Vietnam
2 Fulbright-Fogarty Public Health Fellowship Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Discipline-Specific Awards
Award Profile
The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health are offered through a partnership between the Fulbright Program and the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. These awards were established to promote the expansion of research in public health and clinical research in resource-limited settings.
Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships carry the same benefits as the traditional Fulbright Study/Research grants to the host country. The Fogarty International Center, NIH, will provide support to the research training site and may provide orientation for the fellows at the NIH.
For more details on Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships and application instructions, please review the ‘Type of Awards’ page: Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships In Public Health
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grantees must begin their 9-month grants in September 2026 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 2026 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 2026 or Ho Chi Minh City in January 2027 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.
In addition, Fulbright-Fogarty Fellows will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation with NIH in July.
Candidate Profile
Must be enrolled in an accredited doctoral-level program (MD, PhD, DDS, or comparable degree from an accredited institution) in public health, government, business, design, engineering, education, medicine, nutrition, law, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and nursing. Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to: DMD, DC, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, DPT, PharmD, ND, DSW, PsyD, JD and Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing.
Health-professional students who wish to interrupt their studies for a year or more to engage in full-time research training before completing their formal training programs are also eligible.
By the start of the program year (July 2026), fellows must be an MD (and other professional degrees) student who has completed their 3rd year or a Ph.D. candidate who has completed their Master’s level requirements (i.e., post-qualifying exam).
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 opportunities, challenges, and personal growth. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam provides grantees with essential cultural and security information, as well as ongoing support to help them achieve their goals. With its unique blend of personal and professional development, the Fulbright experience in Vietnam opens doors to incredible possibilities. However, grantees are encouraged to actively explore their surroundings and seek out new opportunities. While each individual’s experience will be unique, all Fulbright participants agree that their time in Vietnam is truly transformative.
Eligibility
6 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
Select "Fulbright-Fogarty" for Award Type in the application.
All Fulbright-Fogarty applicants pursuing a placement in Vietnam should select “Public Health” as the Field of Study in the Fulbright application.
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 institution 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 and understand about the 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
Applicants are required to obtain a letter of support from the site contact.
When emailing project contacts, please include both contacts and attach a current CV and a concise statement (less than 500 words) about your interest in the program (especially your primary research interest).
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.
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.
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 |
|
Misc (eating out/cinema/bar/etc.) |
$250 - $300 |
|
Total |
$858 - $1,562 |
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Grantees arrange housing by themselves. If they need, the host institution will provide them with assistance in seeking housing.
Hanoi Medical University
U.S. Univeristy Consortia: GLOCAL
Summary of Site
Hanoi Medical University (HMU), established in 1902, is the oldest and largest health sciences university in Vietnam. HMU has a 400-bed teaching hospital and schools in medicine, nursing, public health, and traditional medicine. HMU has more than 70 academic departments and research units and about 1000 faculty members who have received their graduate training in Vietnam and/or abroad. It collaborates with universities all over the world for teaching and research.
The collaboration between HMU and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) started in 2011 with the Vietnam – HIV Addiction Technology Transfer Center (VHATTC) project, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) with technical assistance from UCLA’s Integrated Substance Abuse Program. VHATTC (now renamed to Vietnam International Technology Transfer Center) continues to be a technical assistance resource for addiction professionals in Vietnam. In 2016, a Fogarty-funded training program on advanced epidemiological methods (NIH D43 TWW010057) for Vietnamese scholars was led by Dr. Li Li (UCLA). Collaboration on a study of antimicrobial resistance in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) began in 2017 and continued with a study on STIs among PrEP users and antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae (7R21AI157817-02). In 2020, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded HMU to work with Dr. Steven Shoptaw (UCLA) on a study to reduce methamphetamine use among methadone patients (R01DA050486).
With the continuing GloCal training program, HMU aims to develop more studies in important areas including HIV/AIDS, STIs, antimicrobial resistance, addiction, mental health, aging and non-communicable diseases.
Primary Contacts
- Dr. Le Minh Giang, GloCal HMU Site PI, leminhgiang@hmu.edu.vn (contact for letter of affiliation)
- Dr. Craig Cohen, GloCal UCSF PI, craig.cohen@ucsf.edu (additional contact)
Areas of Focus
- HIV/AIDS
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Substance use
- Mental health
Language Requirement
None
UNC Project-Vietnam
U.S. University Consortia: UJMT
Summary of Site
UNC Project Vietnam site in Hanoi has been operational since 2001. UNC has invested in enhanced local clinical, laboratory, and pharmacy capacity to meet international QA standards for conducting investigational drug trials in Vietnam. UNC has two main research sites in Hanoi: Hanoi Medical University and the National Lung Hospital. Our primary partners for all research and training activities are governmental institutions within the Ministry of Health (MOH), including the Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC), the primary agency responsible for overseeing and implementing HIV-related programs and policy in Vietnam, and Hanoi Medical University. UNC has established Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the VAAC, the 198 Hospital, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, the National Lung Hospital, and Bach Mai Hospital. Our success over the years has been based on transparency with the VAAC and the alignment of our activities with Vietnam’s research priorities. Our strong research collaborations and infrastructure position the Vietnam site well to access at risk populations with and without HIV, including people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, , Hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV)-infected individuals, and tuberculosis (TB) patients, as well as access to people with HIV at anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinics.
Primary Contacts
- Vivian Go – vgo@unc.edu;
- Tran Viet Ha – vietha@email.unc.edu
Areas of Focus
Fellows would be expected to work with U.S. and Vietnam based mentor groups to develop an independent research project that could be integrated into one of the following projects or in a new area of interest:
- HIV in key populations
- HIV/STI prevalence studies
- HIV comorbidities including HBV, HCV, and TB
- Substance use
- Alcohol reduction interventions
- Implementation research
- Mental health
Language Requirement
None
Visas
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.