Convert Vietnamese Grades to US GPA
How Vietnamese University Grading Works
Vietnam's higher education system is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Training (Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo). Universities traditionally used a 10-point scale (thang điểm 10), and this remains the primary grading format on most transcripts. Since the early 2000s, many universities have also introduced a parallel 4.0 GPA scale to align with US-style credit-based curricula.
Under the 10-point system, academic performance is classified into distinct bands: Giỏi (Excellent, 8.5–10) earns a 4.0 US GPA equivalent; Khá (Good, 7.0–8.4) maps to 3.0; Trung Bình (Average, 5.5–6.9) maps to 2.0; Yếu (Weak, 4.0–5.4) maps to 1.0; and Kém (Failing, below 4.0) maps to 0.0. Some institutions distinguish further sub-bands: 8.5–9.0 as Giỏi and 9.1–10.0 as Xuất Sắc (Outstanding).
Credits in Vietnam are measured in tín chỉ (credit units). Most undergraduate programmes require 120–140 tín chỉ over four years. A semester GPA is calculated as a weighted average of course grades multiplied by credit units. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA (usually 5.0/10 or 2.0/4.0) to avoid academic probation.
Leading universities such as Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) have strong international reputations and their transcripts are widely recognised by foreign institutions. However, US graduate programmes almost always request credential evaluations for Vietnamese documents.
Vietnam to US GPA Conversion Table
| Grade | Score (0–10) | Score (%) | US GPA | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A / Giỏi | 8.5–10 | 85–100% | 4.00 | Excellent (Giỏi) |
| B / Khá | 7.0–8.4 | 70–84% | 3.00 | Good (Khá) |
| C / Trung Bình | 5.5–6.9 | 55–69% | 2.00 | Average (Trung Bình) |
| D / Yếu | 4.0–5.4 | 40–54% | 1.00 | Weak (Yếu) |
| F / Kém | < 4.0 | < 40% | 0.00 | Failing (Kém) |
Conversion Example
Student: Minh studies Information Technology at Vietnam National University Hanoi (VNU-HN) and is applying to a US master's programme in computer science.
His transcript shows semester scores: Programming 8.8 (4 tín chỉ, Giỏi/A), Networks 7.5 (3 tín chỉ, Khá/B), Mathematics 9.0 (3 tín chỉ, Giỏi/A), Database 8.0 (3 tín chỉ, Khá/B), Thesis 8.7 (5 tín chỉ, Giỏi/A).
Converting to US GPA points: A=4.0, B=3.0. Weighted GPA: (4×4.0 + 3×3.0 + 3×4.0 + 3×3.0 + 5×4.0) / 18 = (16 + 9 + 12 + 9 + 20) / 18 = 66 / 18 = 3.67 GPA
US equivalent: 3.67 / 4.0 — strong profile, qualifying for most US master's programmes.