Below is a description of a new tour organized by EducationUSA, US Embassy, Hanoi.  Its purpose is to reach out to talented and gifted students in five (5) provinces in northern Vietnam.  Eligible t0ur participants include those who wish to “engage with Vietnam’s top students who are prime candidates for U.S. institutions looking to diversity their pool of full scholarship recipients” and, naturally, who are able to provide “full scholarships (tuition, room, board) to top international students.” 

The potential benefits to the participating colleges and universities, in addition to diversifying their pool of full scholarship recipients and, possibly, its student population, are:  1) global service through outreach to rural areas; 2) favorable PR, should they decide to place any stories about accepted and funded students in the Vietnamese media; and 3) the possibility that they might find a student in one of these high schools whose parents have the ability to pay.  (Not all of the nation’s wealth is in its cities.)

While I’m pleased to see a tour to places other than Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – I organized the first US higher education fair in Danang back in the day – it’s worth acknowledging a political reason for this activity related to the exercise of soft power beyond the confines of Hanoi and HCMC, i.e., to demonstrate to State/DC that the US Mission is making the attempt – with the assistance of US college and university reps, to inform rural students about opportunities to study in the USA, even though most cannot afford it.  (This reminds me of a former deputy principal officer in the US Embassy, the #2 person, who once went rogue, rhetorically speaking, at a reception for visiting US higher education colleagues, possibly after a few too many glasses of wine, when he voiced the opinion that the US Mission should focus all of its education-related outreach efforts on wealthy Vietnamese.)

If possible, I’ll check in with the participants and report back later this fall.

MAA

Spend one week visiting northern Vietnam’s best gifted and talented high schools that are “off the beaten track” of most U.S. recruiters. Engage with Vietnam’s top students who are prime candidates for U.S. institutions looking to diversity their pool of full scholarship recipients.

PARTICIPANTS: Accredited degree granting U.S. institutions providing full scholarships (tuition, room, board) to top international students. *Capacity is limited to 8 reps.

COST: *No registration fees

• Total estimated cost for hotels and meals for the week is $1300
• In-country transport, accompanying advisers/guides, and lodging reservations provided by U.S. Embassy Hanoi

DATES & SCHEDULE: Five provinces in northern Vietnam will be visited from September 28 to October 3 (Sunday to Friday). Following is the schedule for the tour:

Sunday, September 28: Morning departure from Hanoi to Lao Cai

Monday, September 29: Lào Cai Province

• Morning: Visit Lao Cai High School for Gifted Students
• Afternoon: Leave Lao Cai for Yen Bai

Tuesday, September 30: Yên Bái Province

• Morning: Visit Nguyen Tat Thanh High School for Gifted Students
• Afternoon: Leave Yen Bai for Nam Dinh

Wednesday, October 1: Nam Định Province

• Morning: Visit Le Hong Phong High School for Gifted Students
• Afternoon: Leave Nam Dinh for Thanh Hoa

Thursday, October 2: Thanh Hóa Province

• Morning: Visit Lam Son High School for Gifted Students
• Afternoon: Leave Thanh Hoa for Nghe An

Friday, October 3: Nghệ An Province

• Morning: Visit Phan Boi Chau High School for Gifted Students
• Afternoon: Leave Nghe An for evening arrival in Hanoi

*All transportation is by van provided by U.S. Embassy

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• EducationUSA reserves the right to refuse registration of any institution
• Deadline for registration is August 15th
• Capacity limited to 8 reps

QUESTIONS? Email HanoiEducationUSA[AT]gmail.com