With the deepening of economic globalization, international exchanges and cooperation have become increasingly frequent, making cross-cultural collisions and integration a common phenomenon. As a vital pathway for cultivating applied talents, higher vocational education bears the responsibility of delivering high-quality professionals with intercultural communication competence to society. English, as the universal language of international communication, holds a pivotal position in higher vocational education. However, traditional English teaching in vocational colleges often focuses on language knowledge transmission while neglecting the cultivation of students’ intercultural communication skills, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts caused by cultural differences in practical interactions. Therefore, enhancing the development of intercultural communication competence in vocational English education has become an urgent issue requiring resolution. This paper aims to explore the current status, challenges, and countermeasures for cultivating intercultural communication competence in vocational English education under globalization, providing references for teaching reform in vocational English education.