As of May 31, 2026, student loan programs under Prime Ministerial Decisions 157/2007/QD-TTg and 05/2022/QD-TTg had outstanding loans totaling approximately $941 million (VND24.475 trillion), with 355,805 borrowers still repaying their loans.

Meanwhile, a separate credit program for university students, master's students and doctoral researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), introduced under Decision 29/2025/QD-TTg, recorded outstanding loans of approximately $16.3 million (VND422.9 billion), covering 6,272 borrowers.

Together, the two programs had outstanding loans of nearly $958 million (VND24.898 trillion), involving 362,077 borrowers. The newer credit policy has expanded financial support to postgraduate education and STEM disciplines, helping Vietnam develop skilled workers in priority sectors.

For the 2026-2027 academic year, the ministry plans to continue proposing adjustments to student loan policies for the Prime Minister's consideration, aiming to address shortcomings identified during implementation.

One key proposal would raise the maximum loan amount to approximately $385 (VND10 million) per student per month. The ministry is also considering a preferential annual interest rate of 4.8% and closer data integration between the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, educational institutions and relevant government agencies.

It has also proposed improving mechanisms for adjusting repayment schedules and extending loan terms for graduates who face financial difficulties due to circumstances beyond their control.

In implementing Politburo Resolution 71-NQ/TW and Government Resolution 281/NQ-CP, the ministry advised the government on Decree 317/2026/ND-CP, issued on August 11, 2026, governing the organization, management and use of the National Scholarship Fund.

The decree took effect on October 1, 2026, establishing a framework for mobilizing resources to identify and nurture talent and develop highly qualified human resources.

According to the ministry, scholarships, financial assistance and privately funded educational support are available from a wide range of sources, but these resources remain fragmented.

The ministry said clearer and more consistent guidelines are needed for managing, disclosing and accounting for financial assistance, while preventing individuals from receiving overlapping support from multiple funding sources.

Le Huyen