On the occasion of International Education Week from November 18 to 22, the U.S. Mission to Vietnam is proud to highlight continued efforts to expand bilateral collaboration to advance higher education and workforce development in Vietnam.
Ambassador Marc Knapper highlighted the importance of this cooperation: “When international students and scholars come to the United States – and when Americans study abroad – they bring their talents, perspectives, and cultures to their new communities. And when they work with peers to advance research and knowledge, they spark innovation and forge bonds across borders that can last a lifetime.”
The United States remains the world’s top destination for international students according to the Open Doors Report, released November 18 by the Institute of International Education. The number of Vietnamese students at U.S. universities and colleges continues to grow, reaching 22,066 students in academic year 2023 - 2024. That number rises to over 31,000 when including all levels of study. Vietnam is the largest source of students from ASEAN countries in the United States.
Nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in the United States choose to study in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, contributing to Vietnam’s goals of strengthening workforce development in high-tech industries. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the significance of this contribution when he said, “International exchanges build new bonds that help us to collaborate on critical issues.”
As part of efforts to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as a new Memorandum of Cooperation between the U.S. Department of State and Ministry of Education and Training, the U.S. Mission to Vietnam sponsored an exchange program for 18 higher education stakeholders on improving technical training, expanded English language programs and STEM education activities for Vietnamese youth, launched the Fulbright Visiting Researcher program for science and technology, and opened more Fulbright scholarship programs to science fields. The U.S. Mission to Vietnam is dedicated to bringing a wider range of U.S. higher education institutions to Vietnam and expanding higher education partnerships through dedicated workshops, outreach, and visits by representatives from U.S. higher education institutions.
For students, parents, and educators interested in learning more about studying in the United States, the U.S. Mission to Vietnam hosts EducationUSA offices, which offer free,accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study in the United States. EducationUSA holds a higher education fair each fall in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, featuring recruiters from a wide range of U.S. universities and colleges. In addition, the American Center and its partner spaces offer extensive resources for students.