A guide to the Vietnamese education system and how your credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.
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Apply Now →Vietnam operates a 12-year system of general education with children starting school at age 6. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) is responsible for implementing state education policy and regulations. The academic year begins in September and ends in May. Secondary education is free and compulsory until the ninth grade. Vietnamese is the language of instruction throughout all levels, with English taught as a compulsory foreign language from Grade 3.
Compulsory. Covers Vietnamese language, Mathematics, Natural and Social Sciences, Arts, Physical Education, and Ethics. English introduced from Grade 3 in most schools.
Compulsory. Students study Vietnamese Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Civic Education, and English. Culminates in the Lower Secondary Education Graduation Diploma (Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Cơ Sở).
Academic track preparing students for the National High School Graduation Examination (Kỳ Thi Tốt Nghiệp THPT) administered by MOET at the end of Grade 12. Passing the examination leads to the Upper Secondary Diploma — Academic (Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Phổ Thông Trung Học). This diploma is also used as the basis for university admission via the national university entrance system.
Technical and vocational programs of varying duration. Culminates in the Diploma of Vocational Secondary Education (Bằng Trung Học Chuyên Nghiệp).
Bachelor's degrees (Cử nhân) typically take 4 years (engineering and architecture 4.5–5 years; medicine 6 years). Master's degrees (Thạc sĩ) are 2 years and Doctoral degrees (Tiến sĩ) are 3–4 years. Vietnam uses a 10-point grading scale at both secondary and university levels.
| Vietnamese Grade (0–10) | Description (Vietnamese) | US Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 9 – 10 | High Achievement (Xuất Sắc) | A |
| 8 | Very Good (Giỏi) | A |
| 7 | Good (Khá) | B |
| 6 | Average (Trung Bình) | C |
| 5 | Minimum Passing (Đạt) | C |
| 1 – 4 | Failure (Trượt/Kém) | F* |
* A grade of 4 may be accepted as a condoned pass (US grade D) provided the overall GPA for the year is 5.0/10.0 or higher.
A formal credential evaluation is required for US university admissions, employment-based immigration petitions, and professional licensing.
All Vietnamese academic documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers Vietnamese-to-English translation services combined with your evaluation order.