Vietnam rises to 'moderate' level in English proficiency ranking

Vietnam earned a score of 500 in this year's EPI, the world's largest English skills ranking, placing it 64th out of 123 countries and territories. This score is a slight improvement over last year's 498 and exceeds the global average of 488 (out of 800).

The EF EPI defines moderate proficiency as a score between 500 and 549, which corresponds to the B1-B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Individuals at this level are able to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters and can produce simple connected text on familiar or personal topics.

EF categorizes countries into five groups: very high proficiency, high proficiency, moderate proficiency, low proficiency, and very low proficiency."

Within Asia, Vietnam has established itself as a strong performer, placing 7th out of 25 countries and territories. It ranks ahead of several regional economic powers, including mainland China (464), India (484), and Japan (446).

The continent is led by Malaysia (581), the Philippines (569), and Hong Kong (538).

Singapore is now excluded from the ranking as EF classifies it as a native English-speaking nation.

Within Vietnam, the capital city of Hanoi continues to lead the nation with a score of 532. Strong performance was also recorded in coastal and central regions, with Nha Trang (517) and Da Nang (509) scoring well, along with Ho Chi Minh City (508) and Hai Phong (506). This distribution highlights sustained improvements across both northern and central Vietnam.

Young professionals aged 26 to 30 record the highest average proficiency (544), reflecting a generation ready to work across borders and industries.

"Vietnam is no longer a quiet participant in the global workforce — it’s becoming a contender," said Anh Hoang, Country Manager of EF Vietnam.

Hoang emphasized the importance of this language proficiency in the modern, technology-driven economy.

"As technology reshapes every industry, English remains the bridge that connects Vietnamese professionals to ideas, data, and global collaboration," he said, noting EF’s global research which identifies English and AI literacy as the twin skills defining modern employability.

This year’s index, which is based on data from 2.2 million EF SET test takers in 2024, offers a broader view than previous editions. For the first time, it includes results from speaking (461) and writing (508) assessments, in addition to reading (522) and listening (470). All test takers must be 18 and older.

The evaluation for speaking and writing was supported by AI tools developed by Efekta Education Group, EF’s technology subsidiary, marking a milestone in language assessment by measuring real-world communication skills.

Worldwide, the Netherlands leads with a score of 624, followed by Croatia with 617 and Austria with 616.

EF Education First is a global education company founded in 1965 that offers language, academic, and cultural exchange programs.