Education in Vietnam: Between Cultural Heritage and the Skills of Tomorrow

In a country undergoing rapid economic transformation, education has become a strategic issue. But beyond academic results and the development of international universities, one question arises: how can Vietnamese students be prepared for the jobs of tomorrow? Nathalie, a French teacher who has been living in Vietnam since 2013, shares her experience of working at several Vietnamese and international universities. Her journey sheds light on the particularities of the education system, the challenges facing higher education and the realities expatriate families need to prepare for.

A Deeply Rooted Culture of Learning

In Vietnam, education plays a central role in families’ expectations for the future. Knowledge, academic achievement and respect for teachers are highly valued. This culture is reflected in students’ commitment and the discipline they bring to their studies.

International data also reflect this trend. According to the OECD, in the 2022 PISA assessment, 72% of Vietnamese 15-year-old students reached at least Level 2 in mathematics, compared with an average of 69% across OECD countries. Vietnam also stands out for having smaller performance gaps linked to students’ socioeconomic backgrounds than the OECD average, although inequalities remain.

For Nathalie, who began teaching in Vietnam in 2013 after studying fashion design and pattern-making and completing a master's degree in production, this level of student commitment is one of the most distinctive aspects of her experience. She first worked in Ho Chi Minh City at an institution affiliated with Hoa Sen University, where she was notably responsible for coordinating the teaching approach between a French programme and its local implementation.

She highlights the seriousness of Vietnamese students and their willingness to learn. However, this motivation is sometimes expressed differently from what a teacher trained in Europe might expect.

Teaching in Vietnam: Understanding Cultural Codes

One of the main adjustments for a foreign teacher concerns the relationship between teachers and their students.

The Confucian heritage, which places considerable importance on knowledge and the authority of teachers, helps shape certain teaching practices. In the classrooms where Nathalie has taught, the transmission of knowledge was often more hierarchical than in the French institutions where she had previously worked.

She explains that asking a question can sometimes be perceived as challenging the teacher's authority rather than simply seeking clarification.

For a teacher accustomed to spontaneous debate, this difference can make classroom discussions more difficult to encourage. Silence does not necessarily indicate a lack of interest or understanding. It can also reflect the respect shown to teachers and students’ reluctance to speak up.

Nathalie gradually developed methods to encourage participation, particularly by organising students into small groups. This approach makes it easier for them to exchange ideas, build confidence and find more opportunities to challenge one another's perspectives.

Her experience highlights an important lesson for international professionals: teaching in another country also means adapting one's teaching methods to the local culture. The aim is not to set two educational models against each other, but to understand their respective codes in order to support learning.

Universities with Very Different Approaches

It would be misleading to describe Vietnamese higher education as a uniform system. Institutions differ in their programmes, teaching languages, international partnerships and approaches to the relationship between students and teachers.

Nathalie's career illustrates this diversity. After her first experience at Hoa Sen University, she joined RMIT Vietnam, where she taught subjects related to fashion management and marketing. She also completed a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching there, before beginning a PhD in educational leadership.

She has observed significant differences between institutions, particularly in the importance given to student autonomy, participation and support. In some environments, greater emphasis is placed on the student experience and the services provided; in others, the teaching relationship remains more central.

University pathways can also vary. At some of the institutions she has worked with, students complete a common first year to strengthen their foundations before moving on to their chosen specialisation. Language requirements and admission conditions also differ depending on the programme.

This diversity is an advantage for students, who can choose a course better suited to their goals. However, it also makes comparing universities essential, particularly for families considering financing higher education in Vietnam.

English: A Passport to International Mobility

As Vietnam strengthens its economic ties with the rest of the world, English proficiency is becoming a major issue for students.

English-taught programmes, degrees offered in partnership with foreign universities and international exchanges provide additional opportunities to pursue further studies or build a career abroad. For companies operating in Vietnam, these pathways also help develop professionals capable of working in international teams.

Nathalie has noticed differences in English proficiency between the institutions and student cohorts she has worked with. When students have a sufficient command of the language, exchanges become more fluid and discussions can explore the subjects in greater depth.

Access to these programmes nevertheless remains uneven. International and English-taught programmes can represent a significant financial investment, while available courses and resources vary between institutions and regions.

According to UNESCO, Vietnam's gross enrolment ratio in higher education reached 37.59% in 2024. This indicator, which compares the number of students enrolled with the population of the relevant age group, shows that access to university remains an important issue in a country whose skills requirements are evolving rapidly.

International Schools: An Important Consideration for Expatriate Families

For families considering a move to Vietnam, education is not limited to the question of universities. Choosing a school is often one of the most significant decisions involved in a relocation.

According to ISC Research data reported by Vietnamese public broadcaster VTV in May 2026, Vietnam has more than 120 international schools, from kindergarten to high school, mainly concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Families can therefore choose between different national and international curricula, depending on their relocation plans, preferred language of instruction and their children's future education prospects.

This diversity does not mean that all options are equivalent. Curricula, tuition fees, admission requirements and available places vary from one school to another. The choice therefore needs to be anticipated, particularly when several children are involved or when the move takes place during the school year.

For companies recruiting international executives, this educational offering is a concrete factor in Vietnam's attractiveness. The possibility of finding a school suited to their children's needs can influence an employee's decision to accept an international assignment and the success of the family's relocation.

Preparing Students for Jobs That Do Not Yet Exist

Perhaps the main challenge facing Vietnamese education today lies in its ability to keep pace with the transformation of the economy.

Vietnam is experiencing rapid economic and social development, supported in particular by a relatively young population. In 2026, approximately 36.4% of Vietnamese people are under the age of 25. The median age of the Vietnamese population is around 34, compared with 40.6 in China, 49 in Japan and 44.9 in the European Union. This demographic dynamic represents a major advantage for the country, which must support its growth by equipping younger generations with the skills needed for tomorrow's economy.

This young population represents considerable potential for the country's development, but also a major educational challenge: Vietnam must find a way to educate large generations while ensuring that access to quality education does not depend solely on where people live or their families' financial resources. The challenge is therefore not just to train the most highly qualified future professionals, but to give as many people as possible the foundations they need to participate in tomorrow's economy.

The country is developing rapidly in technology, international services and higher-value-added activities. The skills in demand are evolving accordingly. Beyond academic knowledge, employers need people who can communicate, work in teams, solve problems and adapt to new environments.

For Nathalie, this issue is particularly important given advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. Teachers themselves must continue to develop their skills in order to prepare students for jobs whose nature will evolve over the coming years.

The aim is not to abandon the fundamentals, but to complement them with transferable skills: critical thinking, autonomy, creativity and the ability to continue learning throughout one's career.

At some of the institutions where she has worked, Nathalie has been able to introduce initiatives aimed at developing practical skills, such as professional communication, email writing and time management. These may seem like simple things to learn, but they help prepare students for the expectations of the international workplace.

The shift towards greater classroom interaction, collaborative work and professional simulations is therefore an important step in bringing education and employment closer together.

An Experience That Goes Beyond the Classroom

After more than ten years in Vietnam, Nathalie also values the environment in which she works. She appreciates the dynamism of Ho Chi Minh City, the opportunities for professional development and students' ability to make progress with regular support.

Her experience also illustrates an important reality of working abroad: success does not depend solely on technical skills. Understanding working habits, building relationships based on trust and being willing to rethink one's methods are just as essential.

For companies, families and professionals considering a move to Vietnam, education is therefore much more than a service to be selected. It offers a way to understand the aspirations of younger generations, the transformations taking place in society and the skills that will support the country's economic development.

Vietnam has a strong culture of learning and a young population eager to progress. The challenge in the coming years will be to turn this energy into increasingly diverse, international skills suited to the jobs of tomorrow. For families and businesses alike, following the evolution of the education system is therefore a way to better understand the country in which they have chosen to build their future.