Vietnam
5 Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Over the past 30 years, the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship has grown into a flourishing partnership that spans political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties. Fulbrighters play a pivotal role in deepening these relationships between our two countries.
In Vietnam, education plays a pivotal role in society, and some of the most important traditional values of the Vietnamese people center around learning and respect for teachers. Even as the education system continues to improve, significant challenges remain for Vietnam to meet its ambitious economic goals. Vietnam’s national educational system is organized into public and private schools. Education administration in Vietnam is centralized, with the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) generally having overall responsibility for education and training at the national level. However, there are several higher education institutions in Vietnam that are under the authority of other national ministries, government agencies, or provincial people’s committees, such as the Hanoi School of Public Health, which falls under the Ministry of Health, and Hanoi University of Industry, which falls under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The Vietnamese education system is currently undergoing reforms in curriculum development, teaching methods, and textbooks. Education institutions may not always be up to international standards, particularly institutions of higher education. Out-of-date teaching methods can be a key challenge: teachers tend to focus more on discipline with limited discussion and interaction, while students are often inattentive.
To facilitate reforms, the government has established policies to allow educational institutions to directly establish partnerships with foreign institutions to improve teaching and learning quality in Vietnam. Because of the dynamic state of Vietnam’s educational system, Fulbright U.S. Students will have a unique opportunity to help Vietnam build up the quality of its institutions and even facilitate partnerships between U.S. and Vietnamese universities. While this can be challenging, many Fulbrighters in Vietnam find it enormously rewarding to build long-lasting relationships with Vietnamese institutions that lead to future cooperation, benefiting students and faculty of both countries.
Although Fulbright U.S. students mainly focus on research, they often find time to engage with the host institution and community by teaching English to faculty members or students, presenting seminars on soft skills, participating in speaker programs in collaboration with the U.S. Mission in Vietnam, and engaging in many other academic and cultural events.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grantees must begin their 10-month grants in September 2027 or January 2028 to attend a mandatory in-country orientation. The exact start date is subject to agreement with the host institution and the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.
Orientation
Pre-Departure Orientation (Mandatory)
All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation (PDO) in the U.S. in the summer of 2027 as a condition of their grants. The PDO is organized for Fulbright ETAs, U.S. researchers and scholars going to many different countries in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. Details to be announced and confirmed by the International Institute of Education (IIE).
In-Country Orientation (Mandatory)
All grantees are required to attend an in-country orientation in Hanoi in September 2027 or Ho Chi Minh City in January 2028 as a condition of their grant. The in-country orientation is intended to comprehensively prepare grantees for work and life in Vietnam. Details to be announced and confirmed by the Fulbright Program in Vietnam.
Candidate Profile
Applications may come from any recognized academic field and be at any academic level. However, applicants must have completed at least a bachelor's degree at the start of the grant. Applicants should have an excellent academic record and strong reference letters. Since Fulbright grantees represent their country in all aspects, applicants should have strong intercultural and leadership skills. Proposed projects should be innovative, feasible in Vietnam, fit with the applicant's previous academic training and future objectives, and be based on the application's overall academic background and profile.
All Fulbright scholarships awarded for the U.S. Student Program must comply with applicable federal regulations, including relevant White House Executive Orders.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Life as a Fulbrighter in Vietnam is an exciting mix of opportunity, cultural discovery, and meaningful challenges that foster significant personal and professional growth. Vietnam is a rapidly changing country, where infrastructure and public health conditions have improved considerably in recent years. Grantees often find Vietnamese people to be welcoming, friendly, and highly receptive to Americans. In major cities, English is widely spoken, while everyday experiences - such as visiting local food stalls or interacting with community members - offer rich opportunities for cultural immersion and Vietnamese language practice.
At the same time, Fulbrighters may encounter challenges adapting to different workplace and research environments. Meetings and decisions are sometimes scheduled on shorter notice than in the United States and setting up research or professional projects can require patience due to burdensome administrative procedures and approval processes. Conducting research in Vietnam often requires flexibility, persistence, and strong relationship-building skills. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam supports participants through cultural and security guidance, as well as ongoing assistance to help them navigate these challenges. While each Fulbrighter’s journey is unique, participants consistently describe their time in Vietnam as deeply enriching, rewarding, and transformative.
Eligibility
6 Months
Applicants must be American citizens. Prior experience in Vietnam is not required.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
Semi-Finalist candidates may be contacted for a virtual interview.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Proficiency in Vietnamese is not required at the time of application, but applicants are strongly encouraged to study Vietnamese prior to arrival. Applicants without Vietnamese language skills should include plans for language study in their Fulbright projects and should plan to study Vietnamese concurrent with their research after arriving. For applicants without Vietnamese language proficiency, feasibility of conducting research must be demonstrated.
Applicants should be comfortable working independently. Conditions and cultural norms in Vietnam may be different than in the United States. Participants must be willing and able to physically and mentally adapt to working in the hierarchical Vietnamese cultural context and the often-bureaucratic Vietnamese educational system. There are often not many foreigners working at host institutions and, as a result, participants may experience loneliness and isolation.
As cultural ambassadors of the United States in Vietnam, Fulbrighters are expected to exhibit a high level of professionalism and show respect for themselves and others around them. They are expected to share aspects of American culture with their schools and communities. They are also expected to learn about and immerse themselves in Vietnamese culture.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Candidates will affiliate with Vietnamese academic institutions. Applicants should identify appropriate host institutions for their projects and include affiliation letters with their Fulbright applications. Grantees are encouraged to give back to their host institutions by assisting with English language training for faculty members and/or conducting professional seminars. Final affiliation arrangements will be made in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Excess baggage fees
- Language training allowance
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Vietnam’s most expensive city is Ho Chi Minh City, followed by Hanoi.
Sample budget for living in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi:
|
Expense |
U.S.$ |
|
Apartment rental (one bedroom) |
$400 to $900 |
|
Electricity |
$60 to $80 |
|
Water |
$2 |
|
Cell phone with unlimited data |
$5 |
|
Internet, fiber-optic |
$15 |
|
Cable TV |
$10 |
|
Transportation |
$16 (public bus) $50 (Grab/Taxi) |
|
Groceries |
$100 - $200 |
|
Mics (eating out / cinema / bar…) |
$250 - $300 |
|
Total |
$858 - $1,562 |
Outside of Vietnam’s two largest cities, in places like Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Can Tho, the prices are relatively less. In these areas the grantee should budget for approximately $600 - $1,000 per month.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Grantee arranges housing by themselves. If they need, the host institution will provide them with assistance in seeking housing.
Visa
Host institutions are responsible for grantees’ visa application procedures and fees in Vietnam, as well as visa extensions or work permit/work permit exemption applications, if needed. Grantees are responsible for providing all necessary documents for the visa application and paying any visa issuance fees from their grant allocation. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam will coordinate with the grantees and the host institutions throughout the visa application process.