Overview
The Vietnamese Language Proficiency Test (VLPT) measures the Vietnamese of non-native speakers. The source for this page is the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Vietnam National University, Hanoi, which announced its 2025 test sessions. Results are mapped to the Vietnamese Language Proficiency Framework for Foreigners, which has six levels. The details below are the 2025 arrangements; the page used here does not give a 2026 schedule or fee, so check the university's site for those.
Who can take it
Anyone who needs their Vietnamese assessed and certified, provided they submit a valid application, pay the exam and certificate fees, and are not under an exam ban. Under Circular 27/2021/TT-BGDDT, a candidate who had someone else sit the test for them, disrupted the exam or assaulted organisers or other candidates is barred from the national test for two years.
Exam pattern
The test has four skills.
| Skill | Format |
|---|---|
| Listening | Four parts, multiple choice; the recording is played once |
| Reading | 40 multiple-choice questions on short texts |
| Writing | Three parts: fill in blanks, answer a letter, write an essay |
| Speaking | Three parts: answer questions, discuss and choose among options, discuss a general or academic topic with follow-up questions |
Listening, reading and writing are taken on computers. In 2025 they ran in the morning from 8:00 to 11:00 (candidates in place by 7:15), and speaking started at 13:30. Phones, watches and other devices are not allowed in the exam area, and late arrivals are not admitted.
Marking and results
Each skill and the final score are on a 10-point scale in steps of 0.5. The final score is converted to a level.
| Level | Final score |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 1.0 to 1.5 |
| Level 2 | 2.0 to 3.5 |
| Level 3 | 4.0 to 5.5 |
| Level 4 | 6.0 to 7.0 |
| Level 5 | 7.5 to 8.5 |
| Level 6 | 9.0 to 10.0 |
Level 1 covers basic communication with familiar structures; Level 6 covers understanding long, varied texts and expressing ideas fluently. Results were posted on the university website within 5 working days of the exam.
Important dates
For 2025 the university listed four sessions. The second date in each pair was a backup day in case of problems on the first.
| Exam dates | Registration |
|---|---|
| March 29-30, 2025 | Feb 26 - Mar 11, 2025 |
| June 28-29, 2025 | May 27 - Jun 10, 2025 |
| September 27-28, 2025 | Aug 26 - Sep 9, 2025 |
| December 27-28, 2025 | Nov 25 - Dec 9, 2025 |
A session is not held with fewer than 30 registered candidates. The university may add sessions if demand justifies it.
Fees
For 2025: 3,800,000 VND for candidates who have not studied Vietnamese at USSH, and 2,500,000 VND for candidates who completed at least 60 hours of Vietnamese courses at USSH in the 6 months before the exam.
How to apply
Submit these documents in Hanoi, at the Vietnam Language and Culture Center or the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language:
Two 4x6 cm photos taken within six months, with your name and date of birth on the back.
A copy of a valid passport.
The registration form.
If applicable, proof of 60 or more hours of study at USSH in the previous 6 months.
Bring originals of your identification documents. An application counts only after the fee is paid and proof of payment is given. Applications were accepted Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 16:30.
Preparation tips
Prepare all four skills, including a face-to-face speaking test.
Practise typing Vietnamese with diacritics, since writing is taken on a computer.
The listening recording plays only once, so practise answering on a single hearing.