Kim Thai, 43, from northern Vinh Phuc Province, has been taking his children more than 10 km from a small town in Tam Dao District to the province's capital city Vinh Yen to study English, spending over VND240 million ($9,663) so far.
"Even if I have to bring my child to a class 50 km away, I will still do it," he said, explaining that classes in small districts are insufficient for his children's needs. Thai believes that learning English has become a widespread trend among students and parents in recent years.
Similarly, Thanh Thanh, 32, from Nghe An Province, has been searching for an English center for her 4-year-old child. She selected a top center in the province's capital Vinh that employs only foreign teachers.
"I want my child to start early, but centers here only accept children from four years of age," she said. Thanh emphasized the importance of foreign teachers in helping her child perfect pronunciation.
"The cost of an English education is high," she admitted. "But I told my husband we will try our best, even by taking on extra jobs to increase our family's income."
As parents spend more on their children's education, the number of English centers is rising to meet the demand.
A survey by FiinGroup Vietnam revealed that spending on education has been increasing across the country. Families in major cities allocate 47% of their budget to education, with spending growing by 7% annually from 2017 to 2022. A Q&Me survey found that 54% of Vietnamese children attend extra classes 2-3 days a week, with English being the primary focus both in and out of school.
Pham Thi Minh Phuong, admissions director of Ocean Edu English International School in Vinh Phuc, noted a significant rise in rural parents encouraging their children to learn English, especially at the primary school level.
"English education used to be for families with good financial backing. Now, even families with low incomes, like manual workers, are prioritizing it," she said. "In the past, children only studied English during the summer, but now, new students enroll year-round. When parents see the opportunity, they are willing to spend the money."
This growing trend has also created opportunities for teachers.
Hoang Chau, who opened her own English class in Lang Son, a northern mountainous province, said her income has increased significantly.
"Now, extra English classes bring in 3-4 times my normal income, and up to five times more during the summer months," she said.
For parents like Thanh, investing in English education is also driven by personal experience. She recounted how her lack of English skills once cost her a lucrative job opportunity.
"I missed out on a job that offered a salary 2-3 times higher than the average in Vinh because my English skills weren't strong enough," she said. "If children don't study English, they will fall behind, not only compared to their peers but to the world in general."
Thai, the father from Vinh Phuc, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of learning multiple languages from a young age. "It’s not like the past; people must know several languages now," he said.
Phuong from the province's international school added that parents are increasingly viewing English as a practical skill rather than just an academic subject.
"English is no longer just a subject; it must be applied to life, careers and the children's future. That's why people are investing early," she said.