The Department of International Cooperation under the ministry revealed that, based on incomplete statistics, the total number of Vietnamese students studying abroad exceeded 200,000 by the end of last year, an increase of more than 10,000 compared to 2020.
South Korea was the top destination for Vietnamese students, as announced during a seminar on state management in study abroad consultancy services on Monday. According to the Korea Educational Development Institute, as of April 2023, over 43,300 Vietnamese students were enrolled in South Korean institutions.
Japan followed closely, hosting more than 36,300 Vietnamese students, based on data from the Japan Student Services Organization.
Australia ranked third, with nearly 33,000 Vietnamese students — a 46% increase compared to 2022. This surge placed Vietnam among the top five countries with the highest number of international students in Australia.
The U.S. also remains a popular choice for Vietnamese students. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were over 37,200 Vietnamese students in the U.S. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this number stood at around 31,300 by the end of last year.
Other top study-abroad destinations for Vietnamese students include Taiwan, mainland China, and Canada.
Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, said Vietnam is one of the countries with a significant number of international students, and this number continues to rise. He highlighted that studying abroad not only provides access to global knowledge but also plays a crucial role in international integration and the development of high-quality human resources for the country.
Most Vietnamese students pursue their studies abroad through services of consultancy centers, a sector that has expanded significantly in response to rising demand. The Department of International Cooperation reported that over 2,800 entities, primarily located in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are operating in this field.
Phuc acknowledged that managing and ensuring the quality of study abroad consultancy services remains a challenge. In recent years, there have been cases of fraudulent consultancy offices, as well as others providing false information or facilitating illegal migration under the guise of study abroad programs.
In addition to government oversight, Phuc urged consultancy companies to uphold their responsibility, comply with the law, and provide honest, objective advice.
"Beyond business goals, study abroad consultancy services must demonstrate social responsibility, as education directly impacts the future of individuals," he said.