This study is anchored on Swale's Theory of Genre Analysis and employed Labov and Waletzky's Personal Experience Narrative (PEN) as a narrative framework in analyzing Vietnamese EFL students' patterns of writing. The study reveals that Vietnamese student's rhetorical structure follows a three-step-pattern which is introducing the character, introducing the situation and finally telling what happens. This pattern deviates from what is perceived standard or western's style of writing which is preferred in most universities in the Philippines. The result may be a good basis for planning new prospectus and teaching materials suited for Vietnamese and other EFL students. This study also hopes to raise awareness among language teachers to the different rhetorical patterns of EFL students.