Vietnam
5 Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
It is a great time to be a Fulbrighter in Vietnam, especially after the historical upgrade in bilateral relations between Vietnam and the United States during President Joseph R. Biden’s September 2023 visit. U.S.-Vietnam relations have become increasingly comprehensive, evolving 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 an important role in society, and some of the most important traditional values of the Vietnamese people center around learning and respect for teachers. In recent years, the education system has continued to improve, but significant educational needs remain to promote Vietnam’s positive trajectory of economic growth. 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 Trade and Industry. Additionally, the two Vietnam National Universities, although nominally under MOET, operate independently as separate entities and report directly to the Office of the Government of Vietnam.
The Vietnamese education system is currently undergoing ongoing reforms of curriculum, 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 Out-of-date teaching methods can be a key issue: teachers tend to focus more on discipline with limited discussion and interaction, while students are often attentive. Many Vietnamese see the U.S. higher education system as the world standard.
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 departments of 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 2025 or January 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 2025 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 2025 or Ho Chi Minh City in January 2026 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, they 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 are representing 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.
In response to emerging priority areas identified during the recent historic upgrade in September 2023, the Mission welcomes proposal that touch on themes related to STEM fields.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
The life of a Fulbrighter in Vietnam will be filled with opportunities, challenges, joys, and successes. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam equips all grantees with basic knowledge on culture and security, and fully supports grantees during their time to Vietnam to help them achieve their goals that they set out for the Fulbright awards. Fulbright grants in Vietnam offer amazing possibilities for personal and professional growth, but grantees should be ready to explore their environment and seek out opportunities. Each grantee will experience Vietnam in their own way, but everyone shares that they find it a truly life changing experience.
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 Proficiency
Additional Information:
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.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter recommended but not required at deadline
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.
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 |
|
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 will be much less. In these places, grantee should budget for $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.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
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.