# Vietnamese ## expand\_more ![image of a river in Vietname with backdrop of mountains](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/ealc/files/vietnamese_language_program_pic.jpeg) ### **Vietnamese Language Program at Harvard University** The Vietnamese Language Program at Harvard offers a four-year, proficiency-oriented curriculum designed to foster advanced communicative competence while cultivating a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s language, literature, culture, and society. The program is grounded in task-based language teaching and informed by empirical research in second language acquisition. Instruction integrates real-world communicative tasks, multimodal resources, and authentic cultural materials across all levels. Attention is given to the diverse linguistic repertoires and learning trajectories of individual students, ensuring that instruction is responsive to both linguistic development and personal learning goals. Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to apply their language skills in meaningful contexts through experiential learning opportunities. These include field trips and co-curricular activities that engage students with museums, libraries, restaurants, Vietnamese-speaking communities, and local Vietnamese-English bilingual schools. Beginning in Fall 2025, the program will inaugurate dedicated first-year courses for heritage language learners. Designed for students who grew up speaking Vietnamese in the home or community, these courses provide structured instruction to strengthen reading, writing, and grammatical competence, while building on learners’ existing oral proficiency. ### [**Curriculum Overview**](/vietnamese-courses "Vietnamese Courses") Students enrolled in Vietnamese 120A and beyond can work toward a Vietnamese Citation, a great way to showcase their language skills. Courses at the 130A level and beyond also count toward Divisional Distribution requirements. The program emphasizes full immersion in the classroom and encourages students to use Vietnamese actively and meaningfully. By integrating academic study with real-world application, the program prepares students to connect with Vietnam’s language and culture in ways that support their personal, professional, and intellectual goals. **Director:** [Hoa Le](/people/hoa-le) Senior Preceptor in Vietnamese [9 Kirkland Pl.](https://www.google.com/maps/place/9%20Kirkland%20Place,%209%20Kirkland%20Pl,%20Cambridge,%20MA%2002138/@42.378,-71.1130108,3a,75y,220h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sSQr6PA-Nd_NmAQtxqvhx8Q!2e0!6s//geo3.ggpht.com/cbk?panoid=SQr6PA-Nd_NmAQtxqvhx8Q&output=thumbnail&cb_client=search.TACTILE.gps&thumb=2&w=392&h=106&yaw=220.08058&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e37746e5c3535f:0x8eb898759cb70622!8m2!3d42.3778229!4d-71.1132124) Room 205 [### Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/harvardvietnam)Follow us on Instagram for news and events! ![instagram logo a stylized representation of a camera](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/ealc/files/instagramlogo.png?itok=YrMSZ9aZ) ## Vietnamese Language Courses ![Spring 2026 VLP Courses](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/2025-11/SPR26%20VLP%20Courses_0.png) ## Vietnamese Language Citation ![Vietnamese Language Citation](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/2025-11/citation_2_vlp-for_website.jpg) ## Past Events [### EALC Hooding Ceremony ](/event/ealc-hooding-ceremony?occ_id=0)May 27, 2026 | 11:00AM - 1:00PM EDT | Yenching Auditorium, 2 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge In Person EALC Graduate Student Hooding Ceremony ![Unofficial EALC logo: a line drawing of a Fu lion in profile, facing left, against a background of deep crimson](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/ealc/files/ealc-logo-official-crimson2.png?itok=vRfOMJ_T) [### Special Screening of 'Rise of the Conqueror' at Harvard University ](/event/special-screening-rise-conqueror-harvard-university?occ_id=0)May 16, 2026 | 5:00PM - 8:00PM EDT | 2 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 In Person We are delighted to invite you to a special screening of Rise of the Conqueror — a captivating historical film that brings to life the extraordinary civilizations of Central Asia. This film offers a compelling window into a pivotal era of Central Asian... ![Rise of the Conqueror](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/Rise-of-the-Conqueror_Film%20Screening.jpg?itok=RIl0GTRR) [### G4 Prospectus Conference ](/event/g4-prospectus-conference?occ_id=0)May 4, 2026 | 10:30AM - 2:30PM EDT In Person Open to EALC and other Harvard Affiliates. Lunch will be served. ![Unofficial EALC logo: a line drawing of a Fu lion in profile, facing left, against a background of deep crimson](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/ealc/files/ealc-logo-official-crimson2.png?itok=vRfOMJ_T) [### Vietnamese Language Program Talent Show and Language Citation Ceremony ](/event/vietnamese-language-program-talent-show-and-language-citation-ceremony?occ_id=0)April 30, 2026 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM EDT | Yenching Auditorium, 2 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge In Person ![VLP Citation Ceremony and Talent Show 2026](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/vlpcit.png?itok=lT2Hl-wA) [### Harvard Vietnamese Association Phở Night ](/event/harvard-vietnamese-association-pho-night?occ_id=0)April 29, 2026 | 7:00PM - 9:00PM EDT | Lowell Underground In Person event [### Uyghur Language Table ](/event/uyghur-language-table-2?occ_id=0)April 27, 2026 | 5:00PM - 6:30PM EDT | 9 Kirkland Place Graduate Student Lounge In Person ![Uyghur Language Table: 02/09, 02/23, 03/09, 03/30, 04/13, 04/27](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2026-01/Uyghur%20Language%20Table%20poster%20S26_update.png?itok=jD2bFdtY) [### EAS Study Abroad in East Asia Info Session ](/event/eas-study-abroad-east-asia-info-session?occ_id=0)April 27, 2026 | 2:00PM - 4:10PM EDT | Sever Hall Room 210 In Person P lease join EAS on Visitas Monday (April 27th) from 2pm-4:10pm in Sever Hall Room 210 for an info session on Study Abroad (and other travel opportunities) in East Asia and beyond! Both current and prospective Harvard undergrads are welcome. Eight... ![EAS logo: Fu lion line drawing on a crimson background, facing right, white Chinese characters for "East Asian Studies" behind it](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/ealc/files/eas_logo_hq.jpg?itok=vp5gvGzw) [### Uyghur Film Screening: "Silk Road of Pop" and "Dina" ](/event/uyghur-film-screening-silk-road-pop-and-dina?occ_id=0)April 20, 2026 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM EDT | Sever Hall Room 102 In Person The Harvard undergraduates for Uyghur solidarity is organizing this event on Monday, April 20. We will be showing “Silk Road of Pop” and “Dina,” a short film by Yadykar Ibraimov. Uyghur food will also be provided! Both films are English language... ![Uyghur Film Screening April 20 2026](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/Uyghur%20film%20screening_0.jpeg?itok=SXRCQdhu) [### Uyghur Language Table ](/event/uyghur-language-table-1?occ_id=0)April 13, 2026 | 5:00PM - 6:30PM EDT | 9 Kirkland Place Graduate Student Lounge In Person ![Uyghur Language Table: 02/09, 02/23, 03/09, 03/30, 04/13, 04/27](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2026-01/Uyghur%20Language%20Table%20poster%20S26_update.png?itok=jD2bFdtY) [### Meditation Workshop Guided by the Monastics from Plum Village ](/event/meditation-workshop-guided-monastics-plum-village?occ_id=0)April 9, 2026 | 10:30AM - 12:00PM EDT | Science Center, 1 Oxford Street, Room B.09.A (Lower Level) In Person ![04-09-26 VLP Meditation Workshop](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_scale_small/public/2026-04/Meditation%20Workshop%20VLP.png?itok=tMZMzEwm) [### April First Friday Talk - Prof. Karen Thornber and Queenie Luo ](/event/april-first-friday-talk-prof-karen-thornber-and-queenie-luo?occ_id=0)April 3, 2026 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM EDT | Yenching Common Room 2 Divinity Avenue #136 In Person Open to EALC Affiliates Only ![EALC First Fridays 2026-26](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/FIRST%20FRIDAYS%20newsletter%20banner%20new%20F25.png?h=fa32f0aa&itok=av5-a8x3) [### Vietnamese Language Table ](/event/vietnamese-language-table-5?occ_id=0)April 1, 2026 | 6:30PM - 7:30PM EDT | Yenching Common Room 2 Divinity Avenue #136 In Person ![Vietnamese Language Table April 1 in Yenching Common Room](/sites/g/files/omnuum3106/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Viet%20language%20table%20Apr%201.png?itok=G0vuCSy2)