The data, released by the Science and Research Administration Policy (SARAP) group from Van Lang University, ranked institutions based on the number of research articles published in journals indexed by the Web of Science (WoS) database.

Out of 264 universities nationwide, 72 met the criteria for inclusion in the 2025 SARAP Ranking, which only considers universities with at least 40 WoS-indexed articles in the calendar year. The data was directly retrieved from WoS at 1:10 PM on January 24, 2026.

According to WoS, there are 35 recognized forms of scholarly output, with the most prestigious being full research articles published in peer-reviewed journals. In 2025, Vietnam recorded 14,880 WoS-indexed research papers - an increase of 18.63% compared to 2024 - accounting for approximately 0.53% of global research output.

Two major national research institutes contributed a combined 1,460 WoS articles (9.81% of the country’s total), with the science and technology-focused institute responsible for 1,410 papers, and the social sciences institute contributing 50. This means the overwhelming majority of Vietnam’s international research output in 2025 came from its universities.

Top 10 universities by international publications in 2025

The top 10 universities played a central role in the nation’s scientific landscape, demonstrating exceptional research capacity, staff quality, and institutional support. Alongside the two national universities and several major public institutions, the list also includes two specialized medical universities, indicating a strong research performance in the health sciences.

The top 10 universities are:

Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Duy Tan University
Hanoi University of Science and Technology
Ton Duc Thang University
Can Tho University
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City
Hanoi Medical University
Phenikaa University
Hue University

This group consistently outperformed others in terms of research volume and sustained productivity.

Next 10 and broader trends

The next tier (positions 11 to 20) saw intense competition, with many institutions publishing similar numbers of WoS articles, leading to fluctuations in ranking. This reflects the impact of mid-term research strategies, as the gap between top 10 and top 20 schools remains fluid.

These institutions include:

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City
Nguyen Tat Thanh University
Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry
Van Lang University
University of Danang
Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education
Thai Nguyen University
National Economics University
FPT University
VinUniversity

In the lower and middle tiers of the ranking, WoS publication numbers decrease gradually, but the gaps between ranks are smaller. These institutions often face challenges related to research scale, funding, and governance, pointing to the need for targeted support and differentiated development strategies.

Compared to the 2024 SARAP Ranking, the 2025 edition reflects notable changes in the list of ranked universities. Some institutions made their debut, while others dropped out, and many experienced shifts in position - either upward or downward - demonstrating the dynamic nature of Vietnam’s research ecosystem.

 
Le Huyen