Vietnam mulls teaching Japanese from 3rd grade

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and the Japanese ambassador to Vietnam, Ito Naoki, signed a framework agreement for teaching Japanese in secondary schools in the presence of the two countries' prime ministers in Hanoi on Monday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his wife arrived Sunday for a three-day visit.

The two sides agreed to collaborate and promote Japanese language education during the next decade.

Based on the needs of students and local conditions, localities may consider teaching Japanese as a first foreign language (a mandatory subject) at some primary and secondary schools.

In areas that already teach Japanese as a second foreign language (an elective subject) at the secondary and high school levels, authorities will ensure support to maintain stability.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son (2nd, R) and Ambassador Ito Naoki hold the framework agreement on teaching Japanese in Vietnamese schools on April 28,2025, under the witness of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Photo by the Ministry of Education and Training

Japan will provide support for schools teaching the language, send over experts to help improve curriculums and develop textbooks and provide learning and reference materials.

It will also provide teacher training and assist with teaching some classes, and offer students and teachers the opportunity to visit Japan and study and engage in cultural exchanges there.

In 2013 the governments of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for introducing Japanese at the primary level and strengthen teaching at the secondary and high school levels.

Japanese was piloted as a second foreign language starting in 2003-04, and as a first foreign language in some schools in 2016-17.

In 2021 the Ministry of Education and Training issued the national curriculum with Japanese as a first foreign language, and the subject is made optional for students from third grade.

This year the national student competition for excellent students included Japanese for the first time.

According to data published by the ministry in 2023, of more than 60,000 students learning foreign languages other than English in schools, a majority choose French or Japanese.

But Japanese is admittedly taught mainly in major cities.