Vietnam Returns to Moderate Band in Global English Index as AI Skills Rise

A rising score and what it means

Vietnam has moved back into the moderate proficiency group in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index with a score of 500, ranking 64th out of 123 countries and territories. That places the country just inside EF’s 500 to 549 band, which aligns with the B1 to B2 range of the Common European Framework of Reference. Adults at this level can understand the main points of clear communication on familiar topics, handle routine work tasks in English, and write simple, connected text on personal or professional matters. Vietnam’s score sits above the global average of 488. The Netherlands leads the ranking, with Croatia and Austria next. Singapore does not appear on the list because EF classifies it as a native English environment for the purposes of this index. This edition draws on results from 2.2 million EF SET test takers and, for the first time, includes speaking and writing scores evaluated by AI alongside listening and reading.

Where Vietnam stands in Asia and the world

In Asia, Vietnam ranks seventh out of 25 countries and territories. It places ahead of mainland China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Laos, and Cambodia. The regional leaders are Malaysia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. Vietnam therefore sits in the upper middle tier in Asia, with room to grow if it can build stronger speaking and listening skills.

The recent trend has been bumpy. Vietnam scored 505 in the 2023 report and slipped to 498 in 2024, before returning to 500 in 2025. The addition of speaking and writing to the assessment provides a fuller view of skills that matter at work and in daily life, so year to year shifts need to be read with that in mind.

Who is leading inside Vietnam

Hanoi sets the pace with a city score of 532. Nha Trang follows at 517, then Da Nang at 509, Ho Chi Minh City at 508, and Hai Phong at 506. Several other cities still lag. Nam Dinh records 462 and Thanh Hoa 472, pointing to areas that may need targeted support.

Regional differences are clear. The Red River Delta averages 526 and the South Eastern region 512. The Mekong River Delta posts 464 and the North Central Coast 471. The strongest results cluster in and around the capital and the commercial heartland, while many coastal and rural areas show lower averages.

By age, young professionals are driving the gains. People between 26 and 30 average 544, a sign of a cohort that uses English in the workplace and is ready to collaborate across borders.

Kate Bell, head of assessment at EF and an author of the index, drew a line between language proficiency and the shift to tools that process and generate information.

“AI is excellent at processing information, but humans determine the meaning and value of each type of information. English is both the language of AI and the language of opportunity.”

Her point mirrors what many Vietnamese companies and universities are experiencing. English is now the default for technical documentation and developer tools. Teams that write code, manage cloud platforms, and deploy data products often rely on English resources and global forums, which makes practical language skills a career asset.

What the new AI based test measures

This is the first EF EPI to incorporate AI scoring for speaking and writing, using technology from Efekta, a company within EF. The test already included listening and reading. The expanded coverage gives a more complete picture of how comfortable adults are with real communication tasks, not just comprehension.

Vietnam’s skill profile shows that pattern. Reading is strongest at 522 and writing follows at 508. Listening stands at 470 and speaking at 461. In practice, many adults can read documentation and write emails or short reports, but they still find it difficult to follow rapid speech or speak fluently in live settings. The moderate band maps to CEFR B1 to B2, which covers the ability to manage familiar situations and discuss routine matters, and for stronger B2 performers, to argue a viewpoint with some fluency and spontaneity.

EF builds its index from free, online EF SET results. A country appears only if at least 400 adults took the test. The sample is self selected and skewed younger, since most test takers are in their twenties and the test requires internet access. The index is a large and useful dataset, but it does not measure the skills of everyone in a country.

Why English matters in Vietnam’s tech economy

Vietnam is competing for investment and export contracts in software services, advanced manufacturing, and digital content. English fluency is becoming a baseline skill for work that connects to global clients, regulators, and partners. EF’s local team and speakers at the launch event highlighted English and AI literacy as a pair of skills that open doors to better jobs and faster learning.

The country has a National AI Strategy to 2030 that targets a top fifty global position and top four in ASEAN for AI research and application. The technology workforce has surpassed 560,000 professionals. Large domestic firms are investing heavily. FPT, for example, has announced an AI facility valued at 200 million dollars built with Nvidia. Projects like these sit in ecosystems where English is the standard for research papers, code repositories, and developer communities. For engineers, product managers, and data specialists, English skills both speed up learning and make collaboration smoother.

Strengths, gaps, and what the data shows

The index confirms strengths in reading and writing and a relative weakness in listening and speaking. This pattern is common in systems that concentrate classroom time on grammar and exam preparation. Employers often report that speaking confidence and listening comprehension limit productivity on cross border projects, especially in meetings and live client calls.

By job function

Scores vary widely across roles. Teachers average 604, strategy and project management 553, and operations 545. At the lower end, students average 459 and technicians and maintenance 467. The pattern suggests that professionals who use English daily at work build momentum, while learners who prepare for tests without regular conversation practice struggle to transfer their knowledge to real communication.

By age and gender

Adults aged 26 to 30, the prime early career group, post the highest average at 544. That cohort often has the most access to workplace learning, video tutorials, and international teams. Women in Vietnam are closing gaps faster than men in many datasets, a trend that aligns with findings in the global report, where the gender gap has narrowed in most regions.

Policy moves and the education pipeline

Vietnam is expanding early English instruction. Plans announced by officials call for English to be taught from Grade 1 nationwide by 2030 and for English to serve as a compulsory second language in all schools by 2035. Many schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City already teach some maths and science in both Vietnamese and English, which encourages everyday use rather than test only preparation.

Meeting those targets will require many more teachers. Estimates suggest that by 2030 the system will need roughly 22,000 additional English teachers in pre school and primary education. Today only about 30,000 of more than a million teachers specialize in English, and universities graduate around 3,000 new English teachers each year. Retraining will also matter, since many teachers were trained to focus on grammar and test formats rather than communication.

Technology can help when used well. AI tutors and voice tools can give students extra practice, but classrooms still need qualified teachers to coach conversation, correct pronunciation, and build confidence. Rural schools will need investment in connectivity and staffing to avoid a widening gap with the cities.

Challenges to sustain progress

Two issues stand out. First, the urban rural divide is large. Regions such as the Mekong River Delta and the North Central Coast recorded the lowest averages, which can reflect access, teacher supply, and economic structure. Second, the skill profile shows limited speaking practice. Many professionals can write emails and read documentation yet hesitate during client calls or live presentations.

Practical steps can close the gap. Schools and training centers can move toward more conversation time and task based practice. Companies can sponsor intensive speaking programs for new hires and offer short lessons that fit into the workday. Regional education offices can target support to lower scoring provinces, with incentives for teachers to relocate, scholarships for training, and school to employer projects that use English for real tasks and not only for exams.

Key Points

• Vietnam scored 500 in EF EPI 2025 and ranks 64th out of 123 countries and territories.
• Moderate proficiency corresponds to CEFR B1 to B2, covering routine work and everyday communication.
• Vietnam is seventh in Asia, ahead of mainland China, India, Japan, and Indonesia, and behind Malaysia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.
• Hanoi leads Vietnamese cities at 532, followed by Nha Trang 517, Da Nang 509, Ho Chi Minh City 508, and Hai Phong 506.
• Red River Delta averages 526 and South Eastern 512, while Mekong River Delta 464 and North Central Coast 471 are lower.
• Adults aged 26 to 30 average 544, the highest among age groups.
• Skill scores: reading 522, writing 508, listening 470, speaking 461.
• By job function, teachers average 604; strategy and project management 553; operations 545; students 459; technicians and maintenance 467.
• The 2025 index includes AI evaluation of speaking and writing and is based on results from 2.2 million test takers.
• Vietnam links English and AI literacy to workforce growth and has an AI strategy to 2030; major firms are investing in AI capability.
• Plans call for English from Grade 1 by 2030 and compulsory second language status by 2035, with teacher supply the key constraint.