Open your doors to students from Vietnam, one of the strongest markets of international students coming to U.S. colleges and universities to study, with a six-fold increase over the last decade. Vietnam ranks eight in the overall number of international students in higher education and ranks third in community colleges.
*Coffee-break will be provided during fair time.
Country Highlight
Vietnam Open Doors Country Factsheet (125 KB, PDF)
With an estimated 90.5 million inhabitants as of 2011, Vietnam is the world’s 13th most-populus country, and the 8th most populous Asian country. Vietnam moved up to 8th place in ranking of origin of international students in 2010/11, with a 14% increase to a record high of 14,888 students, according to Open Doors. In the year 2011/12 the number of students from Vietnam in the U.S. is 15,572 showing a 4.6% growth compared to last year.
The country has produced an impressive over six-fold increase in U.S.-bound students in 10 years and holds second place for students interested in community colleges. In an online survey carried out by Education USA and IIE, the U.S. was the overwhelming first choice destination for respondents in Vietnam, with 82% of respondents listing the U.S. in an open ended question.
Hanoi: The capital and the largest city in the country, Hanoi has drawn large visitors numbers, primarily graduate students. It is estimated that over 60% of the scientists in the country live an work in Hanoi. These high concentration ratios also apply to other disciplines.
Ho Chi Minh City: The second largest city in Vietnam, HCMC is home to world-renowned high schools and over 80 universities and colleges with a total of over 400,000 students. Last year IIE’s fair in HCMC was among the cities attracted the largest number of universities, students and parents of the entire tour.
Important Resources
About Vietnam
Visit Vietnam
About Ho Chi Minh City
Visit Ho Chi Minh City
About Hanoi
Visit Hanoi
Visa Information
A tourist visa is required. Please contact the Vietnam Embassy in Washington, DC (202-861-0737) or the Vietnamese consulate in San Francisco, and allow at least 05 days for processing. You may also download the information that you will need for your visa from the Embassy Website.
Generally, you will need to provide the Embassy/Consulate with a completed application form, two passport photos, a check for the visa fee, your passport, and a return express mail envelope. Visas are normally good for 30 days from the date you specify that you will enter the country. You must also decide your port of entry because this will be written on your visa and cannot be changed later. If you indicate that you will be traveling for tourist purposes and arriving by air, your visa will usually permit you to enter and exit by both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Please also take account of the Vietnamese observed holidays in planning for your visa application and travel.
Because you will be in Vietnam for a short visit, even if you extend for a few days to visit local institutions, please apply for a tourist visa. List the hotel where you will be staying as your contact. It is not appropriate to list IIE because as a foreign organization, we have no authority over you and are unable to sponsor visas. If you list the Ministry of Education and Training or a university, you will be required to have them sponsor your visa, delaying your application.
When you arrive in Vietnam, you will first go through immigration where your passport and entry-exit card are carefully checked. Next you will pick up your luggage and clear it through customs. Do not bring videos, or lots of bulk materials for fair distribution as this may cause delays. If something is held at customs for review, ask for a receipt and pick up the materials later (most often it is more trouble for the customs officer to issue the receipt than it is to clear the materials). Also, make sure to keep your entry-exit card and customs form together with your passport as they will be checked when you leave Vietnam.
After clearing customs, follow the flow of passengers out of the airport. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have done a good job of clearing the immediate area outside the airport of independent taxi drivers and hotel agents so you can get into the city hassle-free. In Hanoi: If you do not have a hotel car waiting for you, cross to the taxi area directly across from the exit and take either an Airport Taxi or Noi Bai Taxi. The standard fare into the city is around $15 and is posted at the taxi stand. They will assign a car and driver to you. In Ho Chi Minh City if you have not already made other arrangements, there will be metered taxis lined up outside the airport, reliable companies are: Vinasun, SaigonTourist, Mai Linh Taxi. You need only tell the driver where you want to go. Please make sure that they turn on the meter and do not accept "quoted" prices.
Recommended Hotels
Ho Chi Minh City
Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
8-15 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1 • Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sgnbr-renaissance-riverside-hotel-saigon/
Phone: +848.3822.0033
Fax: +848.3823.5666
Sheraton Saigon Hotel
88 Dong Khoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Email: sheratonsaigon@sheraton.com
Phone: +848.3827.2828
Fax: +848.3827.2929
Caravelle Hotel Ho Chi Minh City
19 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Email: hotel@caravellehotel.com
Phone: +848.3823.4999
Fax: +848.3824.3999
Hanoi
Melia Hanoi
44B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website: http://www.meliahanoi.com/en/rooms-hanoi.html/
Phone: +844.3934.3343
Fax: +844.3934.8688
Email: somelia@meliahanoi.com.vn
Hilton Hanoi Opera
1 Le Thanh Tong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/HANHITW-Hilton-Hanoi-Opera-hotel-/index.do/
Phone: +844.3933.0500
Fax: +844.3933.0631
Sheraton Hanoi Hotel
11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1484/
Phone: +844.3719.9000
Fax: +844.3719.9001
Email: Reservations.Hanoi@Sheraton.com
Contact Information
Ms. Oanh Trinh, Country Coordinator
Institute of International Education-Vietnam
R.405, Bldg A2, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound.
298 Kim Ma, Ba Dinh.Hanoi, Vietnam
Email: tmoanh@iievn.org
Phone: +844.3726.2524
Fax: +844.3726.2523