The information was given at a recent conference summarizing the training and management of foreign students in the 2016-2021 period and the  direction for the 2022-2030 period organized by the Ministry of Education and Training.

According to a report of the Department of International Cooperation, 155 educational institutions in Vietnam trained more than 45,000 foreign students from 102 countries and territories during this time. Of the total, 26.6% of the students were sent for study under student exchange and cooperation agreements between Vietnam and other countries.

On average, 4,000 to over 6,000 new international students were admitted to Vietnam every year. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, in 2020 and 2021, only about 3,000 international students were accepted annually.

Most of the students either study at universities or chose short-term courses. A quite modest number of foreign students choose taught postgraduate programmes (Master’s or PhD). Lao and Cambodian students mainly do PhD courses, while some students from China, the Republic of Korea and Japan prefer majoring in Vietnam studies.

The number of students from China, France, the Republic of Korea, and Japan has increased considerably in recent times thanks to the growing economic ties between Vietnam and those countries, the report points out.

The Hanoi-based Vietnam National University tops the list of educational institutions in Vietnam that has attracted foreign students from 74 countries and territories worldwide. It is followed by Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam National University (47), Hanoi University (44), Hue University (34), Thai Nguyen (29) and Da Nang (13).

The report also indicates that the majority of foreign students are satisfied with the living conditions, learning facilities and lecturers’ care.

Thanh Hung