Vietnam
20 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodAugust StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Since 2008, the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program has sent more than 200 young Americans to Vietnamese institutions for a life-changing 10-month experience. These Fulbrighters assist with English language instruction at high schools, colleges, and universities beyond Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, enriching the educational landscape in provincial capitals and other emerging urban centers. Beyond the classroom, the program fosters cultural exchange between Americans, Vietnamese students, and host institutions.
As the United States and Vietnam look to celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, opportunities for Fulbrighters to forge lasting connections have never been brighter. Our nations' deep-rooted friendship, built on mutual respect, fuels a thriving partnership across political, economic, security, and cultural spheres. Fulbright ETAs play a pivotal role in solidifying these bonds, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation on a personal level. By participating in this program, you'll not only contribute to Vietnam's educational landscape but also become an ambassador of cultural exchange, leaving a lasting impact on both yourself and the communities you serve.
Join the Fulbright ETA program and embark on a transformative 10-month journey. Not only will you hone your teaching skills and gain valuable professional experience, but you'll also dive headfirst into the vibrant local life. Explore breathtaking natural landscapes, connect with welcoming locals, and discover a culture that will leave an indelible mark on you. Former ETAs speak of profound personal and professional growth, highlighting the program's unique power to transform lives.
As a Fulbright ETA, you'll team up with Vietnamese schools to craft engaging English lessons, curate vibrant cultural events, and broaden your horizons at seminars and academic engagements. English is highly sought after in Vietnam as a gateway to economic opportunity, making your impact resonate deeply at all levels. Adding to this, the United States enjoys immense popularity in Vietnam, especially among youth eager to learn about American culture. This presents a unique opportunity for you to act as a cultural ambassador, building lasting relationships and contributing to strengthening ties between both countries.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grantees must begin their grants in August 2025 to attend a mandatory in-country orientation in Hanoi for two to four weeks before starting their nine-month assignments at host institutions (September 2025 - May 2026).
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 a mandatory in-country orientation in Hanoi in August 2025 for two to four weeks. The orientation is intended to comprehensively prepare ETAs for work and life in Vietnam and includes briefings on security, political, economic, and medical issues by Embassy officers. In addition, the Fulbright Program in Vietnam will organize a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) workshop facilitated by a Vietnamese TEFL instructor who will brief ETAs on matters related to English teaching in Vietnam. ETAs will have chances to practice teaching at actual classes during the orientation in Hanoi.
As part of the in-country orientation, virtual Vietnamese language classes will be offered for ETAs before coming to Vietnam. ETAs are also encouraged to pursue independent Vietnamese study prior to arrival as their interest/availability allows. Many ETAs have indicated that speaking Vietnamese greatly aided in their enjoyment of the local culture and placement.
Further details regarding teaching practice and language study will be announced by the Fulbright Program in Vietnam.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should be comfortable speaking in front of groups, serving as a leader to instruct and mentor groups of students, and they should be prepared for planning and teaching lessons independently. Many ETA sites are in underserved or rural areas which can be more conservative, and ETAs should be prepared to adapt to local customs, living conditions and cultural norms. Accommodations, although clean and safe, typically only feature basic necessities, although they can vary greatly from site to site. Many placements lack conveniences such as gyms, swimming pools, movie theaters and access to Western groceries.
Candidates must be willing and able to adapt physically and mentally to working in the hierarchical Vietnamese cultural context and the bureaucratic Vietnamese educational system. Many participants will be the only foreigner working at the host institution or even the only foreigner living in their city, and as a result may experience loneliness and isolation.
As cultural ambassadors of the United States in Vietnam, ETAs 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.
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in Vietnam will each engage their own immersive experience in their respective provinces. No experience will be quite the same; the practices and customs of each province will vary, from the policies of provincial governments, the flavors of local ingredients, differences in regional languages, and the individual cultures of each ETA's host institution. The common thread that links every ETA's experience is the connections they make with their students and the community they build in their classrooms and outside of them. Many ETAs also enrich their grant experiences through travel, visiting and co-teaching with other ETAs, and taking field trips with their students. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam provides ETAs with the support to navigate the surprises, challenges, and successes they will experience during their grant. This unique opportunity is what you shape it to be.
Eligibility
6 Months
Permanent residents of Vietnam are not eligible to apply for this award
Candidates currently residing in Vietnam (or those who will be living in Vietnam during the 2024-2025 academic year) will not be considered.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Semi-finalists may be contacted for a virtual interview with the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam as part of the process.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Proficiency in Vietnamese is not required at the time of application. Basic Vietnamese training will be provided to the grantees, but we strongly encourage the grantees to familiarize themselves with some basic Vietnamese prior to arrival for their own comfort.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Teacher Training
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Grantees are placed at high schools for gifted students, community colleges, teacher training colleges, or universities.
The Fulbright Program in Vietnam will arrange placements for all candidates and will inform the ETAs of their placements once they have been finalized.
Placement Locations
- Regional City
Grantees are placed in provincial (regional) cities, districts, or towns. ETAs are not placed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Supplementary Project
The primary activity of this program is assisting in teaching English as a foreign language, so it is generally not possible for ETAs to undertake intensive independent research or to engage in extensive work with non-governmental organizations that would interfere with their teaching duties. However, ETAs are encouraged to seek out opportunities for cultural enrichment and professional development, including community service, to enhance their overall Fulbright experience as cultural ambassadors. A grantee's first responsibility is to their Vietnamese host institution. Teaching or otherwise working for for-profit organizations is not permitted.
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
- English language teaching preparatory course
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
- Settling in allowance
One-Time allowance also covers a roundtrip airfare of U.S. and Vietnam for the grantees.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
Additional grant benefits also include in-country orientation, final seminar, visa approval to Vietnam, housing, daily transportation, pick-up and send-off transportation (in-kind support by the host institution).
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Cost of living varies from location to location. It also depends on whether ETAs cook or eat out. Generally, cost of living in provinces is lower than that in metropolitan cities.
Dependents
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements will be made by the host institutions. ETAs reside in on-campus accommodation arranged by the host institution. This typically includes a private room with its own bathroom and a basic kitchen equipped with essentials like a hotplate and refrigerator. However, it's important to keep in mind that shared kitchen facilities are a possibility in some cases.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Nature of Assignment
Fulbright ETAs work up to 30 hours per week. This includes 14-hours leading interactive lessons focusing on listening, speaking, and pronunciation for diverse learners. ETAS may teach a range of individuals, including full-time students in different fields such as English and STEM, as well as teachers. Beyond the classroom, ETAs have 14-hours for lesson planning and grading as well as actively immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture. To ensure a fulfilling experience for both ETAs and students, classes organized for-profit training purposes or focused on specific purposes like IELTS/TOEFL/TOEIC/SAT preparation are not included in the program design. Additionally, 2 hours are dedicated to your Vietnamese language journey, allowing you to foster deeper connections with the local community.
Independent study
Applicants are not asked to plan an independent study or research project as part of their grant. English Teaching Assistantships are different from study/research awards, and teaching-related activities take up most of the grantees’ time. Applicants will have opportunities to pursue independent activities to enrich their time in Vietnam, but this will occur on the sidelines of their primary duties within the school placement. The Statement of Grant Purpose should focus on why the applicant wishes to participate in the program in Vietnam and how they will make it a memorable, cultural experience.
Visa
Host institutions are responsible for procedures and related expenses to obtain a visa approval letter from the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam for ETAs per Fulbright Vietnam’s requirements. They also take responsibility for ETA’s visa extension and certificate for work permit exemption if needed. Grantees are responsible for providing all required documents for the visa application and paying any visa issuance fees. Notarization and legalization of some documents may be required by the ETAs for the visa application process. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam will coordinate with the grantees and the host institutions throughout the visa application process.
Special Considerations
Local attitudes toward gender, race, and religion can be different than in the United States and can often be surprising and unsettling. Candidates should be prepared to negotiate these cultural differences in their communities with maturity and diplomacy. Since ETAs will sometimes be the only foreigners at their site, they may experience street harassment from locals who are unaccustomed to seeing foreigners. Adjusting to local cultural norms can be one of the greatest challenges for many ETAs, applicants should carefully consider whether they are prepared for that. The Fulbright program in Vietnam has no higher priority than the safety and wellbeing of its grantees. Support is available for all grantees from the Fulbright Program in Vietnam, the host institution, and ASPE ASSIST, a mental health consultant and referral service hotline.
Transportation
The host institution is responsible for providing the ETA with an electric bike. ETAs must sign a Driving Safety Commitment required by the Fulbright Program in Vietnam upon their arrival in Vietnam. ETAs who wish to drive a motorbike must take an examination in Vietnamese to obtain a Vietnamese driver’s license or only utilize motorbikes under 50 cc that meet local requirements to drive without a Vietnamese driver’s license.
Restriction
The primary activity of this program is assisting in teaching English as a foreign language, so it is generally not possible for ETAs to undertake intensive independent research or to engage in extensive work with non-governmental organizations that would interfere with their teaching duties. However, ETAs are encouraged to seek out opportunities for cultural enrichment and professional development, including community service, to enhance their overall Fulbright experience as cultural ambassadors.
A grantee's first responsibility is to their Vietnamese host institution. Teaching or otherwise working for for-profit organizations is not permitted.
ETAs will have approved vacation time during school breaks as defined by their host institution and Vietnamese public holidays, including an approximately week-long break during the Lunar New Year (Tet). The use of leave time outside school breaks and Vietnamese public holidays may not be possible as it will depend on the school. Candidates should not apply for or accept this award unless they are able to commit to this academic schedule.
Renewal ETA Program
As of AY 2023 – 2024, Fulbright Vietnam has implemented the Renewal ETA Program which provides an opportunity for two current ETAs to stay another academic year in Vietnam. We will also offer this opportunity to AY 2025-2026 ETAs. The Renewal ETA grantees will work and live in Hanoi for an additional academic year, starting from August 2026 through May 2027.
Renewal ETAs will work at a host institution for 15-hours per week, including 10-hours of teaching and 5-hours for other activities. Additionally, the renewal ETA will serve as a resource to support the Fulbright ETA program in Vietnam, including assisting in onboarding incoming ETAs, assisting in organizing activities for ETAs, coaching and mentoring incoming ETAs on teaching and cultural adaptation, promoting the ETA program on social media and through media engagement, developing new initiatives to support the ETA program, and answering inquiries from prospective ETAs. Additionally, renewal ETAs may provide support for other Fulbright and Embassy initiatives.
Renewal ETAs will be granted with a base amount to cover round-trip travel to and from Vietnam, settling-in and excess baggage, monthly stipend including housing allowance during the grant period, accident & Sickness Health Benefits, and visa sponsorship by Vietnamese host institution.