Vietnam’s government is considering whether to let international students work up to 20 hours per week for the first time, as it seeks to position itself as a “regional education hub”.
The proposal, announced by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), forms part of a wider package of “breakthrough policies” for education and training now being put before the country’s national assembly.
Vietnam currently has no clear regulations on whether or how much international students can work.
Officials said the plan would?bring Vietnam closer to the systems used in countries such as the UK, the US and New Zealand?– the latter of which will raise its cap to 25 hours from November – while supporting fairer treatment and opportunities for international students, reported.?
By the end of 2024, Vietnam hosted nearly 22,000 international students, the highest figure in almost a decade.
About 80 per cent came from neighbouring Laos and Cambodia, with many enrolled at Hanoi University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Academy of Journalism and Communication.
Technical and business institutions such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Foreign Trade University and the Vietnam-France University have also seen rising enrolments.
Alongside the student work provision, MOET has proposed five-year visa and work permit exemptions for foreign experts and researchers holding doctoral degrees who are employed by Vietnamese universities and colleges.
Ly Tran, professor in the School of Education at Deakin University in Australia, said the draft policy reflects Vietnam’s ambition to?transform itself into a regional education hub.
She told?Times?Higher?Education: “Employment opportunities are among the top factors international students consider when choosing a destination…This policy sends a strong signal that Vietnam is committed to building a supportive, internationalised higher-education system.”
She added that part-time work could help?international students integrate?better into Vietnamese society, while also giving local businesses access to “a skilled, multilingual workforce” trained domestically.
But she warned that implementation would be crucial: “Vietnam will need robust mechanisms to ensure students and employers comply with the 20-hour limit, and clear communication to prevent confusion among businesses. Post-study work options and visa flexibility should also follow.”
Mark Ashwill, co-founder of Capstone Education and former Vietnam director of the Institute of International Education, said the change “would create yet another incentive for international students to consider Vietnam” given its relatively low costs, political stability and growing range of English-medium courses.
He suggested universities and government agencies could collaborate on an online “clearing house” to connect international students with suitable part-time work.
“Working off-campus will help them integrate more quickly into Vietnamese society,” he added, noting that common jobs could include language teaching, IT and creative industries or hospitality.
Hoang Van Anh, head of education at the British Council in Vietnam, said the proposal was still at an early stage and would require “cross-ministry collaboration”, especially with the ministries of home affairs and public security.
“The proposal to allow up to 20 hours per week is a modest but encouraging start,” she said.
“It reflects the government’s determination to attract global talent and increase Vietnam’s competitiveness as a study destination.”
Van Anh said the plan aligns with Resolution 71-NQ/TW, which calls for “breakthrough development” in education and training, and aims to lift the share of international students to 1.5 per cent.
She added that low pay remains a challenge, with casual café work earning about ?1 per hour and teaching assistant roles ?1 to 1.50.
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