Announced during UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s trip to Vietnam at the end of last month, the programme will aim to upskill the province’s 1,000 English language teachers.

“We hope that this programme is the first of many in Vietnam”

The pilot scheme will be taking place in 2015/16 before rolling out to train at least 160 English language teachers a year for the next six years.

In addition, it will also facilitate links between schools in the UK and schools in the Nam Dinh province.

Ian Robinson, deputy director of the British Council, said he is happy that the province is “pushing forward their provision for English language teachers,” adding: “We are delighted to be bringing our English language teaching expertise to somewhere that is both forward-looking and entrepreneurial in its ambition.”

The scheme will also find opportunities for selected teachers in the province to study in the UK.

“We hope that this programme is the first of many in Vietnam and is one which will help pave the way for the whole country to reach its English language aspirations in the future,” said Robinson.

This particular programme forms part of Vietnam’s National Foreign Languages Project 2020, which aims to improve English language teaching across the whole country.

It requires that all English language teachers in Vietnam at primary and lower secondary school level reach an English proficiency of B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference.

Upper secondary and high school teachers will be required to reach a proficiency level of C1.

David Cameron’s trip to Vietnam marks the first time a UK Prime Minister has visited the country on a trade mission.