Vietnam and Japan have had a long-standing relationship, with cultural and economic ties dating back to the 16th century. In recent years, Vietnam has looked to Japan as a model for education, as Japan has a reputation for having a high-performing education system. The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast previous research in English language education in Japanese and Vietnamese high schools and to explore useful findings for both countries. The authors reviewed and organized previous research in English language education, looking more closely at teaching English speaking skills in both countries since 2017 when reforms in curriculums, textbooks and teaching methods started to be launched in both countries. The results showed that although a lot of efforts have been made for improving English competencies of EFL students in both countries, both Japan and Vietnam have relatively low level of English, especially in speaking skills, compared to the rest of the world. This finding calls for empirical research in English education in both countries to shed light on the most appropriate methods for improving English competencies of EFL students in both countries.