Hô Chi Minh City is accelerating its plan to make English a second language in schools, with the goal of strengthening language proficiency and digital skills among students. The city is also advancing a scheme to integrate artificial intelligence into the education system.
City officials highlighted the two strategic projects during a recent conference on education, science, and social affairs, stating they will support the city’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy.
Nguyen Tran Khanh Bao, principal of Marie Curie High School, said his school has been creating an English-speaking environment by using bilingual signs, documents, and forms to familiarize teachers and students with the language.
The school has also strengthened international exchanges, promoted foreign language programs, and assessed the English proficiency of teachers and students. Bao said the school has developed a strong English club and promoted second and additional foreign language programs.
The school has been piloting English classes taught entirely in English for students with strong language skills and teaching subjects such as biology entirely in English, with both teachers and students responding positively. Bao called on the Ministry of Education and Training to issue official evaluation criteria for the English-as-a-second-language initiative so schools can prepare proactively.
Do Ngoc Chi, principal of Nguyen Binh Khiem Elementary School, said her school has benefited from strong support from parents and teachers committed to continuous professional development. Chi expressed hope that mechanisms will soon be introduced to further develop the existing English teaching workforce.
Nguyen Tan Phat, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said private investment plays an important role in the city’s education system, with two-thirds of preschools and more than one-third of high schools being privately operated.
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Phan Thanh Binh, former National Assembly Committee for Culture and Education chairman, noted that Ho Chi Minh City began piloting English education 13 years ahead of many other localities and now allocates about 25 percent of its budget to education, above the national benchmark of 20 percent.
Trieu The Hung, deputy chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Social Affairs, praised city schools for proactively creating English-learning environments and encouraging greater language use on campus. Hung also spotlighted the city’s success in mobilizing private investment, which has led to the establishment of many private educational institutions.
As of the end of May 2025, Ho Chi Minh City had 1,325 private educational institutions, the highest number nationwide.
In the first half of the year, Ho Chi Minh City recognized an additional 130 schools as meeting national standards and established five new high schools. The city’s efforts to improve education quality and expand its school network are likely to have a positive impact on the community, as education is a key factor in the city’s development, and investing in economic growth through education can lead to significant benefits.
By strengthening its education system, Ho Chi Minh City can provide its residents with better opportunities for personal and professional growth, which can, in turn, contribute to the city’s economic development. The city’s large and growing population makes access to quality education essential for ensuring that residents have the skills they need to succeed.
Officials acknowledged that overcrowding remains a major challenge in rapidly urbanizing areas, where the actual number of classrooms has reached only 50 to more than 70 percent of the target in many localities.