According to the ministry, this marks an important step in completing a unified system for assessing language competence, supporting comprehensive education reform and Vietnam’s deepening international integration.

The circular establishes a common benchmark for language proficiency across the entire education system. It provides a foundation for curriculum design, teaching organization, assessment, and recognition of learning outcomes. The framework is also intended to help learners better map out their language development pathways, while enabling educational institutions to improve training quality and strengthen articulation across different levels of education.

One of the most notable updates is the alignment of Vietnam’s framework with the latest version of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for 2020-2021. This ensures compatibility with international standards and facilitates the mutual recognition of diplomas and language certificates between Vietnam and other countries.

The national framework is structured into three broad levels - basic, intermediate, and advanced - each corresponding to specific proficiency bands.

In addition, the circular introduces a “Pre-A1” level, completing the framework by covering learners at the very शुरुआ beginning of their language journey. This addition is particularly suited to the growing trend of early foreign language education in Vietnam, expanding the proficiency spectrum and ensuring continuity across learning stages.

The framework also places emphasis on clarifying and detailing competency descriptors across core skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This is expected to make it easier for teachers, learners, and institutions to apply the standards in practical teaching and assessment.

For certain languages with distinct characteristics, such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, the circular stipulates that proficiency frameworks issued by the respective countries will be used, ensuring alignment with linguistic features and international practices.

The new regulation will take effect on May 31, 2026, replacing Circular 01/2014/TT-BGDDT, which previously governed the six-level foreign language proficiency framework in Vietnam.

Thanh Hung