MKS sports Vietnam on April 12, 2025. Photo: Fan Anqi/GT" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-04-12/267d5d7f-d527-4d9c-9f85-1184cba7f2ad.jpeg" />

Students taking the HSK (or Chinese Proficiency Test) arrive at the Confucius Institute of Hanoi University in Hanoi, Vietnam on April 12, 2025. Photo: Fan Anqi/GT

"I want to study in China because we're neighbors, and our social and economic ties are growing closer." "If you can speak Chinese, it's easier to get a job," students taking the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK or Chinese Proficiency Test) at the Confucius Institute of Hanoi University told the Global Times on Saturday, as they shared that the HSK is now seen as one of the most valuable and sought-after exams among Vietnamese youth.

On Saturday, Global Times reporters arrived early at the HSK test site at the Confucius Institute of Hanoi University. By 7 am, candidates have already gathered in the garden outside, sitting on benches or along the curb, reviewing their notes as they waited to register. Around 8 am, examinees began entering the venue - many appeared in their 20s and accompanied by their parents.

Qin Yonghua, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute jointly established by Guangxi Normal University and Hanoi University, told the Global Times that this round of HSK exam saw a record-breaking 2,167 candidates across 36 test rooms. Examinees came from all over Vietnam. According to latest data, the Hanoi University Confucius Institute test site recorded 9,898 test registrations in the first quarter of 2025 - the highest among all other test sites in the world.

Students taking the HSK (or Chinese Proficiency Test) arrive at the Confucius Institute of Hanoi University in Hanoi, Vietnam on April 12, 2025. Photo: Fan Anqi/GT

Since the site was established in 2021, the Confucius Institute has held over 50 HSK exams with more than 30,000 participants. It currently offers over 40 Chinese language courses annually, with HSK prep classes being the most popular, Qin said. Classes run Monday through Saturday and are open to the public, receiving a total of over 30,000 Chinese learners to date.

Economic opportunity is a major driver of Vietnam's growing interest in Chinese. China has remained Vietnam's largest trading partner for several years, while Vietnam is China's top trade partner in ASEAN and fourth largest globally. A local Vietnamese institution found that nearly 100 percent of Vietnamese students proficient in Chinese secure employment after graduation.

"It's true," a test-taker named Thu Hong told Global Times reporters. "HSK is the most popular exam in Vietnam. There are many Chinese companies here offering well-paying jobs. If you speak Chinese, it's easier to get hired."

Nguyen Thi Xiu Linh, 20, who has been learning Chinese for over a year, said she is preparing to apply for undergraduate studies in China, with Xi'an Jiaotong University and Nanjing Normal University among her top choices. "Their programs fit my background in high school. I plan to major in international trade and economics," she explained, adding that she hopes to work for a major international company, ideally a Chinese one, after graduation.

"I want to study in China because we're neighbors, and our social and economic ties are growing increasingly closer. With more investments and businesses happening between the two sides, I know this [leaning Chinese] is good for me," Nguyen said. 

"If I have the chance to go to China, I want to go to Nanjing," said Nguyen excitedly. She felt Nanjing is close to her heart from what she has seen in short videos. "I wish my life has ups and downs like the ocean," she told reporters that she has many Vietnamese friends in Beijing and Kunming, and she would like to visit them and travel across the vast land in China.

Economic ties are not the only thing driving the "Chinese frenzy." Qin noted that a growing number of Gen Z Vietnamese are learning Chinese out of genuine interest in the Chinese culture. Many are passionate about Chinese TV dramas, short videos, animation, and traditional Hanfu clothing. Some even create Chinese-Vietnamese bilingual content on TikTok, with these grassroots cultural exchanges proving influential.

One such example is 21-year-old Thu Hang, an IT major who signed up for the HSK test for the first time, jumping straight to Level 4. Despite only studying Chinese for seven months, she could hold a fluent conversation with the Global Times reporters. Her motivation came from watching Chinese historical dramas last year, which sparked her desire to learn the language. 

"The more I learn Chinese, the more I understand China - and the more I understand China, the more I see its charm and progress," she said. Thu Hangh hopes to one day see the Forbidden City and the Great Wall with her own eyes and pursue further studies in China. As for her career plans, she's confident: "As long as I master Chinese, I'm not worried about finding a job."

Data from relevant Vietnamese institutions show that in 2024, the number of Vietnamese students studying in China increased by 25 percent year-on-year. Public interest in learning Chinese continues to rise. In 2023, there were 32,000 Vietnamese students in China, 78 percent of whom chose fields including Chinese language and international education, artificial intelligence, new energy, and international relations.

"There is data showing that 81 percent of Vietnamese youth with study experience in China develop a more positive perception of the country, far higher than among those with no direct exposure," Qin told the Global Times. 

"Language has never been just a communication tool. Vietnam's 'Chinese language fever' is helping to build trust at the people-to-people level and strengthen the foundation of China-Vietnam friendship, allowing our traditional ties to flourish," Qin said.