Foreign Language Policy Research in Vietnam: Scientific Evidence and Strategic Orientations in the New Context

Abstract

This article analyzes the paradigm shift in Vietnam's foreign language policy for the 2025–2035 period, centered on two pivotal policy documents: Decision No. 2371/QD-TTg and Decision No. 2732/QD-TTg. Drawing on Spolsky’s language management framework and a linguistic ecology perspective, the research identifies critical gaps between the legal framework and implementation capacity. The author proposes a "decolonial" language governance model specifically tailored to Vietnam’s context—a model characterized by active state intervention rather than colonial legacy. The study establishes scientific evidence for treating languages as strategic national capital and advocates for the development of a "National Language Map" alongside mechanisms to preserve the vitality of the Vietnamese language amidst the pressures of global Anglicization.