Vietnam returns to global moderate English proficiency group: EF

With a score of 500 out of 800, Vietnam ranked 64th among 123 non-native English-speaking countries and territories in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EPI), announced by EF in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

This marks a return to the ‘moderate proficiency’ level the country held in 2023 with a score of 505.

In 2024, Vietnam fell to the ‘low proficiency’ group after scoring 498.

According to EF’s classification, English proficiency is divided into five levels based on scores: very high (over 600), high (550–599), moderate (500–549), low (450–499), and very low (under 450).

Within Asia, Vietnam ranked seventh among 25 countries, ahead of Indonesia at 471, China at 464, Laos at 461, and Cambodia at 390.

The country is also closing in on regional leaders Malaysia, which scored 581, and the Philippines at 569 — a gap that analysts say has narrowed significantly over the past five years.

The report highlights steady improvements across Vietnam’s regions. 

Hanoi remained the top performer with 532 points, followed by Nha Trang at 517 and Da Nang at 509.

Major hubs Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong also posted strong results, at 508 and 506, respectively, reflecting a more even distribution of English proficiency nationwide rather than concentration in a few traditional centers.

Vietnamese workers aged 26 to 30 achieved the highest average score at 544, demonstrating growing confidence and global readiness among the country’s emerging workforce.

Hoang Anh, managing director of EF Vietnam, said the country’s upward trajectory is driven by two key factors: the expanding international reach of Vietnamese businesses and the rapid growth of digital and technology-related industries.

“We have moved from being observers to becoming real competitors in the global talent race. English is becoming a vital channel for accessing knowledge, leveraging data, and expanding international cooperation,” he said.

EF researchers highlighted a growing link between English proficiency and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, describing them as a strategic skill pair in today’s labor market.

Most AI models, scientific literature, and development tools are built in English, placing the language at the center of global technological advancement.

Kate Bell, head of assessment at EF, noted that while AI can process vast amounts of information, humans are ultimately the ones who create value from it.

She added that strong English skills give learners an advantage in navigating AI systems, as much of today’s AI ecosystem is built in English.

A key trend highlighted by EF is Vietnam’s shift from learning English mainly for exams to learning it for real communication.

As a result, the long-standing gap between reading and speaking skills is narrowing, and more Vietnamese professionals are using English directly in innovation, research, and international collaboration instead of relying on it solely for testing or certification.

Published annually by EF since 2011, the EPI is based on an analysis of results from the globally administered Standard English Test.

EF’s EPI reports are widely referenced by governments, universities, and businesses as an important indicator of workforce readiness.