The centre is part of a 550,000-Euro programme sponsored by the Directorate General for Translation under the European Commission, which is expected to train some 20 interpreters for Vietnam over the next three years.

The project aims to help Vietnam become self-reliant in training interpreters to work at conferences and workshops.

Between 2002-04, the European Union trained 40 interpreters and 10 interpretation teachers for Vietnam at the Directorate General for Translation, which is based in the Belgian capital of Brussels.