U.S. tuition is high. For the 2026‑27 year, out‑of‑state public colleges charge about $26,034, while private schools average $46,973, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Cuong’s parents can only afford roughly VND300‑400 million (US$11,500‑15,400) a year, a budget that makes American fees difficult to meet.

Students also like Asian campuses because they are modern, close to Vietnam and save on travel costs. Tran Minh Trang, a 10th‑grader, said Asia feels friendly, offers good education and still lets her study in English.

Le Dieu Linh, deputy director of Summit Education, noted a growing shift: in the past one to two years, 30‑40 % of its students have considered Asian schools alongside the U.S., showing both options are still on the table.

Vietnamese interest in the University of Hong Kong has surged. Admissions representative Vu Hai Truong said applications rose from one in 2022 to three in 2023, 30 in 2024 and 300 this year, with 192 students admitted.

U.S. visa rules have tightened. Counselors explained that new guidance limits curricular practical training for internships, and a $100,000 fee on new H‑1B petitions makes employers hesitant to hire foreign graduates.

Asian universities base admission mainly on GPA and certificates. Nguyen Thuy Linh of the Singapore Institute of Management said most schools require at least a 7.0/10 GPA and an IELTS 6.0 score, and Vu Hai Truong added that HKU lowered its minimum GPA for Vietnamese applicants from 8.0 to 7.0.

These factors—higher American tuition, stricter visa policies and easier Asian entry requirements—are reshaping where Vietnamese students choose to study abroad.