Vietnamese Proficiency Tests Comparison - Choose the Right Certification

Want to prove your Vietnamese skills? Whether for work, study abroad, or personal achievement, Vietnamese language proficiency tests can provide official certification. This article compares all major Vietnamese exams to help you make the best choice.

Why Get Vietnamese Language Certification?

Vietnamese language certification not only proves your language ability but also brings practical benefits in the workplace, education, and daily life.

📋📋 Five Benefits of Certification

1️⃣Career Competitiveness — Companies investing in or doing business with Vietnam prefer candidates with language certification

2️⃣Study Abroad Advantage — Important reference for university admission or scholarship applications in Vietnam

3️⃣Immigration Convenience — Language requirement for long-term residence permits or citizenship

4️⃣Learning Motivation — Concrete goals help maintain enthusiasm and progress

5️⃣Cultural Recognition — Proof of your deep understanding of Vietnamese language and culture

Major Vietnamese Proficiency Tests

Official Certification Exams

🏆HANU-VLPT (Hanoi University Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test)

Most internationally recognized official certification

📊 Exam Structure:

Listening Comprehension (30 questions, 30 min)
Reading Comprehension (30 questions, 45 min)
Vocabulary & Grammar (40 questions, 30 min)
Writing (1 question, 30 min)
Speaking Interview (5-10 min)

🏆 Level System: A1 (100-199) → A2 (200-299) → B1 (300-399) → B2 (400-499) → C1 (500-599) → C2 (600-700)

💰 Cost: ~~2,500,000 VND (~~$100 USD) | 📅 Test Dates: April, July, November | ⏱️ Validity: Permanent

🎓VNU-VLPT (Vietnam National University System)

Covering Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City university systems

📊 Exam Structure:

Listening (25 questions, 20 min)
Reading Comprehension (25 questions, 35 min)
Grammar & Vocabulary (25 questions, 25 min)
Writing (1 question, 30 min)
Speaking (Interview format)

🏆 Level System: A1-A2 (Basic) → B1-B2 (Intermediate) → C1-C2 (Advanced)

💰 Cost: ~2,000,000-3,000,000 VND | 📅 Test Dates: 1-2 times per semester | ⏱️ Validity: 2 years

Private Certification Exams

📜

AMC Vietnamese Certification

Asian Multilingual Center Certification

Suitable for beginners to intermediate learners
Emphasizes practical conversation ability
Shorter exam duration (~2 hours)
Results published within 3 months

Cost: ~1,500,000 VND | Levels: 5 levels

🌐

DILF Vietnamese Exam

Diplomatic Academy Language Certification

Designed for diplomats and business professionals
Includes business Vietnamese content
Higher emphasis on speaking
High international recognition

Cost: ~3,000,000 VND | Levels: A1-C2

Comparison Table

Exam Name	Recognition	Cost	Duration	Score Validity	Best For
HANU-VLPT	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Medium	3-4 hours	Permanent	Academic/Professional
VNU-VLPT	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Medium	3 hours	2 years	International Students
AMC	⭐⭐⭐	Low	2 hours	2 years	Beginners
DILF	⭐⭐⭐⭐	High	3 hours	Permanent	Business Professionals

How to Choose the Right Exam?

🎓

Students

If you plan to study at a Vietnamese university, choose HANU-VLPT or VNU-VLPT.

Recommended: HANU-VLPT

💼

Professionals

If you need certification for work, choose DILF or HANU-VLPT for international recognition.

Recommended: DILF or HANU-VLPT

🌟

Hobby Learners

If learning for personal achievement, choose easier AMC or other private certifications.

Recommended: AMC

Exam Preparation Strategies

🎧🎧 Listening Preparation

Listen to Vietnamese news or podcasts daily
Practice dictation with Vietnamese dialogues
Familiarize yourself with different accents
Practice shadowing and repetition

📖📖 Reading Preparation

Read Vietnamese news and articles
Learn Sino-Vietnamese words and native vocabulary
Practice long-form reading comprehension
Familiarize with various text types

✍️✍️ Writing Preparation

Practice writing journals and short essays
Learn letter and formal document formats
Build common sentence patterns
Pay attention to grammar accuracy

🗣️🗣️ Speaking Preparation

Find language exchange partners to practice
Record yourself to practice pronunciation
Simulate exam scenarios
Build expressions for common topics

Practical Registration Information

Registration Timing & Method

📅📅 Registration Timeline

HANU-VLPT: Register 2-3 months in advance on the official website
VNU-VLPT: Registration opens at the start of each semester
AMC/DILF: Accept registrations year-round, closes 1 month before exam

Exam Locations

📍📍 Test Centers

Hanoi: Hanoi University, Vietnam National University Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City: VNU Ho Chi Minh City, Pedagogical University
Other Cities: Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, Hai Phong, and other major cities

Recommended Learning Resources

📚

Textbooks

Tiếng Việt cho người nước ngoài
Bộ sách Tiếng Việt A1-C2
Ngữ pháp tiếng Việt cơ bản

💻

Online Resources

VOA Learning Vietnamese
BBC Vietnamese
YouTube Vietnamese lessons

🎓

Courses & Tutoring

Vietnamese language schools
Online 1-on-1 tutoring
Exam prep intensive courses

💡Exam prep mindset

Don't treat the exam as your only goal — treat it as an opportunity to review what you've learned. Regardless of the result, the preparation process itself is the greatest gain. Maintain regular study habits and enjoy the fun that language brings!

Conclusion

✨Key Takeaways

Choosing the right Vietnamese proficiency test is an important step in your learning journey. Whichever test you choose, the key is consistent learning and practice. Remember, language learning is an ongoing process — certification is just one milestone along the way.

🚀🚀 Start Your Certification Journey

You now have complete information about Vietnamese exams. Create your study plan and gradually achieve your language goals!

💡 Remember: The most important thing is enjoying the process — let certification motivate you forward, not become a source of pressure.

Begin Learning