Universities in Vietnam

Higher education in Vietnam is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Training, while the national universities hold a special position: Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) operates under a special regulation and reports directly to the Prime Minister. Most degrees at public universities are taught in Vietnamese; some universities also run programmes in English or other languages, and one foreign university has full campuses in the country.

SpainExchange lists five universities in Vietnam: two in Hanoi and one each in Can Tho, Hue and Saigon South in Ho Chi Minh City. This page explains how they differ, how international students apply and what studying there costs.

Types of universities

The universities in the directory show the range of the sector:

• National universities: VNU describes itself as the first modern university in the country and one of two national universities. It traces its history to the University of Indochina, founded on 16 May 1906, and took its present form in December 1993, when the University of Hanoi merged with other Hanoi universities
• Regional multi-faculty universities: Hue University, founded in 1957, and Can Tho University (CTU), founded on 31 March 1966 in the Mekong Delta, where agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries are among its fields
• Technical universities: the directory also includes the Hanoi University of Science and Technology
• Foreign branch campuses: RMIT University Vietnam, founded in 2000, is the Asian campus of the Australian RMIT University in Melbourne, with campuses in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and an English language centre in Danang

Programmes and language of instruction

Some public universities offer several tracks for the same field. VNU, for example, lists 126 undergraduate programmes, split into standard, high-quality, talent, advanced and international programmes. Hue University publishes a separate list of programmes taught in foreign languages, such as an advanced bachelor's programme in Physics developed with a US university. At RMIT Vietnam all teaching is in English, in business, technology, communication, design and fashion.

Credit systems vary. RMIT counts a whole business bachelor's as 24 courses (288 credit points), about eight courses a year for an average study load, and states that 48 RMIT credit points equal 30 ECTS credits, which helps European exchange students plan recognition.

Admission and visa

Each university sets its own entry requirements for international students. At RMIT Vietnam, applicants choose a programme, check the academic and English requirements on the programme page, apply online with the documents on a checklist and accept the offer with a tuition deposit. Classes start in February, June and October, and RMIT recommends applying four to six months before the start of a trimester.

International students need a student visa. The university requests a pre-approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department and issues an invitation letter, which can take up to two months; the student then applies at a Vietnamese embassy or consulate with a passport valid for at least six months. RMIT states that no proof of funds is needed. For short visits, Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (advice valid on 7 October 2026) notes that Spanish citizens can enter without a visa for up to 45 days until 14 March 2028, and that an e-visa is available for stays of 45 to 90 days.

Costs and housing

Each university publishes its own fees. RMIT Vietnam publishes its fees in Vietnamese dong: for 2026, an undergraduate business programme costs about VND 375,840,000 a year (indicative US$14,345), paid per semester and course. A one-trimester study abroad package of four undergraduate courses costs VND 164,000,000 (about US$6,260), plus compulsory medical insurance of VND 7,400,000 per trimester. On the public side, Hue University has three dormitories with more than 4,000 places for its students, including international students.

How to choose a university in Vietnam

• Language: a full Vietnamese-language degree, an English-taught track at a public university, or an English-only branch campus
• Degree awarded: a Vietnamese degree or a foreign degree from a branch campus
• Field: agriculture and fisheries in the Mekong Delta, engineering in Hanoi, business and design at RMIT
• Study length: a full degree, or one or two trimesters as an exchange or study abroad student
• City: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, or smaller university cities such as Hue and Can Tho

Frequently asked questions

Can I study at a university in Vietnam in English?

Yes. RMIT University Vietnam teaches all programmes in English, and public universities such as VNU and Hue University run international and foreign-language programmes alongside their Vietnamese-language degrees.

Do I need a visa to study in Vietnam?

Yes, international degree students need a student visa, based on an invitation letter and immigration pre-approval arranged by the university. Short visa-free entry of up to 45 days for Spanish citizens does not cover a full degree.

How much does a degree at RMIT Vietnam cost?

For 2026 an undergraduate business programme costs about VND 375,840,000 a year (indicative US$14,345), or VND 1,127,520,000 for the whole programme.

Can I spend one semester at a Vietnamese university?

Yes. RMIT Vietnam accepts study abroad students for one or two trimesters even if their home university has no exchange agreement with RMIT.