To study in Vietnam as a US student, you need an admission letter from a Vietnamese school, then a DH student visa for the course, and after arrival you register your stay and extend or convert it as your school directs. Americans are not on Vietnam’s 45-day visa exemption list, so even a short stay needs a visa of some kind.
Vietnam has become a practical study destination for students who want a lower cost of living, English-taught options at some schools and a chance to learn about one of Asia’s fast-growing economies. It is also a place where the process runs through the school. The university gets approval from the immigration authority, you collect the visa or get it stamped at an airport and you register your temporary stay after you land. This guide explains how to study in Vietnam, which visa applies, what the sources say about fees and processing, what tuition and living costs look like, which universities students mention, what the academic calendar is and which mistakes cause delays. The visa facts come from a private visa service’s guide published on 10 September 2025 and updated on 4 February 2026 and from a university immigration page whose only date is a fee schedule from 1 June 2016. The tuition and university facts come from an expat guide updated on 12 April 2025. The living cost and e-visa facts come from an expat site published on 21 July 2026. A government news page on admission rules dates from 2020. These are secondary sources, and the visa service itself says it is a private company and not a government agency, so confirm every rule with your school and with the Vietnamese embassy or the official immigration portal. For a wider comparison, read our best countries for study abroad guide.
Do You Need a Visa to Study in Vietnam?
Yes. Americans are not on the 45-day visa exemption list, so you need a visa, and a student stay uses the DH student visa. The expat site says an e-visa is the most common route for short visits.
The expat site says the e-visa for Americans lasts up to 90 days, costs 25 dollars for a single entry and 50 dollars for multiple entry, takes about three to five working days and cannot be extended in the country. That is a tourist-style option, not a study permit, so use it only for a short visit before your program. For a semester or a degree, the DH student visa applies. The university immigration page adds that students from visa-exempt countries must leave and re-enter to get a student entry visa before the exemption ends, which shows why entering on the wrong visa causes trouble. Ask your school which route it expects.
How Does the DH Student Visa Work?
The DH visa is for foreign students enrolled at Vietnamese universities or accredited institutions, usually valid for 3 to 12 months and extendable while you stay enrolled. Your school starts the process.
The private visa guide lists the main requirements: an admission letter from an eligible school, a passport valid at least six months from the intended entry date with at least two blank pages, a study plan, no entry ban and sometimes proof of funds. It says students under 18 may need guardian arrangements, and certain fields such as healthcare may have extra checks. The documents are the application form, original passport, photos with a white background and the admission letter, with proof of accommodation, a health check or financial proof requested case by case. Documents issued abroad may need legalization, translation and notarization. It describes three routes: school-sponsored entry approval with the visa collected at an embassy or in some cases at an airport in Vietnam, an online route and a visa service.
What Do Student Visas Cost?
The private visa guide lists government fees from 25 to 135 dollars, depending on the number of entries and the length. A 2016 university schedule shows higher amounts, so check the current table.
| Visa type, per the private guide | Government fee in dollars |
| Single entry | 25 |
| Multiple entry, up to 90 days | 50 |
| Multiple entry, 90 to 180 days | 95 |
| Multiple entry, 180 days to 1 year | 135 |
The university page, whose fee schedule dates from June 2016, lists 35 dollars for a three-month single entry, 60 dollars for three-month multiple entry, 105 dollars for three to six months and 145 dollars for six months to a year. Those are older and differ, so do not rely on them. The private guide adds costs such as translation, notarization, photos, courier and an optional service fee. It says processing takes up to five working days after a complete file and advises applying two to three weeks before entry because August and September can be slow. The university page says to allow up to 30 days for the school to issue the pre-approval letter and three to 14 days for the embassy, so plan for the longer end.
What Happens After You Arrive?
You register your temporary stay, then extend the visa or apply for a student temporary residence card with your school’s help. Do not let the visa lapse.
The private guide says to register your temporary stay, which is often needed for extensions or the residence card, and that an extension needs your passport, an extension form, updated enrollment confirmation, photos and fees, usually about five working days after a complete file. It advises starting at least two weeks before expiry. A student temporary residence card may be a longer-term option for those who qualify with school support, and it reduces repeated extensions. The university page says to submit extension papers to the student center at least 14 days before the visa expires and lists documents such as proof of next semester’s tuition payment. Because that page is old, treat it as an example of the type of paperwork, not the current form list.
How Much Does It Cost to Study in Vietnam?
The expat guide gives tuition of 2,500 to 7,500 dollars, and it does not say whether that is per year or per semester. Ask each school.
That range is the only tuition figure in our sources, so we cannot say what a degree costs at a given university. The expat guide says some programs are taught in English and to confirm this before you apply. The government page on admission rules from 2020 says the head of each university decides enrollment based on high school records and Vietnamese language proficiency, without giving a required level, so language rules vary by school and by program. For living costs, the expat site gives all-in monthly budgets for a single person of 700 to 900 dollars for a lean lifestyle, 1,000 to 1,500 for comfortable and 2,000 or more for premium, including rent. It lists a one-bedroom in central Ho Chi Minh City at 400 to 510 dollars, a monthly transit pass at about 8 dollars and a bowl of pho at 2 to 3 dollars. The Hanoi figures come from contributor reports, so treat them as rough.
Which Universities Do Students Consider?
The expat guide names Hanoi University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Thai Nguyen University, Hue University, the University of Da Nang and RMIT University Vietnam. It also notes Vietnam National University in Hanoi has climbed in Asian rankings.
RMIT Vietnam is mentioned with three enrollment periods and 16-week semesters. The guide gives the general calendar as two semesters, the first from September to January and the second from mid-February to June. It lists application items such as your last year of education credits, a health declaration, a student questionnaire, an English score and possibly a reference letter. Scholarship applications may need bank statements, household income proof and receipts, all translated and notarized. These details are general, so check each school’s international office.
Can You Work While Studying in Vietnam?
A student visa does not automatically grant work permission. The private guide says to check the correct legal pathway with your school and immigration authorities before working or interning.
Do not assume part-time work is allowed. Ask in writing, and keep the reply. If you plan an internship as part of your program, ask whether the school arranges the permit.
What About Health Insurance?
Get health insurance before you fly, because Medicare does not cover you abroad. The expat site says American retirees need private international cover, and the same applies to students.
The expat site gives example costs: a public hospital consultation under 5 dollars, a specialist at a private hospital under 30 dollars, an international GP visit at 30 to 150 dollars and a private hospital room at 200 to 400 dollars or more a night, with medical evacuation to Bangkok or Singapore at 15,000 to 50,000 dollars. International plans start from about 85 euros a month, according to the page. Ask your school what insurance it requires, and read the evacuation terms before you buy.
How Do You Pay for It?
Combine savings, family support, school scholarships and outside awards, and check whether US aid applies. Aid rules differ by program.
If you study through a US home school’s approved program, see our fafsa study abroad guide. For a full degree at a foreign school, see our graduate school abroad guide, which explains when federal aid applies. Our year abroad guide covers semester and year planning. For funded awards, see our scholarships without IELTS guide and our Fulbright scholarship guide, and for application writing, our motivation letter for scholarship and scholarship documents checklist guides. For comparison with another Asian destination, see our Japan visa requirement and MEXT scholarship guides.
What Should Your Passport and Documents Look Like?
Your passport should be valid for at least six months from entry and have blank pages. The private guide says two blank pages.
One expat page asks for a passport valid for at least one month after a 12-month study period, which is looser than the six-month rule, so use the stricter standard. Our passport 6 month rule guide explains the check, our passport pages guide helps you count blank pages and our passport application and how long does it take to get a passport guides help if you need a new book. If your passport is nearly full or damaged, replace it before applying.
How Do You Spot a Vietnam Study Scam?
No agent can guarantee a visa, and no real school sells admission for an upfront fee without a contract. Be careful with offers.
Be careful when a website or agent:
- Promises a student visa without an admission letter.
- Charges a large “service fee” far above the government fee.
- Asks you to pay tuition to a personal account.
- Offers an e-visa that is “good for the whole degree”.
- Claims to be an immigration office without a government address.
Check the school’s international office and the official immigration portal before you pay.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Entering on the wrong visa, missing the extension window and skipping the stay registration cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Entering on a tourist e-visa and planning to convert later.
- Applying late in the August to September rush.
- Letting the visa expire before filing an extension.
- Skipping the temporary stay registration.
- Forgetting legalization and translation of foreign documents.
- Assuming classes are in English without asking.
- Working or interning without the right permit.
- Traveling without international health insurance.
When unsure, ask your school’s international office in writing.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to study in Vietnam?
Yes. Americans are not on the 45-day exemption list, and a student stay uses the DH visa arranged through your school.
How much does the DH visa cost?
One guide lists 25 to 135 dollars depending on entries and length. Older pages show different amounts, so check the current fee.
How long does the visa take?
One guide says up to five working days after a complete file, but allow weeks for the school’s approval and for peak season.
Is tuition cheap in Vietnam?
One guide gives 2,500 to 7,500 dollars and does not say if it is per year or per semester. Ask each school.
Are classes in English?
Some programs are, but you should confirm before you apply. Vietnamese language may be an admission factor.
Can I work on a student visa?
Not automatically. Ask your school and the immigration authority before you work or intern.
Conclusion
To study in Vietnam, start with an admission letter, let your school begin the approval and plan for a DH student visa, a stay registration and later extensions. Budget for tuition that varies by school, monthly living costs that depend on the city and international health insurance with evacuation cover. Avoid tourist visas for long stays, check current fees on official sources and confirm every step with your school and the Vietnamese embassy.
