Phong and Tuấn studied accounting together at an ordinary university in Saigon. After graduation, Phong stayed in Vietnam, grinding his way up to chief accountant on a 15-million-VND salary, living on tax deadlines all week.
Tuấn borrowed money to study in the UK for a year and then stayed to work. His job is a true nine-to-five: a salary north of 60 million VND per month, free weekends, 28 paid days off — all because he knew enough English to apply and thrive in an international workplace.
“Only missing English”
When they met again, Tuấn shared that accounting work in the UK isn’t complicated — they still do parts of Excel manually. The hardest part is communicating and understanding requirements in English. He encouraged Phong to relearn the language; back in university, Tuấn himself nearly failed English.
“You’re just a few meters from the treasure. People quit because they stop digging.”
Tuấn reminded him: scoring IELTS 6.5 isn’t easy, especially with the paper-based learning style common in Vietnam. But if you study the right way (listening, speaking, applying), overseas career doors open.
“English is the key, not the finish line”
Phong remembered helping Tuấn fix an Excel issue in 30 minutes — a skill Tuấn lacked. Yet because he knew English, Tuấn can operate in both the Vietnamese and UK markets. Phong realised English isn’t a talent; it’s the tool that lets your expertise travel farther.
A final note
Their story reminds us: technical skill alone isn’t enough without English. And English isn’t some innate gift — it’s a trainable skill. Start with a tiny daily list, invest ten hours a week, and you’ll build the escape velocity to keep learning for life.