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The Vietnamese educational system shares similarities with the US and European education systems. Primary and secondary education lasts for a total of 12 years. Undergraduate study typically requires 2-3 years for Associate degree programs and a total of 4-5 years for Bachelor degree programs. Post-graduate education lasts from 1-4 years typically.
In addition to this overarching structure, Vietnam has introduced the Vietnamese Qualification Framework (VQF) to aid in portability of credentials from one system to another. The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is comprised of eight levels from primary education to doctoral study and is aligned with the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF).
1 - So Cap I/Elementary Level I (primary education)
2 - So Cap II/Elementary Level II (lower secondary education)
3 - So Cap III/Elementary Level III (upper secondary education)
4 - Trung cap/Intermediate Level
5 - Cao Dang/College/Vocational College Level
6 - Dai hoc/Bachelor Level
7 - Thac sy/Master Level
8 - Tien sy/Doctoral Level
Vocational education and training (VET) is offered at elementary levels, intermediate levels, and college levels listed above; it is not available at degree levels.
The majority of VET is offered at the elementary level and typically lasts for 3 months to 1 year. There are also programs below this level that last less than 3 months; this training below Level 1 does not lead to further study and does not typically grant access to employment.
Career-oriented VET is typically offered at the lower secondary level, though many students in elementary certificate programs have already earned their upper secondary diploma. At most programs, the major entry requirement is age 15 or older and completion of primary school.
Those VET studies offered at Level 1 on the NQF include Certificates of increasing duration. The Certificate Level 1 has a standard duration of 3 months; Certificate Level 2 typically lasts for 3-6 months; and Certificate Level 3 generally runs for 6-12 months. Certificates 1-3 are also known as out-of-school education or career-oriented training.
Levels 4 and 5 are also known as professional vocational education levels. Post-secondary education technically begins with level 4, which is an intermediate level that incorporates both upper secondary and post-secondary education. It typically lasts for 1-2 years for upper secondary graduates and 3 years for lower secondary graduates. It primarily leads to collegiate vocational studies, though some university programs may accept graduates directly into related Bachelor degrees.
College education is offered at level 5 and leads to the VQF Level 5 Advanced Diploma, Associate Diploma, or Professional Diploma. This qualification typically requires 2-3 years of full-time study. The VQF Level 5 program grants access to shortened Bachelor degrees. Vocational qualifications are not currently available at the Bachelor level or higher.
Resources:
ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework: Referncing Repot of Vietnam. Ministry of Education and Training, 2025. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025_02_ASEAN-QUAFICATION-REFERENCE-FRAMEWORK-Viet-Nam.pdf
The Data Collection Survey and Situational Analsysis on Industrial Human Resource Development in Vietnam. Japan International Cooperation Agency, 2022.
Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City: https://sldtbxh.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/
“Education and Times” Newspaper of the Ministry of Education and Training: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/
Education System Vietnam. Vietnam National Academic Recognition Information Centre.
https://en.naric.edu.vn/education-system.html
General Directorate of Vocational Education.
https://gdnn.edu.vn/index.php/download/Chuong-trinh-dao-tao/ and https://gdnn.edu.vn/index.php/download/Tai-lieu/
Global Inventory of NQFs: Vietnam. UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, 2012.
National Report: Vietnam. RecoAsia, 2022. https://www.recoasia.eu/PDF/national-report/RecoASIA-National_Report-VIETNAM.pdf
Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Vietnam. SEAMO Votech Regional Center. https://seatvet.seameo.org/docs/TVET_Vietnam_2015.pdf
TVET Country Profile: Viet Nam. UNESCO UNEVOC International Center. https://unevoc.unesco.org/home/Dynamic+TVET+Country+Profiles/country=VNM
TVET Country Profile: Viet Nam. UNESCO UNEVOC International Center, 2018.
https://unevoc.unesco.org/wtdb/worldtvetdatabase_vnm_en.pdf
Viet Nam Vocational Education and Training Report. Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, 2021. https://internationaleducation.gov.au/International-network/vietnam/publications/Documents/VET%20Background%20-%20for%20AEI%20website.pdf
Vietnam Education System. Vietnam National Academic Recognition Information Centre.
Vietnamese Qualifications Framework. Prime Minister, 2016.
https://en.naric.edu.vn/static/files/Document/Khung%20trinh%20do%20quoc%20tia-TA.pdf
Vocational Education and Training in Vietnam. Government of Australia.