- Could you tell us how you were first drawn to the Vietnamese Language and Culture field?

Honestly, I didn’t know much about Vietnam or the Vietnamese language in the beginning. I only knew Vietnam was a country in Southeast Asia, and I wasn’t even aware that Vietnamese used the Latin alphabet. After graduating high school in the Republic of Korea (RoK), I enrolled at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Both of my parents were teachers, and it was actually my father who encouraged me to choose Vietnamese, believing it offered strong career prospects.

Ha Dong Hwan, Project Manager for New Projects at iMarket Vietnam (a branch of iMarket Korea), shares insights into current career opportunities in the Vietnamese Language and Culture field.

However, learning Vietnamese was initially very difficult for me. In 2012, I studied abroad in Hanoi for a year, which helped me understand the culture and people of Vietnam more deeply. Before that, most of my knowledge came from books, so real-life experience in Vietnam gave me valuable insights for my current job.

Vietnamese gave me a feeling of being “strange but familiar.” Because of shared Confucian traditions, Vietnamese and RoK's people have many similarities in how they interact and live. But the Vietnamese language, with its complex tone system and unique ways of expressing emotions, requires real time and dedication to master.

After earning my bachelor’s in Vietnamese and a master’s in Linguistics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, I continued my academic journey in Vietnam alongside my work at the company.

- Has your academic background in Vietnamese and its culture supported your work?

As a researcher in Vietnamese and an employee at a RoK's business, I’ve taught Vietnamese to dispatched employees from Samsung, Lotte, and CJ, and also worked as an interpreter for both the Vietnamese government and local authorities. I can affirm that there are significant career opportunities in the field of Vietnamese Language and Culture.

Many RoK's companies operating in Vietnam - like Samsung, LG, Shinhan Bank need professionals fluent in both Korean and Vietnamese. Accurate communication is vital, especially in meetings, contract discussions, and interactions with government agencies. Misunderstandings can have serious consequences without someone who understands both languages and cultures.

- What is the current demand for Vietnamese language specialists in foreign companies, especially RoK's firms in Vietnam?

The opportunities are abundant, especially for students deeply trained in Vietnamese language and culture. Major corporations like Samsung, LG, and Shinhan Bank prioritize hiring candidates with strong Vietnamese language skills. The value of human resources in this field is rising due to better salaries and an irreplaceable role in connecting foreign businesses with the Vietnamese market.

There’s still a shortage of professionals capable of thoroughly analyzing specialized documents, particularly those involving projects, legal matters, or complex content. As international cooperation expands, the demand for highly competent professionals in this field increases accordingly. Companies seek individuals who “master” the language and culture — not just those who can speak or translate at a basic level.

RoK's companies hope that universities training Vietnamese language and culture specialists can offer more practical training, especially internships and real-world work experience.

- Do current Vietnamese Language and Culture programs meet the real-world needs?

In my opinion, the programs are improving. In the past, the curriculum was too theoretical and lacked practical application. Recently, I’ve noticed changes — more real-life oriented courses are being introduced.

The University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University (ULIS–VNU), has launched a new bachelor’s program in Teaching Vietnamese as a Foreign Language under the Vietnamese Language and Culture major.

Notably, the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University (ULIS–VNU), has launched a new bachelor’s program in Teaching Vietnamese as a Foreign Language under the Vietnamese Language and Culture major (code: 7220101). This is the first program in Vietnam to specialize in teaching Vietnamese to foreigners, combining language, culture, and practical training to meet growing demand in the context of global integration.

- What advice would you give to young Vietnamese or RoK's students considering this major?

This is a very promising field amid the growing Vietnam–RoK trade relationship. However, be prepared to study seriously, seek internships early, and don’t shy away from challenges. Once you have the skills, the right job and salary will follow — not only in Korean firms but also in Japanese, Chinese, and other international companies operating in Vietnam.

I believe that if students are trained and challenged in the Vietnamese Language and Culture environment at ULIS–VNU, their future will be bright and their path to success wide open. Although many Vietnamese are fluent in RoK and vice versa, from a corporate standpoint, highly competent professionals in document translation and report writing are still very rare and even severely lacking.

- What does your company expect from Vietnamese Language and Culture graduates at ULIS–VNU?

With excellent teachers, a solid program, and many opportunities from the Vietnamese Language and Culture major at ULIS-VNU, I believe students will grow into top professionals. They will not only know Vietnamese deeply but also be able to compare and work with RoK, Chinese, Japanese, and English languages.

I hope students will be active in talking with their professors, gain experience early, and soon become leading experts in Vietnamese Language and Culture.

- Thank you very much for your sharing!