Vietnamese students overseas hit all-time high of 250,000

By Thanh Hang September 19, 2025 | 08:55 pm PT

Vietnamese students who have have won the Chevening scholarship by the U.K. in 2025. Photo courtesy of U.K. in Vietnam

Nearly 250,000 Vietnamese are now enrolled in schools and universities overseas, the highest figure ever recorded, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

The ministry revealed the number at a higher education conference on Sept. 17, noting that about 4,000 of the students are supported by state-funded scholarships, while the rest rely on private means or other financial aid.

Popular destinations include South Korea with 43,300 Vietnamese students, Japan with 36,300, Australia with 33,000, the U.S. with 31,300, Taiwan with 27,400, China with 23,500, and Canada with 17,100.

The last report in late 2023 counted just over 200,000 Vietnamese abroad, already higher than the pre-pandemic level in 2020, showing the steady growth of overseas education.

Deputy minister Nguyen Van Phuc said last year that the surge reflects Vietnam's expanding global engagement and builds a pipeline of high-quality talent for the country's future.

Meanwhile, Vietnam hosted more than 15,000 international students in the last academic year, most from Laos, Cambodia, Russia and China.