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Top English student in HCMC opts for teaching career path

A Ho Chi Minh City high school student has secured direct admission to the city's education university after achieving a perfect IELTS score and winning national English competition awards. The 12th grader's accomplishments highlight a trend of high-achieving students pursuing educator roles in Vietnam.

LSN Vietnam · 10 October 2026

Top English student in HCMC opts for teaching career path

The student's academic credentials include a maximum IELTS band score of 9.0, placing them among Vietnam's elite English speakers. This achievement was complemented by success at the national level, where the teenager claimed first and second prizes in competitions for gifted students specializing in English language skills.

These combined accomplishments earned the student direct entry to Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, one of the country's leading institutions for teacher training. The university's acceptance marks recognition of both linguistic proficiency and competitive academic performance.

The student's choice to pursue education reflects shifting career priorities among Vietnam's top academic performers. While previous generations of high-achieving students traditionally gravitated toward engineering, medicine, or business fields, an increasing number are now selecting teaching as a career path, particularly in high-demand subjects like English.

The decision comes as Vietnam's education sector faces ongoing demand for qualified educators, especially in English language instruction. The country has prioritized English proficiency as part of its broader development strategy, creating favorable employment prospects for university-trained teachers.