According to the latest statistics (i.e., 2007/08), there are fewer than 700 U.S. students in Vietnam. Most come with short-term programs, including study tours. In contrast, there were nearly 13,000 Vietnamese students enrolled in U.S. degree programs last year – the higher education equivalent of a massive trade imbalance.
In addition to quantity, it would be great to see more diversity in the U.S. students coming to Vietnam. Study abroad doesn’t come cheap, however, which explains why the majority of U.S. students are white and well-off. Incidentally, over half are also female.
In the 2007/08 academic year, 262, 416 US students studied abroad; that’s about 1.4% of total US higher education enrollment. Of that number 82% were white and 65% female.
Below is a partial list of US higher education institutions and organizations that offer programs in Vietnam for US students:
- CET Academic Programs (on behalf of client schools)
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges & Union College
- Loyola University Chicago
- Lewis and Clark College
- Penn State University-Greater Allegheny
- School for International Training (SIT)
- SUNY-Brockport
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- Westfield State College (MA)
There are also small numbers of young Americans, mostly recent college graduates, coming to Vietnam to teach English for a year under the auspices of U.S. government programs (e.g., Fulbright ETA), nonprofit organizations and on their own.
In Vietnam, US students ‘think different’ about culture, war (Thanh Nien Daily, 8.2.10)
An International Educator in Viet Nam 
A Hawaii Pacific University program from summer 2010: MA-DMS Vietnam Study Tour Experience – Summer 2010
http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?section=graduate12995&contentID=12995
MAA