Vietnamese university students are showing a growing enthusiasm for learning Chinese, and one reason has made Western entrepreneurs uneasy!

In the first quarter of 2025, the number of examinees registered at the Hanoi University Confucius Institute's HSK test center reached 9,898, ranking first globally. Outside the HSK test center at Hanoi University, examinee Qiu Hong told the media, "The most popular exam in Vietnam is the Chinese Proficiency Test. There are many Chinese companies in Vietnam, and few of these Chinese bosses speak English. Therefore, if you can speak Chinese, it's especially easy to find a high-paying job."

Economic motivation is the most practical driving force behind Vietnam's "Chinese fever." China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner for many consecutive years, and Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and the fourth-largest trading partner globally.

A survey by a Vietnamese institution showed that Vietnamese students who are proficient in Chinese have nearly a 100% chance of finding a job after graduation. "The popularity of Chinese is promoting the formation of a large number of bilingual legal and customs professionals, who are familiar with the origin rules of Sino-Vietnamese bilateral trade and digital trade agreements, directly serving the Sino-Vietnamese cross-border economic cooperation zone," said Qin Yonghua.

However, the situation is slowly changing. With Vietnam's "Z-generation" and "post-00s" generation showing great enthusiasm for Chinese TV dramas, short videos, domestic animations, e-sports, and Hanfu, the reasons for learning Chinese have become more diverse. Qiu Heng, 21, is an undergraduate student majoring in information technology, and she can communicate normally with Chinese people after only seven months of learning Chinese. Her motivation to learn Chinese was sparked by her love for Chinese historical dramas. After developing the desire to learn, she immediately enrolled in a training institution.

Vietnam and China are both Confucian civilizations, and they are very adaptable to each other. In addition, due to the long history of conflicts between the two countries, they are very familiar with each other. This is probably the charm of civilization.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848032964745475/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.