In Vietnam, Socialist Realism served as a tool for the party and the state to control art and literature. Its emphasis on the utilitarian function of literature and collectivism is a good explanation for why it flourished in Socialist countries, including Vietnam. However, Socialist Realism was found unsuitable for the development of Vietnamese literature in the post-1975 period. This study tries to examine how Socialist Realism was adopted and adapted in Vietnam, and why it was challenged in the post-war period.