Support for Vietnamese students in higher education or vocational training in 2025 - Children of the Mekong
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Support for Vietnamese students in higher education or vocational training in 2025

Since 2019, Children of the Mekong has been supporting disadvantaged Vietnamese students with scholarships covering part of their living and study costs. More than 1,200 young people have already been able to continue their education in better conditions and prepare for their professional future.

What is studying in Vietnam like?

Vietnam has approximately 2 million students out of a total population of 100 million. However, only 10.2% of adults over the age of 25 have attained a level of education equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. Higher education remains largely inaccessible to the majority, hampered by often prohibitive costs. In large cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, annual university fees range from VND 50 million to VND 86 million (€2,000 to €3,440), not including accommodation, food and transport. For young people from very disadvantaged backgrounds, these expenses are unaffordable.

What is the reality for our students?

The majority of our sponsored students come from very modest backgrounds and often have to leave their villages to study in large cities. On average, their monthly expenses amount to €200, only a small portion of which is covered by traditional sponsorship (approximately 20%). This forces many students to work multiple jobs and go into debt, to the detriment of their health and academic success.

 

Vietnam Map

HOW DOES IT IMPACT STUDENTS' DAILY LIVES?

  • Insecure housing: to reduce their expenses, many live in overcrowded, damp and poorly maintained rooms, leading to health risks.
  • Malnutrition: limited food budgets lead to deficiencies and affect concentration and academic success.
  • Multiple jobs: To support themselves, some students work long hours, reducing their time for rest and study, which increases their fatigue and financial stress.

NEARLY 1,200 STUDENTS HELPED IN 5 YEARS

Aware of these challenges, Children of the Mekong launched a project in 2019 to help Vietnamese students. After five years of implementation and more than 1,200 beneficiaries, the project was expanded in 2024 with the creation of additional scholarships, worth up to €400, to cover all or part of university fees.

These scholarships are awarded through a rigorous process that includes submitting an application, having the application reviewed by a committee, and signing a code of conduct by the students, who commit to studying diligently and participating regularly in the association’s activities. This support enables students to:

  • Live with dignity and reduce family debt.
  • Continue their education without interruption and limit dropouts.
  • Develop skills and behaviours suited to the world of work.
  • Prepare for financial independence once they are professionally integrated.
Vietnam

TIÊN'S TESTIMONY OR THE COMMITMENT OF AN ELDEST SON: STUDYING FOR ONE'S ENTIRE FAMILY

Vietnam “My name is Dang Tran Tien, and I am currently a third-year student at Dong A University.

I would like to share my family situation with you: I lost my father when I was a child, and I have a younger brother who is two years younger than me. Since our childhood, the financial burden and our education have fallen entirely on my mother’s shoulders. She works hard so that we can go to school. Despite all these difficulties, she always encourages us to study hard so that we can have a better future. However, her fragile health prevents her from working regularly, as she suffers from a serious illness.

I am aware that our family situation is too difficult for me to continue my studies without help. As the eldest son, I offered to leave school to give my younger brother this opportunity, but he chose to sacrifice himself and leave school so that I could fulfil my dream. I feel very guilty and tell myself every day that I must do my best to get excellent results, because I am studying not only for myself but also for him. For the past two years, I have maintained very good results, obtaining the distinction ‘excellent’.”

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your generosity.

Vietnam

Thanks to your generosity, our project to support Vietnamese students is coming to life every day. Your help enables us to offer personalised financial support, designed to meet the specific needs of each young person, in order to give them every chance of succeeding in their studies and building a better future. We are deeply grateful!

Since the beginning of 2025, 327 students have already benefited from this project, with a total budget of €73,541 (as of 31 August). What a great success, which we owe to your commitment! Among them, 127 students received a special grant to finance their studies, 56% of whom were young women and 44% young men.

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