends moving from descriptive comparison towards explanatory and normative analysis, embedding comparative thinking across the curriculum, and strengthening bilingual materials, assessment criteria, and faculty capacity. These measures would align UEL teaching and research more closely with developments in contemporary comparative law.