Proposal could help international students assimilate better into society, but low pay and potential for abuse need to be addressed, say experts

Published on October 12, 2025 (Times Higher Education)

Reporter: Tash Mosheim Twitter: @tashmosheim

tash.mosheim@timeshighereducation.com

MAA: Here’s the latest THE article in which I am quoted. Below are the answers to the reporter’s questions, some of which she used to write the article. Note: THE doesn’t have a paywall, but you must create an account to get three free articles a month.

Source: iStock/CravenA

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, local media 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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Here are my answers in italics to Ms. Mosheim’s questions:

• How significant is this change for Vietnam’s higher education landscape and its attractiveness to international students? This change would create yet another incentive for international students to consider Vietnam as a potential overseas study destination and is consistent with the government’s goal of hosting more international students. Other “pull factors” include relatively low cost, political stability, quality education opportunities in Vietnamese and English, personal safety, and a tropical climate. It dovetails nicely with the government’s stated goal of global integration. 
• What benefits and challenges might this bring for universities and for students themselves (both international and local)? The main challenge is for universities to assist international students in finding suitable part-time employment opportunities and/or for the government to establish an online clearinghouse or matchmaking service that involves potential employers. Other obvious student benefits include cultural and professional experience. Vietnamese students, already open to the world and eager to learn as much as possible, will benefit from increased contact with students from all over the world. 

• What sort of part-time work are international students in Vietnam likely to take up, and how might this affect their studies or integration? Working off-campus will help them integrate more quickly into Vietnamese society especially if the workplace language is Vietnamese but also if it’s foreign language. Part-time jobs include teaching English and other high-demand foreign languages, technology and IT, marketing and creative fields, and work in the hospitality and service sectors. Some skilled jobs may serve as a stepping stone to long-term employment, another new policy frontier for Vietnam in the context of the a waning demographic dividend. 
• How might this affect Vietnam’s competitiveness in the regional education market – for example, compared with Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore? It will definitely raise Vietnam’s profile as an attractive overseas study destination and diversify the sending countries. (Currently, the majority of Vietnam’s 22,000 international students are from Cambodia and Laos.) India is sending more students to study in Vietnam and there is considerable untapped potential in Myanmar and other countries. 
• Are there potential risks or regulatory issues Vietnam should be mindful of in implementing such a policy? The government should ensure that students’ employment has been approved and that they are working 20 hours a week or less for a licensed business or organization.