Should You Study English or Chinese? Analysis 2026

Should you study english or chinese? A detailed comparison

In the era of globalisation, being proficient in a language not only expands career opportunities but also helps you access knowledge, culture and connect internationally more easily. Whether to study English or Chinese depends on each person’s personal goals. Below are detailed analyses so that you can compare and decide more easily.

About job opportunities and salary

When comparing whether studying English or Chinese makes finding a job easier, you need to look at each specific industry group. English is almost a “default” requirement in fields such as IT, Marketing, Tourism – Hospitality, Aviation,… Many recruitment positions clearly state that English is a mandatory advantage for communicating and working with foreign partners. You can refer to the salary for English-using positions currently being recruited on job search websites:

• IT: 15 – 70 million VND/month
• Marketing: 9 – 50 million VND/month
• Tourism, hospitality: 15 – 30 million VND/month

Meanwhile, Chineseis strong in the fields of Import-export, Manufacturing, Logistics, Supply Chain, E-commerce and companies with Chinese investment. Because human resources who know Chinese are fewer, many enterprises are willing to pay those who know Chinese higher to ensure communication and work with partners. Refer to the following basic salary:

• Import-export: 15 – 30 million VND/month
• E-commerce: 10 – 15 million VND/month

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About difficulty and study time

To assess whether studying English or Chinese is easier, Vietnamese people need to consider three factors: writing, grammar and pronunciation. English uses the Latin alphabet, so it is familiar to Vietnamese people, helping reading and writing be faster.

The grammar has many rules but also quite a few exceptions, requiring you to practise regularly. Pronunciation needs attention to stress and final sounds. With a stable roadmap, learners usually take a few months to communicate basically and 1 – 2 years to use it proficiently at a working level.

The question of whether Chinese is hard for Vietnamese people usually comes from the pictographic writing system and the four tones. Chinese characters take time to memorise, while the tones require learners to practise pronunciation a lot to avoid confusing meanings. However, Chinese grammar is simpler and changes less. The time to communicate basic Chinese is from 4 – 6 months, but to read and write well requires a long-term investment of about 1-2 years.

About applicability and culture

Considering the benefits of learning English and exploring Chinese culture will help you orient more clearly when choosing a foreign language. English is a global language, widely used in science, the internet, Western entertainment,… Learning English helps you easily access information, read books, watch movies and confidently communicate when travelling around the world.

Besides, learning Chinese opens the door to the distinctive East Asian culture and the billion-people market. Knowing Chinese helps you understand the culture and traditions, while also being convenient in commercial transactions, tourism or cooperation with Chinese people.

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Should you study English or Chinese to suit you better?

Choosing whether to study English or Chinese to suit you better depends on career goals, cultural interests and personal lifestyle. Let’s explore specifically below to choose the language most suitable for yourself.

Why choose Chinese

Chinese is increasingly becoming an attractive choice thanks to the importance of the Chinese market and culture. Learning Chinese opens up wide career opportunities, especially in business, import-export, logistics and manufacturing fields related to China. According to an article on the topic “‘Many enterprises pay double the salary for personnel who know Chinese’” on VnExpress (2025), many enterprises are willing to pay 1.5 – 2 times higher for candidates who know Chinese.

At the same time, this is also an opportunity for you to explore Chinese culture, history and art. Thanks to this, you enhance communication ability and build sustainable relationships at work. In addition, Chinese also brings a competitive advantage in the labour market.

Reasons to choose English

English is an important choice if you want to access the global source of knowledge. According to the information in the article “Is English a must for success in the field of science?” on Natureasia, more than 90% of international scientific articles are published in English. Thanks to this, learners easily access new knowledge in science, technology, research and international academic materials.

English also opens up wide career opportunities for fields such as IT, Marketing, Tourism – Hospitality, aviation and many multinational companies. Therefore, having good English ability helps you increase advancement opportunities and work in an international environment.

In addition, English helps you explore culture and travel, watch films, music and the Western lifestyle. It is the official language in 58 countries (according to Wikipedia’s list), creating convenience when communicating. Moreover, with the Latin alphabet and abundant materials, learning English becomes easier and more effective.

Exploring the Chinese and English specialisations at HUFLIT

At HUFLIT, you will have the opportunity to explore the English and Chinese specialisations with a methodical training programme suitable to international trends. Below are the details of each programme so that you can better picture the study roadmap and the benefits of studying.

An internationally standard English training programme

The HUFLIT English Language field is built to equip students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills. The programme applies a credit system with a total of 140 credits, including the Commerce, Pedagogy and Translation – Interpreting specialisations. The output standard aimed at is IELT 7.0 or TOEIC 780, ensuring foreign-language capacity according to international standards.

Students are also given conditions to intern at affiliated enterprises, helping to accumulate real-world experience and enhance career opportunities. The programme focuses on developing communication, teamwork and real-situation-solving skills. With reasonable HUFLIT English Language tuition, this is a suitable choice for those who want to master internationally standard English.

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Conquer Chinese with a dedicated lecturer team

The HUFLIT Chinese Language field is designed from basic to advanced, helping students comprehensively develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The programme orients the output standard with HSK certificates by level, ensuring the ability to use Chinese in study and work. In addition, students can access exchange programmes with universities in China and Taiwan, expanding international experience.

Moreover, the experienced and dedicated lecturer team always accompanies and guides students to deeply understand Chinese culture and customs. The programme also creates conditions to receive study-abroad scholarships in China for outstanding students, helping to realise opportunities for international study and experience.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is studying English – Chinese bilingually at the same time effective?

Studying English and Chinese simultaneously brings many benefits, but also carries potential difficulties if there is no clear strategy:

• Advantages: Helps expand communication ability, access diverse information and culture at the same time.
• Disadvantages: Easy to get confused about vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation; the study time needs to be double compared to studying one language.

Therefore, you should focus on mastering one language first, then start learning the second language to achieve the highest effectiveness.

Which fields require knowing English? Which fields prioritise Chinese?

Due to globalisation and the importance of each language in commerce, science and technology, professions require different language skills to meet employment needs. Specifically:

• Fields requiring English: Information Technology (IT), Medicine, Aviation, International Business.
• Fields prioritising Chinese: Import-export, Tourism (welcoming Chinese guests), Manufacturing, China-linked commerce.

What are the costs of studying English and Chinese at HUFLIT?

Currently, HUFLIT applies a rate of 1,230,000 VND/credit for all subjects, while committing that this tuition level will not increase throughout the process.

Thus, choosing whether to study English or Chinese depends on each person’s career goals and interests. English suits an international and academic environment, while Chinese opens up opportunities in commerce, import-export and experiencing Chinese culture. If you want to develop foreign-language capacity methodically and practically, then studying at HUFLIT is an ideal choice.

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