80% of self-financed Vietnamese students abroad do not return

A Tuesday report from the Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the number of Vietnamese students going overseas for education has been rising annually, with over 250,000 currently enrolled in foreign institutions.

Among them, around 10,000 students self-finance their studies each year, while 6,800 received scholarships during the 2017-2022 period, mostly in Russia and Hungary.

Phan Thi Minh Giang, the department’s deputy head, noted that while there are no precise statistics on the number of students returning to Vietnam, estimates indicate that 70-80% of graduates choose not to return.

In 2022, surveys conducted in 12 localities showed that among 8,850 students studying overseas, only 1,160 returned to Vietnam. This figure dropped to 543 in 2023.

Giang expressed concerns over this "brain drain", attributing it to high salaries, attractive benefits and favorable visa policies in foreign countries.

She pointed to Germany as an example, where residential visas for international students can extend up to 18 months post-graduation to facilitate job searches.

Giang emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms to attract more returnees.

Vietnam is currently among the top 10 countries with the highest number of students studying abroad, according to ICEF Monitor.

In South Korea alone, Vietnamese students form the largest international student community, totaling 86,000, as reported by the South Korean Ministry of Justice.