The British Council (BC) has opened its largest English teaching center in Hanoi, located in the Lancaster Luminaire building, one of Vietnam’s few certified ‘green’ buildings.

The opening ceremony, held on Tuesday evening at 1152 Lang Street, Dong Da District, was attended by Marcus Winsley, Deputy Ambassador of the UK to Vietnam; James Shipton, Country Director of the BC in Vietnam; Nguyen Phuong Hoa, head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; and several representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training.

The new center features 11 classrooms, each equipped with teaching facilities to ensure a safe and inspiring learning environment.

They were designed through a collaboration between the BC’s global team and a group of talented local architects.

In addition to the new facility, the largest to date in Hanoi, the BC already operates two other English teaching centers in the city – one in Ha Dong District and the other in Hai Ba Trung District.

The Lancaster Luminaire also houses a new computer-based IELTS testing center.

The Lancaster Luminaire is a Grade A building with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, making it one of Vietnam’s few environmentally friendly structures. 

Its contractor used sustainable materials and innovative design techniques to promote energy efficiency, water conservation, and improved indoor air quality.

A major goal of the new center is to provide high-quality learning experiences and long-term collaboration opportunities for students, test-takers, and partners. 

Founded in 1934, the BC is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. 

The BC currently operates in over 100 countries and has been active in Vietnam since 1993, when its first director, Muriel Kirton, arrived in Hanoi to establish a modest operation which included English language training, information, education, and science exchange programs, according to its website.

Reflecting on the BC’s 32-year presence in Vietnam, Shipton noted that the organization operates ten English teaching centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, serving 500,000 students and supporting numerous cultural preservation, development, and innovation initiatives.