- Student visa (DL visa) required for most international students — single or multiple-entry, applied at Vietnamese embassy or via e-visa portal
- Tuition: RMIT Vietnam and international programmes USD 5,000–15,000/year; Vietnamese public universities USD 500–2,000/year for international students
- Vietnam does not participate in Erasmus+ — exchange students come through bilateral university agreements between their home institution and Vietnamese universities
- Cost of living is very low — monthly student budget of €400–€600 in HCMC or Hanoi covers comfortable student life
Vietnam is an emerging and increasingly compelling study destination — a country of extraordinary energy, rapid economic transformation, and one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant urban cultures. While Vietnamese universities are developing rapidly, the country's most internationally accessible academic offerings are English-medium programmes at institutions like RMIT Vietnam (a full Australian campus), Fulbright University Vietnam, and British University Vietnam. For students on exchange from partner universities, Vietnam offers a genuinely immersive Southeast Asian experience at dramatically low cost, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City providing two distinctly different urban environments — the former more historic and Northern, the latter more frenetic and commercial.
Cost of Living
Vietnam is among Southeast Asia's most affordable countries. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): monthly student budget €400–€600. Hanoi: €350–€550. Da Nang: €300–€500. Street food meals: 20,000–50,000 VND (€0.70–€2). Café (Vietnamese coffee culture): 20,000–40,000 VND (€0.80–€1.60) — excellent quality. Room in shared apartment: 2,000,000–5,000,000 VND/month (€75–€195). Grab ride across city: 30,000–80,000 VND (€1.20–€3.20). RMIT Vietnam tuition is significantly higher than local universities but still below Western equivalents.
Housing
RMIT Vietnam and Fulbright University provide student housing lists and support for incoming international students. Private serviced apartments near campuses: 3,000,000–7,000,000 VND/month (€115–€270) — air-conditioned, furnished, WiFi included. Sharing with other international students significantly reduces costs. Facebook groups ('International Students HCMC', 'Expats Vietnam Housing') are active for housing connections. Hanoi's Tây Hồ (West Lake) and Hoan Kiem districts are popular with international students; HCMC's District 1, 3, and Binh Thanh are well-located for RMIT and Fulbright students.
Visa & Entry
Most international students require a DL visa (student visa) for stays over 90 days. The process: apply at the Vietnamese embassy with university acceptance letter, or use the Vietnam e-visa system (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) for shorter stays. The e-visa (90 days, single entry, $25) covers most exchange semesters — check if your stay requires a multi-entry visa. After arrival, students enrolled at Vietnamese universities can apply for a Temporary Residence Card (Thẻ tạm trú) through the university's international office — valid for the duration of study.
Expat Life
Vietnam has a very large and growing international expat and student community — particularly in HCMC (District 1, Tây Bình, Binh Thanh) and Hanoi (Tây Hồ/West Lake area). RMIT Vietnam and Fulbright have active student life programmes. Vietnamese food culture — pho, bún bò Huế, bánh mì, cà phê trứng (egg coffee) — is a world-class culinary experience available at street-food prices. Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, January/February) is one of Southeast Asia's most spectacular cultural events.
Vietnam suits Southeast Asian studies, development economics, and international relations students who want immersion in one of Asia's fastest-growing economies, students on exchange at RMIT Vietnam or Fulbright University seeking a high-quality English-medium experience at very low cost, and adventurous students who want one of Southeast Asia's most culturally rich and geographically spectacular countries as their study base.
English-medium academic options at Vietnamese public universities are very limited — RMIT Vietnam and Fulbright University Vietnam are the primary high-quality English-medium options. Vietnamese university bureaucracy is significant. Traffic and air quality in major cities require adjustment. The heat and humidity (particularly HCMC) is extreme in summer.
Practical Tips
- Get a Vietnamese SIM immediately on arrival — Viettel and Mobifone offer 30-day unlimited data plans for 100,000–200,000 VND (€4–€8). Essential for Grab (ride-hailing), maps, and translation apps.
- Grab app is essential in Vietnam — covers Grab Car, GrabBike (motorbike taxi, very cheap), GrabFood, and GrabExpress. The safest and most transparent way to navigate Vietnamese cities.
- Vietnamese language: while English is spoken at international university campuses and in tourist districts, Vietnamese language dramatically unlocks daily life, local relationships, and non-tourist food and culture. Basic Vietnamese phrases are genuinely appreciated by locals.
- Traffic in HCMC and Hanoi is extraordinary — millions of motorbikes, informal rules, constant movement. Crossing the street requires confidence and a steady pace. Never run — walk steadily and let motorbikes flow around you. Renting a motorbike is common for students but requires careful assessment of traffic comfort.
- Open a Vietnamese bank account: Vietcombank and Techcombank offer international student accounts — useful for local transfers and cash withdrawals. Western Union and Wise work well for international money transfers.
- Travel: Vietnam's geography makes travel extraordinary — Ha Long Bay (3 hours from Hanoi), Hoi An (1 hour flight from HCMC), Mekong Delta (2 hours from HCMC), Sapa mountains (overnight train from Hanoi). Budget domestic flights (VietJet, Bamboo Airways) from €20–€40.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RMIT Vietnam and how does it compare to Australian RMIT?
RMIT Vietnam is a fully accredited satellite campus of RMIT University Melbourne — one of Australia's largest universities. Located in Ho Chi Minh City (main campus) and Hanoi. Degrees awarded are identical to Australian RMIT degrees, recognised globally. Programmes: business, engineering, design, communication, and social sciences — all English-medium. Tuition: USD 6,000–12,000/year — significantly cheaper than Australian campus while delivering equivalent qualifications. Ideal for students who want an Australian-standard degree at Southeast Asian cost.
What is Fulbright University Vietnam?
Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) is Vietnam's first independent, non-profit university — founded 2016 with support from Harvard Kennedy School and US government funding. Located in HCMC's Saigon Hi-Tech Park. Fully English-medium, American-style liberal arts model. Very small (500 students), highly selective, generous financial aid. Graduate school of public policy is the flagship programme. Tuition: approx. USD 10,000/year. Represents a genuinely new model for Vietnamese higher education.
Is Vietnam safe for international students?
Vietnam is generally very safe — violent crime against foreigners is rare. The main safety concerns are traffic (motorbike accidents are the leading cause of injury for foreigners), petty theft in tourist areas (bag snatching by motorbike in HCMC), and food safety (tap water is not drinkable — always use bottled or filtered water). Political expression is restricted — Vietnam has a single-party government; respect local political norms. The overall safety environment for students is positive.
Can I travel within Vietnam easily while studying?
Yes — Vietnam's transport infrastructure for budget travel is excellent. Budget airlines (VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways) connect major cities for €20–€40. Overnight sleeper trains (especially Hanoi–Da Nang–HCMC route) are cheap, safe, and comfortable. The Reunification Express train journey from Hanoi to HCMC (30+ hours, with stops) is one of Asia's great rail journeys. Open-Tour Bus tickets allow flexible multi-city travel. Vietnam's 1,650km north-south length means the country offers extraordinary geographic and cultural variety within a single exchange semester.
Official Resources
Updated 2026-04-12