More Vietnamese parents are sending their children to study at overseas secondary schools , according to Vietnamnet.vn. Many of them are currently studying at public schools in key cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. If they cannot obtain scholarships they use family finances for funding.

The key reason behind the trend is parents’ lack of confidence in Vietnam’s education system. Also according to some parents paying VND400 million a month to fund their child to study abroad is not much higher than paying to study in one of the many international schools in Vietnam.

However, there are always pros and cons for sending Vietnamese children abroad to study at a young age. Vietnamnet.vn also reported that although many Vietnamese students were psychologically prepared before studying abroad, many had problems during their stay and after returning to Vietnam. The main pressures while studying abroad were financial capacity, cultural differences and difficulties in adapting to a new way of learning. When returning to Vietnam, the main problems were difficulties in finding employment to pay off what was invested in their overseas study.

Sources:
https://vietnamnet.vn/en/society/more-vietnamese-parents-send-children-a...
https://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/education/217055/vietnamese-students-a...
https://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/education/188427/the-psychological-eff...

Comments from Lien Ta, Education Services Lead, British Council Vietnam (lien.ta@britishcouncil.org.vn):

In 2018 Tier 4 child student visas in Vietnam had a small growth of 3% after a big drop of 25% in 2017. Local education agents who promote UK boarding schools are also reporting that demand is currently stable. Market research conducted by the British Embassy in Vietnam early last year on the perceptions of Vietnamese parents and students on UK education showed that UK school education was well-known among Vietnamese parents in terms of quality, discipline and was considered an even better environment to learn "standard" English than the US or Canada. But the research report also pointed out one main concern of Vietnamese parents towards the UK education system, which is adaptability and survival skills, such as difficulties in engaging within an unfamiliar Western lifestyle and culture, fear of being isolated, and a perceived lack of protection and support.

There exists both opportunities and challenges for UK boarding schools to develop student recruitment in Vietnam. The increasing popularity of UK school education programmes, reflected in the fact that not only more private schools but also some public schools have started teaching IGCSE and A-level, is adding more competition for student recruitment. However, with a high growth rate of middle-class population in key cities, Vietnam continues to provide scope for UK boarding schools to showcase excellent student support and care and a good progression route to UK universities, which ensures good career prospects for Vietnamese students.