Vietnam has begun preparing to teach Lao as one of the foreign languages in general education schools. The Ministry of Education and Training will first try the Lao language in border areas and later expand it nationwide, once they have enough textbooks and qualified teachers. This move joins Lao alongside other foreign languages already taught in Vietnamese schools, such as English, French, Chinese, Japanese, German, Korean, and Russian.
New language offerings: Lao joins foreign language list in Vietnamese schools
The Vietnamese government has officially proposed Lao as the eighth foreign language to be included in the curriculum of general education. This change does not happen overnight. The plan starts with pilot programs in areas close to the Lao-Vietnam border, where local demand and cultural ties are strongest. Teachers and officials say they need to prepare teaching materials, train teachers, and develop textbooks before launching Lao in many more schools across the country.
Minister Nguyen Kim Son has emphasized cooperation with Laos in making this program work well. Laos is expected to help by providing textbooks, teacher training support, and sharing its educational experience. Such partnership reflects the longtime historical, cultural, and geographical connection between Vietnam and Laos.
Why Vietnam is expanding foreign language education to include Lao
There are multiple reasons behind expanding foreign language options to include Southeast Asian languages like Lao. First, Vietnam already teaches several foreign languages under its national foreign language program, and expanding to include Lao supports regional integration. Teaching Southeast Asian languages helps strengthen ties with neighboring countries and improves mutual understanding among students.
Second, there is growing interest in multilingualism worldwide, and students recognize that knowing more than one language opens doors to trade, diplomacy, academic collaboration, and cultural exchange. For many families near the border with Laos, learning Lao can help with personal, social, and economic interactions. Including Lao in school helps formalize that benefit.
Challenges in teaching Southeast Asian languages like Lao in Vietnamese education
Though the plan has promise, it faces practical challenges. Vietnam must find enough teachers who are fluent in Lao and able to teach it well. Training these teachers, giving them good methods, and ensuring their deployment especially in remote or rural border areas may take time.
Another challenge involves materials: good books, curriculum design, audio-visual aids, and well-structured classes. Lao-language textbooks developed for Vietnamese schools must align with Vietnam’s general education standards and account for differences in alphabet, pronunciation, grammar, and writing systems where applicable.
Also, student interest and motivation will matter. If students see value in learning La through cultural access, improved chances for work, or regional exchange they are more likely to engage. If they see it as less useful than other languages, or just another requirement, uptake may lag.
