With the need for more English teachers in Vietnam, its embassy has expressed willingness to serve as a bridge between Cebu’s English institutions and the east Asian country.
Truong Trieu Duong, ambassador of Vietnam to the Philippines, said Cebu is becoming the new leading destination for Vietnamese students to study English in.
“The students in Cebu are less than in Manila, but the advantages for them here are a lot more,” he said during a conference at the Cebu Provincial Capitol yesterday.
The ambassador spoke during Vietnam’s promotion conference yesterday organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
Duong discussed the potentials of cooperation with Cebu and Vietnam in the fields of trade, education and tourism.
He said that students from Vietnam were often sent to study in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
“But now, Why not the Philippines? It’s cheaper and closer. We need to send more students to Cebu,” said Duong.
He also encouraged more Filipino teachers to teach in Vietnam since there are only 200 Filipino teachers in English institutions in the country.
Exchanges
Aside from education, Duong also cited how Cebu and Vietnam can cooperate in the field of tourism.
He said that in 2013 alone, more than seven million tourists flocked to the country with around 100,000 Filipinos included in that number.
Duong said that there is a need to facilitate more travel exchanges between each area and for more common doors to be opened which will eventually lead to an increase in the number of foreign tourists.
Vietnam offers a variety of tourist destinations including 31 national parks, world heritage sites, and its cities.
He said that among the neighboring countries in Asia, Vietnam is seen to be a good choice for investment in the following years due to its socio-political stability, strategic location, and continuous economic growth in the last 30 years, among others.
Meanwhile, CCCI President Teresa Chan said she is confident that Cebu will become a more important market for Vietnam companies in the future.
“I hope that they will be made more aware of business opportunities in the area,” she said.