The philosophy of liberal education is one of the key factors contributing to the quality and development of higher education in Japan. In recent years, several Vietnamese universities, including Vietnam Japan University, have incorporated this educational philosophy into their curricula. Drawing on a comprehensive research approach that combines document analysis and student surveys, this article examines the achievements and challenges associated with implementing liberal education in the context of Japanese Studies in Vietnam. Based on these findings, they identify lessons for the development of a new educational model for Japanese Studies and discusses both the rationale for curriculum development grounded in the philosophy of liberal education and the challenges currently faced by Vietnamese universities.