CELPIP for Vietnamese Test Takers: Where to Take It, Fees and How to Prepare
By CELPass Editorial Team · Updated
Many Vietnamese applicants for Canadian permanent residence ask whether they can take CELPIP at home. This guide covers where the nearest test centres are, what they cost, how to book, and how to prepare from Vietnam.
Can I take the CELPIP test in Vietnam?
Not at the moment. As of 16 October 2026, Vietnam is not among the 45 countries with CELPIP test centres on the official CELPIP website, so Vietnamese candidates take the test in a nearby country or in Canada. CELPIP Online, taken at home, is not accepted by IRCC for immigration or citizenship.
CELPIP does list an authorised agent in Vietnam: Clever Academy, in the Bitexco Financial Tower, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Agents help with registration; they do not run the test. Check the official Find a Test Date page before you plan, because new centres open from time to time.
Where is the nearest CELPIP test centre to Vietnam?
Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta are the closest cities with CELPIP-General sessions, each a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. The Philippines also has many centres.
| City | Test centre (as listed by CELPIP) | CELPIP-General fee shown |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok, Thailand | KBU Prometric Testing Center, Kasem Bundit University, Romklao Campus, Minburi | THB 7,000 |
| Songkhla, Thailand | Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya | THB 7,000 |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Prometric Testing, Wisma E&C, Bukit Damansara | MYR 822 |
| Singapore | StudyWorks, Tradehub 21, Boon Lay Way | SGD 315 |
| Jakarta, Indonesia | Indonesian International Education Foundation (IIEF) | USD 196 |
Vietnamese passport holders can usually visit these ASEAN countries for short stays without a visa, but check the entry rules for your passport before you book a flight. Plan to arrive the day before: the full test takes 2 hours 50 minutes in one sitting.
How do I register for CELPIP from Vietnam?
Create a CELPIP account on celpip.ca, pick a session at the centre you want, and pay online in that country's currency. Use exactly the name on your passport, because that is the ID you will show at a centre outside Canada.
- Check that you need CELPIP-General (permanent residence) rather than CELPIP-General LS (citizenship only).
- Choose a centre and date with time to spare before your Express Entry or PNP deadline: results usually take a few business days.
- Book flights and a hotel near the centre once your seat is confirmed.
- Read the centre's test-day rules on its page on celpip.ca.
Should I take CELPIP or IELTS from Vietnam?
IELTS General Training is offered in many Vietnamese cities, so it saves travel. CELPIP is worth the trip if its format suits you better: it uses Canadian everyday English, and the whole test, including Speaking, is taken on a computer in one sitting with no interviewer. IRCC accepts both for permanent residence.
What CELPIP score do Vietnamese applicants need for Canada?
The same as everyone else: usually CLB 7 in every skill for the Federal Skilled Worker program, and CLB 9 to earn the most Express Entry points. Requirements apply to each skill separately.
Which habits of Vietnamese speakers cost marks in CELPIP?
Mostly the word endings and small words that Vietnamese does not use: Vietnamese has no plural or past-tense endings and no articles, so these errors carry over into English Writing and Speaking.
- Plurals and verb endings: "two week ago", "she work", "I visit yesterday". Check every noun and verb on a final read.
- Articles: missing "a" and "the" ("I live in apartment near park").
- Final consonants in Speaking: dropping the last sound of words such as "worked", "tests" or "class" makes speech harder to follow.
- Tense consistency: keep a past story in the past tense from start to finish.
- Short, list-like answers: develop each point with a reason or an example.
How should I prepare for CELPIP from Vietnam?
Online, because there are no CELPIP classes or test centres in most of Vietnam. Learn the format with the free official sample tests, practise under real timing, and get your Writing and Speaking scored so you know you are at your target before paying for flights.
More guides
- CELPIP FAQ: Quick Answers About the CELPIP Test
- How CELPIP Is Scored: Levels, CLB and the Four Rating Dimensions
- CELPIP Score Requirements for Express Entry and Citizenship
- CELPIP vs IELTS General: A Detailed Comparison for Canadian Immigration
- A 30-Day CELPIP Study Plan
- CELPIP for Australian Visas: Accepted Visas, Scores and Points
- CELPIP vs IELTS for Australian Visas: Scores, Format and Which to Choose
- CELPIP vs PTE Academic for Australian Visas: Scores, Scoring and Which to Choose
- CELPIP vs IELTS vs PTE Core: Which English Test for Canadian PR?
- CELPIP for the 482 Skills in Demand and 485 Temporary Graduate Visas
- CELPIP in India: Test Centres, Registration, Fees and How to Prepare
- CELPIP in the Philippines: Test Centres, Registration and How to Prepare
- CELPIP in Nigeria: Test Centres in Lagos and Abuja, Registration and Prep
- How to Get CLB 9 in CELPIP: Scores, Points and a Plan for Each Skill
- How to Get CLB 7 in CELPIP: The Express Entry Minimum, Skill by Skill
- Official CELPIP Practice Tests vs CELPass Practice Tests
- CELPIP Vouchers: Test Vouchers, Practice Tests and Who Sells Them
- Best CELPIP Practice Test Websites in 2026, Compared
- CELPass vs CELTESTPIP
- CELPass vs CELPIPguide
- CELPass vs HelloCELPIP
- CELPass vs MyCELPIP
- CELPass vs E2Language for CELPIP
CELPass is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises. CELPIP is a trademark of Paragon Testing Enterprises. Check the official CELPIP website and IRCC for current test rules and requirements.