A control system for a work vehicle includes at least one sensor, an operating device, and a controller. The operating device includes at least one operating member. The controller is programmed to control a work implement of the work vehicle based on signals from the at least one sensor and the operating device. The controller is further programmed to use the signals to obtain a distance between the work implement and a design terrain which represents a target shape of a work object, and to determine whether a surface compaction determination condition indicating that work performed by the work implement is surface compaction work is satisfied. The controller executes a surface compaction control in which a velocity of the work implement toward the design terrain is limited in response to the distance between the work implement and the design terrain when the surface compaction determination condition is satisfied.