Vietnam’s Global Education Rise: The Quiet Force Driving International Student Mobility

Hanoi, Vietnam: Vietnam is steadily emerging as one of the most influential players in global education mobility, both as a key source of outbound international students and an increasingly attractive study destination in Asia. While much of the attention has remained on larger countries, Vietnam’s strategic approach and consistent growth make it a rising force in international education.

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Outbound Student Boom

Vietnam’s appetite for global education is unmistakable. By 2021, over 137,000 Vietnamese students were studying abroad, positioning Vietnam as the top source of outbound students in Southeast Asia and the 9th largest globally.

Recent data from 2024 shows that nearly 40,000 Vietnamese students secured study visas for the “Big Four” destinations Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US marking a 20% increase since 2019 (Times Higher Education). The US alone hosted about 21,900 Vietnamese students in 2022–23, making them the fifth-largest national cohort there, contributing 2.1% to total international enrolments.

Notably, destination preferences are evolving. While traditional Western nations remain popular, Japan and South Korea have become top choices, offering cultural proximity, affordability, and high-quality education.

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Key Drivers Behind the Surge

Several factors contribute to Vietnam’s growing outbound student numbers:

• Strong cultural emphasis on education, especially among the emerging middle class.
• Diaspora support networks that ease transition for students abroad.
• Cost-conscious decision-making, with many families turning to regional destinations like Japan and Korea for better affordability and access.

Building an Inbound Education Market

Vietnam is not just sending students abroad, it’s also developing its capacity to host foreign students. In 2022–23, around 22,000 international students were enrolled in Vietnamese institutions, reflecting a 25% increase since 2016.

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These students are primarily enrolled in undergraduate and short-term programs. Most inbound students come from Laos, Cambodia, China, South Korea, and Japan.

Vietnam aims to increase foreign student enrolment from 0.5% to 1.5% of the total student population by 2030, according to the Asia Education Review.

Reforming Higher Education for Global Competitiveness

The Vietnamese government has launched a wave of education reforms to enhance global recognition:

• Strategic partnerships to place Vietnamese universities among the world’s top 500, with at least 20% of courses offered in collaboration with prestigious global institutions.
• Support from organizations like the British Council to drive international accreditation, English-medium programs, and research investments.
• Incentives for branch campuses and increased R&D to attract global talent.

These reforms are designed to both retain domestic students and boost inbound mobility, striking a balance that reduces brain drain.

Long-Term Market Outlook

Vietnam is now widely seen as a resilient and reliable international education market:

• ApplyBoard has dubbed it “one of the most reliable growth stories of the next decade.”
• Universities worldwide are increasingly prioritizing Vietnam in their recruitment strategies due to its demographic strength, economic stability, and education-focused culture.
• Inbound enrolments are growing steadily, particularly in regional and bilateral exchange programs.