Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test: Vietnamese language reaches new milestone in Osaka, Japan

On August 15, at the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka, the Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test according to the 6-level Vietnamese Language Proficiency Framework for foreigners was successfully conducted via computer-based testing.

The test was organized by Hanoi National University of Education, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka, in collaboration with the Vietnam Studies Centre under the Vietnam - Japan Economic Cooperation Promotion Association.

The examination board meets before the test. (Source: BTC)

When Vietnamese becomes a cultural bridge

Developed according to the 6-level Vietnamese Language Proficiency Framework for foreigners issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, the test comprehensively assesses the Vietnamese language proficiency of learners according to national standards, meeting the needs for studying, researching, working, and cultural exchange in the context of increasing interest in Vietnamese in many countries.

Consul General of Vietnam in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son stressed that the successful organization of the test is a concrete action implementing Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on the work of Vietnamese people abroad.

Praising the efforts of the organizers and the teachers from Hanoi National University of Education, Consul General Nguyen Truong Son affirmed that the Consulate General will continue to accompany and facilitate the community in preserving and teaching the Vietnamese language.

He hopes that organizing the test according to national standards in Japan will not only be significant for those who love Vietnamese but also contribute to the systematic development of Vietnamese language teaching and preservation abroad.

This pilot test was organized with one computer-based examination room for 25 candidates. Notably, candidates registered for all levels from level 1 to level 6 according to the Vietnamese Language Proficiency Framework for foreigners.

The diversity in age and nationality also added a unique aspect to the test. The youngest candidate was Kayano Emiko (Le Tra My), 8 years old, a Vietnamese living in Japan; while the oldest candidate was Imagawa Hiroshi, a Japanese national.

The organizers welcome and guide candidates through procedures before the test. (Source: Organizing Board)

With a scale of 25 candidates, the test serves both as an opportunity to trial the computer-based method and to evaluate and refine the organization process, laying the groundwork for expanding the test to many countries and territories in the future.

To achieve this milestone, the relevant agencies and units underwent meticulous preparation and close coordination. Notably, after the Ministry of Education and Training amended and supplemented regulations and issued documents allowing the organization of the Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test abroad in April 2026, an important legal basis was established, facilitating the first-ever national-level Vietnamese language proficiency test outside Vietnam.

For those directly involved in developing the Vietnamese language abroad, this is not only an educational event but also carries cultural and community significance.

Le Thuong, a member of the examination board in Japan and Director of the Vietnam Studies Centre, believes that the successful organization of the test is a joy and a great motivation for those working on developing the Vietnamese language abroad.

Beyond assessing language proficiency, the test also contributes to spreading the love for the Vietnamese language, motivating generations of Vietnamese abroad and international friends to continue learning, using, and connecting with the Vietnamese language.

“We hope that from the milestone in Osaka, this model will continue to expand to many countries, contributing to the Vietnamese language reaching further on the international stage,” Le Thuong shared.

View of the examination room. (Source: Organizing Board)

For the Vietnamese community abroad, the Vietnamese language is not only a communication tool but also an important part of identity and connection to the homeland. For foreigners who love Vietnam, learning Vietnamese also opens a door to deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture, history, and people.

Therefore, bringing the national-standard Vietnamese language test to learners abroad holds significance beyond testing. It is also a way to create a standardized learning environment, encouraging learners to pursue Vietnamese long-term and forming a community of Vietnamese language users abroad.

From a test to a journey of spreading Vietnamese

The significance of the test in Osaka is also reflected in the personal stories of the candidates. For Le Tra My, the youngest candidate, participating in the test was a memorable experience.

She expressed her joy in learning and taking the Vietnamese test, hoping to be able to talk with her grandparents, read Vietnamese books, and understand more about her homeland. “I hope more children in Japan will learn and love Vietnamese like me,” Tra My shared.

Meanwhile, Sakai Norihiro, 45, was motivated to learn Vietnamese by his love for the country and its people. He has visited Vietnam nearly 100 times. Each trip left beautiful memories and inspired him to learn Vietnamese to understand more about the country he loves.

He expressed his happiness in participating in the test, seeing it not only as a language test but also as a symbol of the development of Vietnam - Japan friendship relations.

“I hope more Japanese people will learn Vietnamese to understand more about Vietnamese culture and people,” Sakai Norihiro expressed.

From a young Vietnamese child living in Japan to a Japanese citizen who has visited Vietnam many times, the stories in Osaka show that Vietnamese can be spread from various motivations, but they all meet in love, curiosity, and a desire to connect with Vietnam.

On a broader scale, the success of the test marks a new development in the internationalization of Vietnamese language testing activities. From a pilot model, the organization method can continue to be refined in terms of process and technology to gradually implement in many countries, meeting the increasingly diverse needs of learners.

This is also evidence of the cooperation between Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad, educational institutions, and social organizations in implementing the policy of preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language.

Hanoi National University of Education presents a souvenir to first-time test candidates. (Source: Organizing Board)

If expanded, the Vietnamese language testing system abroad will provide learners with an additional official proficiency assessment standard, while contributing to building a sustainable Vietnamese language environment within the overseas Vietnamese community and among those who love Vietnam.

From Osaka, a new step has been taken. Bringing the Vietnamese language test beyond national borders is not only about expanding testing activities but also about bringing the Vietnamese language closer to those who are learning, using, and cherishing this language worldwide.

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