Which University in Vietnam Is the Cheapest for International Students?

There is no single Vietnamese university that can reliably be called the cheapest university in Vietnam for international students across every degree. Tuition depends on the programme, nationality, scholarship status and whether the university applies a separate fee schedule to foreign students.

For students interested in medicine and health sciences, public medical universities are generally the first places to investigate if keeping costs low is important. Institutions such as Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy and other public medical schools are typically positioned very differently from premium private institutions such as VinUniversity.

The important complication is that several Vietnamese medical universities publish detailed admissions information for foreign students without publishing a simple current international tuition figure alongside it. For that reason, a responsible comparison should distinguish published prices from universities that merely appear likely to be affordable.

Which university is cheapest for international students in Vietnam?

There is currently no defensible single answer for all international students because Vietnamese universities do not use one standard foreign-student tuition rate.

Among health-focused institutions, Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy is one of the public universities worth checking first for a lower-cost medical degree. It explicitly accepts foreign undergraduate students into programmes including:

• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Preventive Medicine
• Odonto-Stomatology
• Nursing
• Medical Laboratory Technology

Its international admissions information confirms that self-funded foreign students can apply directly.

However, the university's current English admissions page does not publish a 2026 annual tuition figure for these full degrees. It would therefore be misleading to state that Thai Nguyen is definitively the cheapest without obtaining the current international-student quotation directly from the university.

If medicine is your priority, compare it with the institutions in Best Medical Schools in Vietnam rather than selecting a university solely from a general list of cheap Vietnamese universities.

Why public medical universities are usually cheaper

Vietnam's public universities receive state support and operate within national tuition regulations, although some have greater financial autonomy than others.

This generally makes conventional public programmes much cheaper than premium private or international universities.

The difference can be particularly large in medicine.

At the premium end of the market, VinUniversity currently lists tuition of approximately:

• 349,650,000 VND per academic year for Bachelor of Nursing
• 815,850,000 VND per academic year for Doctor of Medicine

Those are listed tuition rates before considering scholarships or financial aid.

Public medical universities can operate at a very different price level, although international applicants need to confirm whether the domestic tuition schedule also applies to them.

Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy is particularly interesting for international students because it has a dedicated foreign undergraduate admission route.

The university currently offers international applicants access to six major health programmes:

• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Preventive Medicine
• Odonto-Stomatology
• Nursing
• Medical Laboratory Technology

Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Odonto-Stomatology have a standard duration of six years. Pharmacy lasts five years, while Nursing and Medical Laboratory Technology normally take four years.

The main limitation for many foreign students is language. The university states that the programmes are taught in Vietnamese and normally requires foreign applicants to reach Vietnamese proficiency at level B2, equivalent to level 4 of Vietnam's six-level language framework, unless an exemption applies.

Students without the required Vietnamese level may need preparatory language study before beginning the degree.

That language requirement can add time and cost, so a lower tuition fee does not automatically produce the lowest total cost of qualification.

Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy is another established public medical institution worth considering when affordability matters.

The university publishes annual tuition decisions for its undergraduate programmes and operates within Vietnam's public higher education system.

It offers programmes across medicine and other healthcare disciplines, and Hue itself generally has lower everyday living costs than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

That can matter significantly over a five or six-year medical degree.

A student paying slightly more tuition in a lower-cost city could still spend less overall than someone attending a nominally cheaper programme in central Ho Chi Minh City.

International applicants should ask the university specifically for:

• International undergraduate tuition
• Programme language
• Vietnamese-language requirements
• Accommodation options
• Additional clinical training fees
• Health insurance requirements

Hanoi Medical University

Hanoi Medical University is one of Vietnam's most established medical universities and a major option for students comparing public medical education.

Its reputation and location make it attractive, but Hanoi is also one of Vietnam's more expensive cities for rent and daily living.

This means students should compare the total six-year cost, not only annual tuition.

If you specifically want to study in the capital, Vietnam Clinic also has a separate guide to medical universities in Hanoi, which can help compare the city's medical education options.

University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

The University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City is another major public medical institution.

Its published 2026 to 2027 postgraduate tuition demonstrates how fees vary by subject. For postgraduate students, current annual fees include approximately:

• 73.5 million VND for medicine
• 73.5 million VND for odonto-stomatology
• 73.5 million VND for pharmacy
• 58.5 million VND for nursing and medical technology
• 51.5 million VND for public health

These figures are postgraduate fees and should not be treated as undergraduate international tuition. They are useful mainly for showing the broad price level at a major public medical university compared with premium private medical education.

Foreign undergraduate applicants should request the applicable international fee directly.

Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine

Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City also publishes relatively transparent programme fees.

For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, its Pharmacy programme lists tuition of:

• 68 million VND for first-year students
• 60.8 million VND per year for students in years two to five under the standard programme schedule

Its Medicine programme with enhanced English currently lists expected tuition of approximately 97 million VND per year for 2026 to 2027.

These figures are useful benchmarks for Vietnamese medical education, but they should not automatically be interpreted as international-student rates. Foreign applicants need to confirm eligibility and the applicable fee schedule directly with the university.

Is VinUniversity cheap for international medical students?

No, not at its published full tuition price.

VinUniversity operates in a different segment of the market from Vietnam's traditional public medical schools.

Its listed annual tuition for the Doctor of Medicine programme is 815.85 million VND, while Nursing is 349.65 million VND per year.

However, VinUniversity offers scholarships and financial aid, which can significantly change the amount an individual student actually pays.

A large scholarship could therefore make an expensive university competitive with a cheaper public university for a particular student.

Always compare net tuition after confirmed scholarships, not the advertised tuition alone.

What about pharmacy and health science degrees?

Students who want a healthcare career but do not specifically need a medical degree have more options.

Programmes such as:

• Nursing
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Public Health
• Nutrition
• Preventive Medicine

can be shorter or cheaper than a six-year medicine programme.

Physiotherapy students can also compare institutions in Best Physiotherapy Universities in Vietnam.

The cheapest health degree is therefore not necessarily the cheapest university. Tuition differs by programme even within the same institution.

Tuition is not the only cost international students should compare

A university with low tuition can become expensive if accommodation and living costs are high.

Calculate the complete annual budget, including:

• Tuition
• University application fees
• Vietnamese-language preparation
• Student visa expenses
• Accommodation
• Food
• Health insurance
• Transport
• Textbooks
• Medical equipment
• Clinical clothing
• Laboratory fees
• Examination costs

For medicine, multiply these costs across the full six-year programme.

This is particularly important when comparing Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City with smaller cities such as Thai Nguyen or Hue.

Language can determine which cheap university is realistic

One of the biggest barriers for international medical students in Vietnam is not tuition but language.

Many of the country's lower-cost public medical degrees are taught mainly in Vietnamese.

This is especially important once clinical training begins because students need to communicate with patients, doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

An English-speaking international student therefore cannot assume that a cheap Vietnamese medical programme is immediately accessible.

Before applying, confirm:

• Teaching language
• Required Vietnamese level
• Whether a preparatory language year is necessary
• Language used in examinations
• Language used during hospital placements

Can international students get scholarships in Vietnam?

Yes. Scholarships can substantially reduce the cost of studying in Vietnam.

Potential sources include:

• Vietnamese government scholarships
• University merit scholarships
• Bilateral education agreements
• Scholarships for students from particular countries
• Institutional financial aid

Some students from countries that have educational agreements with Vietnam may study under very different financial conditions from self-funded applicants.

This makes nationality an important factor when answering which university is cheapest.

Is medical school in Vietnam cheap compared with other countries?

Public medical education in Vietnam can be relatively affordable compared with full international tuition at medical schools in countries such as the United States, Australia or the United Kingdom.

However, cost should not be the only reason to study medicine abroad.

International students must also check whether the Vietnamese qualification will allow them to obtain medical registration in the country where they eventually want to practise.

Consider:

• Recognition of the university
• Medical licensing requirements at home
• Clinical training quality
• Language
• Programme length
• Internship requirements
• Licensing examinations after graduation

Vietnam Clinic's guide to Medical School Cost in Vietnam provides a broader explanation of tuition and the full cost of medical education.

Which university should a budget-conscious international medical student check first?

For a student primarily concerned with keeping costs low, public medical universities should generally be investigated before premium private institutions.

Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a particularly practical starting point because it explicitly publishes an admissions route for self-funded foreign students in Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and several other health programmes.

Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy is another potentially cost-effective public option, particularly when living expenses are considered.

However, neither should be labelled the definitive cheapest for 2026 without obtaining the current international tuition rate for the exact programme.

The safest process is:

1. Shortlist public medical universities that accept foreign students.
2. Ask each international office for the complete 2026 to 2027 fee schedule.
3. Confirm whether tuition is different for foreign students.
4. Add language preparation and living costs.
5. Compare the total cost over the entire degree.
6. Verify recognition of the qualification in the country where you plan to work.

So, which university in Vietnam is the cheapest for international students?

There is no verified single cheapest university for every foreign student or every health degree.

For medicine and health sciences, Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy is one of the strongest low-cost public options to investigate, particularly because it explicitly admits foreign students into full Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and related degrees. But its current international undergraduate tuition needs to be confirmed directly before calling it the cheapest.

Public universities such as Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy and other major state medical schools are also likely to be much more affordable at standard tuition levels than premium private institutions such as VinUniversity.

If your goal is medical school rather than university in general, compare programmes in Best Medical Schools in Vietnam and request written international tuition quotations from your shortlisted universities before making a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy: Admission Information for Foreign Undergraduate Students
2. VinUniversity: Financial Regulations and Tuition Fees
3. Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine: Pharmacy Tuition 2026-2027
4. Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine: Enhanced English Medicine Programme 2026-2027
5. Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy: Undergraduate Tuition 2026-2027
6. University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City: Postgraduate Tuition 2026-2027