Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

Vietnam is set to change its educational landscape by lowering the starting age for mandatory English classes from grade 3 to grade 1. Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Pham Ngoc Thuong, announced the proposal during an education conference in Ho Chi Minh City on 27 August.

 

Currently, English is an elective subject for Vietnamese first graders. However, the Ministry of Education and Training plans to make it mandatory once schools are equipped with sufficient qualified teachers and facilities. This move comes as part of broader efforts to position English as a second language across the nation by 2035.

 

Ho Chi Minh City has been at the forefront of this initiative, introducing English to preschool children and offering it as an elective from grade 1. Thuong praised the city, noting that early exposure helps students become comfortable with the language, aligning with research that children learn languages more effectively at a young age.

 

The city has a strong track record, coming second only to Hanoi in the national high school graduation exam for English. Its journey began in 1998 with an intensive programme offering eight lessons per week, increasing to all first graders learning English by the 2015-2016 school year.

 

In 2014, Ho Chi Minh City introduced an "integrated programme," where students could study maths and science in English with native speakers. This initiative saw enrolment skyrocket, reaching about 300,000 students over a decade.

 

Currently, over half of the city’s 4,000 kindergartens offer some English instruction, although implementation varies, particularly between public schools and private centres. Public institutions lead the way, while private and independent centres face challenges such as lack of trained staff and resources.

 

The Vietnamese government, under Politburo guidance, is committed to strengthening foreign language education. By 2035, the goal is for all students to study English as a second language, enhancing Vietnam’s global integration and competitiveness.

 

Rolling out this initiative nationwide will require significant investment in educational infrastructure and teacher training. However, the success in Ho Chi Minh City provides a promising blueprint for the rest of the country.

 

If these efforts prove successful, Vietnam’s educational system could see a transformation, equipping future generations with skills essential for a globalised world.

 

Vietnam's proactive approach in prioritising English from an early age reflects its ambition to integrate more deeply into the international community. As the nation works towards these ambitious goals, the future appears bright for Vietnamese students, who will have greater opportunities on the global stage.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-08-28

 

And that's how the overtaking will go - while in Thailand they still raise the flag every morning, celebrate "teachers day" and classrooms are filled with partly incompetent monologues. More than once I wondered what they teach the kids in 15 years from Grade 1 to University; why is there a complete absence of logic and the forced inability to teach anything non-Thai. 
All this to the disadvantage of the next generation of voters and tax payers ........ just hope that Thailand has not missed the bus already 😞 

Are they going to teach British English, or proper English?

 

Sorry, couldn't resist...

 

80 years ago, when the sun never set on the Empire, British English was the language of international trade.  Now that the Empire has been reduced to the size of Michigan, not so much any more.

 

Could there be a stream of English teachers leaving Thailand for Vietnam in the future?

The earlier the better, with 4-7 a very good age.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

part of broader efforts to position English as a second language across the nation by 2035.

 

 

Great news indeed - especially for the British English!

 

For reference:-

 

Vietnam trades with the United Kingdom, with total bilateral trade reaching £9.0 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025, a 30.8% increase from the previous year. This trade is supported by two key trade agreements: the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), effective since January 1, 2021, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which the UK joined on December 15, 2024. (Google)

 

British companies are involved in Vietnam's oil and gas industry, with the acquisition of Harbour Energy's assets by EnQuest plc and the continued presence of UK-based Pharos Energy in oil and gas production blocks being recent examples. British companies have a long-standing relationship with Vietnam's energy sector, including exploration, production, and supplying equipment and services. (Google)

 

Take note, Thailand. Not the first article that showcases how Vietnam is picking up steam. In 10 years from now, Vietnam will be so far ahead of Thailand it's not even funny. 

8 hours ago, impulse said:

Are they going to teach British English, or proper English?

 

Sorry, couldn't resist...

 

80 years ago, when the sun never set on the Empire, British English was the language of international trade.  Now that the Empire has been reduced to the size of Michigan, not so much any more.

 

I hear it's Australian English. 🙂

Good move.  That's the age you want to start learning a foreign language.