Vietnam’s Phu Quoc to offer free English classes ahead of APEC 2027

Authorities in Phu Quoc Special Zone announced on Monday the ‘Phu Quoc Community English Initiative’ for 2026-30, with a vision to 2045, alongside the inaugural Phu Quoc English Day, as the island steps up preparations for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in 2027.

Residents turn out for English classes

Truong Tho, a retail worker in Phu Quoc Special Zone, said he was pleased to attend the Phu Quoc English Day, describing it as an opportunity to meet teachers and foreign visitors, and to improve his English listening and speaking skills.

“Phu Quoc welcomes a large number of international tourists, and with APEC 2027 approaching, English is becoming an important advantage,” Tho said.

“I'm learning English so I can communicate with foreign visitors and introduce them to the island’s culture and people.”

Kim Ngan, a resident of Phu Quoc, said her child had joined the program not only to improve English proficiency but also to become more confident communicating with foreigners.

“Phu Quoc should have more free English classes and English-language events like this to help students learn and improve their language skills,” she said.

“The goal of this initiative is to improve English proficiency among Phu Quoc residents,” said Steven Bolhuis, a representative of WEUP Phu Quoc Training Center.

“Our center is offering several language-learning scholarships to give students better opportunities to develop their English skills and communicate with international visitors."

English classes tailored to island residents

Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, vice-chairwoman of the Phu Quoc People’s Committee, said the initiative is built around the message that every resident of the island should serve as a tourism ambassador, with a clearly defined roadmap to strengthen English proficiency across the community.

Under the plan, Phu Quoc will launch a pilot program from September 2026 to June 2027 at 10-15 elementary, middle and high schools, while also opening community English classes in Duong Dong, Ganh Dau, An Thoi, and Duong To neighborhoods.

Between 2026 and 2030, authorities will evaluate the pilot phase, which runs from September 2026 to July 2027, before expanding the program to at least half of the island’s schools and increasing the number of community classes.

From 2031 to 2035, the program aims to cover all schools on the island while expanding English training throughout the wider community.

“We have developed a clear training roadmap focused on workers, market vendors, taxi drivers, service employees, and school and university students,” Loan said.

Residents will be able to register through the phuquochelloworld.com website, she said, adding that participants will be assessed and placed into classes based on their proficiency and schedules, with courses offered in the morning or evening.

“Our goal is to equip residents with basic English skills so they can communicate confidently with visitors and overcome language barriers,” she said.

Getting ready for the world

As part of the Phu Quoc English Day, residents, students, and workers took part in four English-language activity areas, including education counseling, personalized learning guidance, cultural exchange, and opportunities for interaction between residents and international visitors.

The event also featured hands-on activities where the participants conducted buying, selling, and other exchanges entirely in English, as well as demonstrations on using artificial intelligence (AI) tools for self-directed language learning.

Ho Van Mung, chairman of the People’s Committee of An Giang Province, which administers Phu Quoc, said the ‘Phu Quoc Community English Initiative’ would help strengthen the special zone's position as an international destination.

He said the program would also help address shortages of English-speaking workers in the tourism sector.

Improving foreign-language proficiency among residents, service workers, and business owners would make it easier to promote Phu Quoc’s tourism appeal and local culture to international visitors ahead of the APEC summit, which the island is set to host in November 2027.