According to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual “Open Doors” Report, Vietnamese students contribute US$$827 million to the U.S. economy annually. 

Of the 23,777 Vietnamese students enrolled in higher education in the U.S., 69.8% were undergraduates, 15.3% were graduate level students, 11.4% enrolled in Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the remaining 3.5% were pursuing non-degree programs. 

The data also showed a slight increase of 0.6% in the number of American students studying abroad in Viet Nam, from 1,228 in AY 2017-18 to 1,235 in AY 2018-19.  

The Open Doors report is released annually during International Education Week (IEW), which is a joint initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate the benefits of international education and intercultural exchanges worldwide. 

The U.S. Mission to Viet Nam is celebrating IEW 2020 by holding virtual information sessions in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to promote study in the U.S. and provide information about U.S. student visas and U.S. government-sponsored scholarship opportunities. 

Released during the 25th Anniversary of U.S.-Viet Nam diplomatic relations, the Open Doors data is demonstrable proof that education remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. 

With a total of approximately 26,000 Vietnamese students pursuing studies at all levels in the U.S., the U.S. Mission to Viet Nam will continue to promote opportunities for Vietnamese students to study in the U.S. through its Education USA services, American Centers in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, and American Hangouts in Can Tho City and An Giang Province.