It all started when British Government minister Malcolm Rifkind offered support to the Government of Vietnam for its senior officials to learn English.  This came at a time when Vietnam was establishing itself in ASEAN and other global forums where being able to speak English was (and still is) a necessity for fuller and deeper engagement with other governments and countries.

Not long afterwards in the Autumn of 1993 the first British Council Director, Muriel Kirton, arrived in Hanoi with a laptop and not much else. She used the coffee shop in the Metropole Hotel as the first impromptu ‘office’ and quickly employed a driver, Pham Huy Quang to take her to the many appointments she had.  Her brief was to set up a modest operation to start English language training but also information, education and science exchange programmes.

Did you know?

Quang is the longest serving member of British Council Vietnam staff and continues in his role as senior driver to this day.