Vietnam is the pillar of the Francophone (French-speaking) community in Asia, according to Senator Catherine Deroche, head of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group of the Senate of France.

Senator Catherine Deroche, head of the France-Vietnam Friendship
Parliamentarians’ Group of the Senate of France (L) at a meeting with
Vietnam's National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan
(Source: VNA) 

She said the development of Vietnamese-French bilingual system began in 1990 and has become stronger through the seventh Francophone Summit held in Vietnam in 1997.

 French is being taught in 33 cities and provinces across Vietnam. In particular, two high schools in Hanoi, namely Chu Van An and Hanoi Amsterdam, have been recognised as members of the Label FrancEducation – a global network of schools having French bilingual teaching programmes. 

 Label FrancEducation seal is granted by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to schools having high qualified French bilingual teaching programme or at least one subject is taught in French to promote the language and culture in schools of foreign countries, including Vietnam.

 During her working visit to Vietnam from September 20 to 26, the French Senator met with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss ways to expand cooperation between the two countries, especially in tertiary education and youth exchanges.