In addition to existing foreign languages, Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) is set to expand the national curriculum to include Lao, Cambodian, Thai, and Indonesian in public schools over the next decade.

The MOET reports that foreign language instruction in Vietnam’s national education system has seen significant progress. As of 2025, 41 out of 63 provinces and cities have implemented the 2018 General Education Program for English, while more than 41,489 students are studying other foreign languages besides English.

Under the 2018 program, foreign languages are mandatory for students from Grade 3 to Grade 12. Alongside English, optional languages currently include Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Korean.

The proportion of English teachers in general education meeting language proficiency standards has reached 88%, up 22% from 2018.

At the higher education level, most institutions - including those under military and police management - have outlined roadmaps for aligning with the national six-level foreign language proficiency framework.

Challenges in English teaching and assessment

Despite the gains, the MOET acknowledges several limitations in current English instruction, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas. The 10-year textbook series is often too lengthy and difficult for many students in these regions.

Teaching remains largely exam-focused, with little emphasis on developing listening and speaking skills as required by the updated curriculum. Most tests still rely heavily on multiple-choice questions targeting vocabulary, grammar, reading, and writing.

As a result, assessing all four skills - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - is hampered by lack of funding, limited teaching time, and shortages in qualified personnel.

This leads to inconsistencies in student proficiency across regions. Many students nationwide are not achieving the expected exit-level proficiency: Level 1 for primary school, Level 2 for lower secondary, and Level 3 for upper secondary, according to the national education program.

Teacher shortages, especially in primary schools, persist in mountainous and remote provinces. These areas struggle to meet the new requirement of four English periods per week. Overcrowded classes also limit the effectiveness of new teaching methodologies, especially during speaking practice.

New languages to enter classrooms starting 2026

Looking ahead, the MOET aims to make a significant leap in language education to boost workforce competitiveness and fulfill communication and professional demands.

By 2026, the Ministry plans to complete and pilot a Lao language curriculum for public education. This would mark Lao as the eighth foreign language offered in schools. Initially, Lao will be introduced in selected institutions as part of a trial phase.

By 2030, the MOET plans to finalize similar curricula for Cambodian, Thai, and Indonesian, while also launching foreign language programs tailored for vocational schools and universities. These efforts aim to meet the evolving needs of learners and labor markets.

By 2031, pilot programs for Korean and German as first foreign languages will be reviewed, with plans for official inclusion into the general education curriculum.

From 2026 to 2045, public schools that meet necessary conditions will progressively implement programs for Lao (2026-2027), Cambodian (2028-2029), Thai, and Indonesian (2030-2031).

The MOET also plans to scale up the teaching of core subjects and vocational training in foreign languages - especially Chinese, Lao, Cambodian, Japanese, and Korean - ensuring a year-on-year increase in the number of schools and classes offering such instruction across the country.

PV