Methods and apparatuses for variable length encoding using a vector processing unit. In one aspect of the invention, a method for execution by a microprocessor to perform variable length encoding includes: receiving a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters corresponding to one of a plurality of symbols to be variable length encoded; generating concurrently a plurality of first codewords from the plurality of parameters to represent respectively the plurality of symbols; generating a plurality of lengths representing respectively bit lengths of the plurality of first codewords; and outputting the plurality of first codewords and the plurality of lengths; where the above operations are performed in response to the microprocessor receiving a single instruction.