Vietnam
20 English Teaching Assistant Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodAugust StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Since 2008, the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program has sent more than 220 young Americans to Vietnamese institutions for a life-changing 10-month experience. These Fulbrighters assist with English language instruction at high schools, colleges, and universities beyond Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, enriching the educational landscape in provincial capitals and other emerging urban centers. Beyond the classroom, the program fosters cultural exchange between Americans, Vietnamese students, and host institutions.
Join the Fulbright ETA program and embark on a transformative 10-month journey. Not only will you hone your teaching skills and gain valuable professional experience, but you'll also dive headfirst into the vibrant local life. Explore breathtaking natural landscapes, connect with welcoming locals, and discover a culture that will leave an indelible mark on you. Former ETAs speak of profound personal and professional growth, highlighting the program's unique power to transform lives.
As a Fulbright ETA, you'll team up with Vietnamese schools to craft engaging English lessons, curate vibrant cultural events, and broaden your horizons at seminars and academic engagements. English is highly sought after in Vietnam as a gateway to economic opportunity, making your impact resonate deeply at all levels. Adding to this, the United States enjoys immense popularity in Vietnam, especially among youth eager to learn about American culture. This presents a unique opportunity for you to act as a cultural ambassador, building lasting relationships and contributing to strengthening ties between both countries.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grantees must begin their grants in August 2026 to attend a mandatory in-country orientation in Hanoi for two to four weeks before starting their nine-month assignments at host institutions (September 2026 - May 2027).
Orientation
Pre-Departure Orientation (Mandatory)
All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation (PDO) in the U.S. in the summer of 2026 as a condition of their grants. The PDO is organized for Fulbright ETAs, U.S. researchers and scholars going to many different countries in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. Details to be announced and confirmed by the International Institute of Education (IIE).
In-country Orientation (Mandatory)
All grantees are required to attend a mandatory in-country orientation in Hanoi in August 2026 for two to four weeks. The orientation is intended to comprehensively prepare ETAs for work and life in Vietnam and includes briefings on security, political, economic, and medical issues by Embassy officers. In addition, the Fulbright Program in Vietnam will organize a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) workshop facilitated by a Vietnamese TEFL instructor who will brief ETAs on matters related to English teaching in Vietnam. ETAs will have chances to practice teaching at actual classes during the orientation in Hanoi.
As part of the in-country orientation, virtual Vietnamese language classes will be offered for ETAs before coming to Vietnam. ETAs are also encouraged to pursue independent Vietnamese study prior to arrival as their interest/availability allows. Many ETAs have indicated that speaking Vietnamese greatly aided in their enjoyment of the local culture and placement.
To provide you a chance to immerse yourself in authentic Vietnamese culture and traditions through daily activities, enhance your Vietnamese language skills through real-life interactions, and strengthen your ability to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, the Fulbright program plans to arrange for ETAs to spend a weekend with host families in rural areas outside of major cities. This experience will better prepare ETAs for the challenges and opportunities they will face as they arrive at their host institutions to begin their 9-month grants.
Further details regarding the in-country orientation will be provided by the Fulbright Program in Vietnam.
Candidate Profile
- Applicants must be American citizens.
- Previous teaching experience is preferred but not required.
- Prior experience in Vietnam is not required.
Applicants should be comfortable speaking in front of groups, serving as a leader to instruct and mentor groups of students, and they should be prepared for planning and teaching lessons independently. Many ETA sites are in underserved or rural areas which can be more conservative, and ETAs should be prepared to adapt to local customs, living conditions and cultural norms. Accommodations, although clean and safe, typically only feature basic necessities, although they can vary greatly from site to site. Many placements lack conveniences such as gyms, swimming pools, movie theaters and access to Western groceries.
Candidates must be willing and able to adapt physically and mentally to working in the hierarchical Vietnamese cultural context and the bureaucratic Vietnamese educational system. Many participants will be the only foreigner working at the host institution or even the only foreigner living in their city, and as a result may experience loneliness and isolation. Host institutions will endeavor to support ETAs, but ETAs should also be prepared to demonstrate personal resiliency, solve problems, and maintain professionalism as challenges arise. Norms of communication, scheduling of classes and activities, and advance planning for events may differ from what ETAs are used to.
As cultural ambassadors of the United States in Vietnam, ETAs are expected to exhibit a high level of professionalism and show respect for themselves and others around them. They are expected to share aspects of American culture with their schools and communities. They are also expected to learn and understand about the Vietnamese culture.
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in Vietnam will each engage their own immersive experience in their respective provinces. No experience will be quite the same; the practices and customs of each province will vary, from the policies of provincial governments, the flavors of local ingredients, differences in regional languages, and the individual cultures of each ETA's host institution. The common thread that links every ETA's experience is the connections they make with their students and the community they build, in their classrooms and outside of them. Many ETAs also enrich their grant experiences through travel, visiting and co-teaching with other ETAs, and taking field trips with their students. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam provides ETAs with the support to navigate the surprises, challenges, and successes they will experience during their grant -- but this unique opportunity is what you shape it to be.
Eligibility
6 Months
- Applicants must be American citizens.
- Permanent residents of Vietnam are not eligible to apply for this award
- Candidates currently residing in Vietnam (or those who will be living in Vietnam during the 2025 - 2026 academic year) will not be considered.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
Special Application Instructions
Semi-finalists may be contacted for a virtual interview with the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam as a part of the process.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Proficiency in Vietnamese is not required at the time of application and basic Vietnamese training will be provided to the grantees, but we strongly encourage the grantees to familiarize themselves with some basic Vietnamese prior to arrival for their own comfort.
Placement Type
- Secondary School
- Teacher Training
- University/Post-Secondary Institution
- Other Educational/Community Institution
Grantees are placed at high schools for gifted students, community colleges, teacher training colleges, or universities.
The Fulbright Program in Vietnam will arrange placements for all candidates and will inform the ETAs of their placements once they have been finalized.
Placement Locations
- Regional City
Grantees are placed in provincial (regional) cities, districts, or towns. ETAs are not placed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
- English language teaching preparatory course
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Excess baggage fees
- Language training allowance
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
One-Time allowance also covers a roundtrip airfare of U.S. and Vietnam for the grantees, supplementary allowances for enrichment activities in Vietnam including English teaching materials, Vietnamese language materials, expenses for in-country orientation, mid-year enrichment seminar and final year meeting.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Housing placement
- Mid-year seminar
Additional grant benefits also include visa approval to Vietnam, housing, means of transportation at placement provinces, round trip pick-up and send-off transportation to host institutions (in-kind support by the host institution).
Supplementary Project
The primary activity of this program is assisting in teaching English as a foreign language, so it is generally not possible for ETAs to undertake intensive independent research or to engage in extensive work with non-governmental organizations that would interfere with their teaching duties. However, ETAs are encouraged to seek out opportunities for cultural enrichment and professional development, including community service, to enhance their overall Fulbright experience as cultural ambassadors. A grantee's first responsibility is to their Vietnamese host institution. Teaching or otherwise working for for-profit organizations is not permitted.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Cost of living varies from location to location. It also depends on whether ETAs cook or eat out. Generally, cost of living in provinces is lower than that in metropolitan cities.
Dependents
ETAs cannot be accompanied by dependents.
Housing Arrangements
The host institution is responsible for arranging and providing free housing with water and electricity bills to the ETA during the 9 months that they teach in their placement. The host institution is required to arrange for the ETA to stay in his/ her own room at the guesthouse or dormitory on campus equipped with an air conditioner, in-room Internet access, a fridge, a washing machine, a kitchen or kitchen corner, a separate attached bathroom with a water heating unit. These requirements apply to all host institutions; however, the actual accommodation provided often varies from institution to institution depending on local conditions. Some considerations which some, but not all previous grantees have experienced include:
There may not be a real kitchen in your room, but rather a cooking corner (you may have a desk on which you put cooking utensils)
The kitchen/cooking space is not inside your room. It is located in another room which could be next to yours, on the same floor, or in same building as your room.
You may share this kitchen with other guests of the host institution staying on-campus.
You may share a washing machine with other guests.
You may share a fridge with other guests.
At times, depending on the weather and local conditions, there may be insects such as ants, bees, moths, geckos, cockroaches, and rats (more uncommon but occasionally possible) in your room.
There may be mold present in your room during humid months.
Wifi may not be reliable.
You may not have a separate sink to wash your food or dishes.
Your room may be located on school grounds at the dormitory near other students. School dorms will have curfews where they will lock the front gate at a certain time, leaving teachers to find alternative solutions.
Your room may be very noisy at times because students may live adjacent to, above, below your room, or your room may share a wall with the school canteen, common areas, or gymnasium.
Nature of Assignment
Fulbright ETAs work up to 30 hours per week. This includes 14 hours leading interactive lessons focusing on listening, speaking, and pronunciation for diverse learners. ETAS may teach/co-teach a range of individuals, including full-time students in different fields such as English and STEM as well as teachers. Beyond the classroom, ETAs have 14 hours for lesson planning, designing test materials, and grading as well as actively immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture. To ensure a fulfilling experience for both ETAs and students, classes organized for-profit training purposes or focused on specific purposes like IELTS/TOEFL/TOEIC/SAT preparation are not included in the program design. Additionally, 2 hours are dedicated to your Vietnamese language journey, allowing you to foster deeper connections with the local community.
Independent study
Applicants are not asked to plan an independent study or research project as part of their grant. English Teaching Assistantships are different from study/research awards, and teaching-related activities take up most of the grantees’ time. Applicants will have opportunities to pursue independent activities to enrich their time in Vietnam, but this will occur on the sidelines of their primary duties within the school placement. The Statement of Grant Purpose should focus on why the applicant wishes to participate in the program in Vietnam and how he/she will make it a memorable cultural experience.
Visa
The host institutions are responsible for obtaining the visa approval letter for the ETAs and will cover all necessary expenses for this process. Once the approval is received, ETAs need to prepare all required documentation for the visa issuance process and cover all expenses related to their passport and visa stamp/page. We request that all host institutions apply for a full-length, work, multiple-entry visa for ETAs. However, since visa application procedures vary by location and are subject to different regulations, your visa may be approved for one month, three months, six months, or longer; it may be single or multiple entry; and it may be issued in the U.S. or upon arrival, depending on the situation and regulations at the time of application. The Fulbright Program in Vietnam collaborates closely with ETAs and host institutions before and during the visa application process to ensure that ETAs can complete the full duration of their grant and works with ETAs experiencing visa.
Special Considerations
Local attitudes can be different than in the United States and can often be surprising and unsettling. Candidates should be prepared to negotiate these cultural differences in their communities with maturity and diplomacy. Since ETAs will sometimes be the only foreigners at their site, they may experience street harassment from locals who are unaccustomed to seeing foreigners. Adjusting to local cultural norms can be one of the greatest challenges for many ETAs, and applicants should carefully consider whether they are prepared for that. The Fulbright program in Vietnam has no higher priority than the safety and wellbeing of its grantees. Support is available for all grantees from the Fulbright Program in Vietnam, the host institution and ASPE ASSIST, a mental health consultant and referral service hotline.
Transportation
The host institution is responsible for providing the ETA with an electric bike. Some schools are willing to provide a motorbike under 50cc to the ETA though it is not a program requirement. In case ETA wishes to drive a motorbike 50cc or over, they must follow Vietnamese law and take an examination in Vietnamese to obtain a Vietnamese driver’s license. ETAs must sign a Driving Safety Commitment required by the Fulbright Program in Vietnam upon their arrival in Vietnam. ETAs should also be aware of the following circumstances which have arisen with grantees:
The school is not allowed to spend money for an asset like the electric bike so they may acquire one through local contacts, including borrowing one.
They can provide the ETA with transportation, but it is a normal bike only.
The electric bike/motorbike they provide you with may not be as modern as you expect.
You may need to buy an electronic bike (new or used) with your own money if transportation does not work out as anticipated.
Restriction
The primary activity of this program is assisting in teaching English as a foreign language, so it is generally not possible for ETAs to undertake intensive independent research or to engage in extensive work with non-governmental organizations that would interfere with their teaching duties. However, ETAs are encouraged to seek out opportunities for cultural enrichment and professional development, including community service, to enhance their overall Fulbright experience as cultural ambassadors.
A grantee's first responsibility is to their Vietnamese host institution. Teaching or otherwise working for for-profit organizations is not permitted.
ETAs will have approved vacation time during school breaks as defined by their host institution and Vietnamese public holidays, including an approximately week-long break during the Lunar New Year (Tet). The use of leave time outside school breaks and Vietnamese public holidays may not be possible as it will depend on the school. Candidates should not apply for or accept this award unless they are able to commit to this academic schedule.
Renewal ETA Program
As of AY 2023 – 2024, Fulbright Vietnam has implemented the Renewal ETA Program which provides an opportunity for two current ETAs to stay another academic year in Vietnam. We will also offer this opportunity to AY 2026 - 2027 ETAs. The Renewal ETA grantees will work and live in Hanoi for an additional academic year, starting from August 2027 through May 2028.
Renewal ETAs will work at a host institution for 15 hours per week, including 10 hours of teaching and 5 hours for other activities. Additionally, the renewal ETA will serve as a resource to support the Fulbright ETA program in Vietnam, including assisting in onboarding incoming ETAs, assisting in organizing activities for ETAs, coaching and mentoring incoming ETAs on teaching and cultural adaptation, promoting the ETA program on social media and through media engagement, developing new initiatives to support the ETA program, and answering inquiries from prospective ETAs. Additionally, renewal ETAs may provide support for other Fulbright and Embassy initiatives.
Renewal ETAs will be granted with a base amount to cover round-trip travel to and from Vietnam, settling-in and excess baggage, monthly stipend including housing allowance during the grant period, accident & Sickness Health Benefits and visa sponsorship by Vietnamese host institution.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Fulbright Program Management Contact at IIE : FBstudent.EAP@iie.org