Representatives from 21 US universities recently traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, where they met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as part of a new education partnership program spearheaded by the US Embassy in Vietnam.
On March 31st, delegates from 21 US universities, including top schools such as Stanford and Duke, traveled to Hanoi, to meet Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh and Ambassador Marc Knapper. The delegation comprised of universities participating in the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP). Recently created by the US Embassy in Vietnam with support from the US Insititute of International Education (IIE) and Vietnam’s Ministry of Education, this 9-month program will facilitate exchanging for students and professors as well as transfer educational know-how between 21 US universities and 30 Vietnamese universities. IAPP will explore areas of cooperation, focusing on STEM education, digital transformation, green transition, information and communication technology (ICT), semiconductors, AI, automation and biotechnology.
The meeting came as Vietnam and the United States prepared to celebrate the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations. Vietnam is aiming for 8% annual GDP growth, with an emphasis on the high-tech sector—an effort requiring deeper cooperation in STEM education with US higher education institutions. During the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recommended universities from both countries to collaborate closely with major US corporations—such as Intel, Nvidia, and Apple—that are actively exploring investment opportunities in Vietnam. In December 2024, Nvidia acquired VinBrain, an AI and data research center, previously owned by VinGroup, the main benefactor of VinUniversity. The US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, along with representatives from US universities, expressed strong support for Vietnam’s strategic development goals, especially in the areas of education and training.
Education is an area in which the United States and Vietnam have strong ties. Currently, there are about 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the United States, with around 22,000 enrolling in universities or colleges, making Vietnam the fifth-largest source of international students in the US. These students contribute roughly $820 million to the US economy in 2023, an 11.6% increase from the previous year.
In addition, more than 50 joint training programs exist between Vietnamese and US educational institutions, primarily at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Notable examples include the partnership between the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. For many years, Troy University in Alabama has maintained multiple exchange programs with Vietnamese universities, including Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Meanwhile, Fulbright University Vietnam—founded in 2016 through cooperation between the US Congress and the Government of Vietnam—traces its roots to the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program, a collaboration between the Harvard Kennedy School and Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics. Fulbright University Vietnam continues to build partnerships, offering exchange programs with Bard College, Olin College of Engineering, and Dartmouth College, along with joint degree programs with the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of California, Irvine.
As both countries look ahead to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, deeper academic and industry collaboration will be vital in shaping a workforce equipped to tackle high-tech challenges. The growing presence of Vietnamese students in the United States, along with expanding joint programs, underscores the enduring value of people-to-people ties and education diplomacy.
Alex Vu is a Spring 2025 Young Professional at the East-West Center in Washington. Alex is currently a junior at the University of South Florida, studying Econometrics & Political Science.
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