Vietnam responds to reports of the U.S. halting student visa interviews

On May 29, during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' regular briefing, a reporter raised a question about the potential impact on Vietnamese students planning to study in the U.S. following reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered all U.S. embassies worldwide to stop scheduling new visa interviews for international students.

In response, spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam's representative agencies in the U.S. are working with the U.S. counterparts to verify the information.

According to Ms. Pham Thu Hang, this is the time of year when many students around the world, including from Vietnam, are preparing to apply for visas to study in the United States, either through self-funded programs or scholarships.

"We hope that the process of visa interviews and issuance for Vietnamese students will proceed smoothly, so that education continues to be one of the key pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States," the spokesperson said.

In response to a question regarding Vietnam's position and the impact on Vietnamese students following President Donald Trump's announcement barring Harvard University from enrolling international students—and requiring current international students to either transfer or lose their legal status in the U.S.—Ms. Pham Thu Hang affirmed:

"Vietnam hopes that the United States will continue to facilitate participation by Vietnamese students, teachers, scholars, and experts in educational and training programs in the U.S., including at prestigious and high-quality universities, in alignment with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States, for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development."

Regarding the issue of the Trump administration requiring international students at Harvard University to transfer to other institutions, she reiterated:

"Vietnam hopes that the United States will continue to facilitate participation by Vietnamese students, teachers, scholars, and experts in educational and training programs in the U.S., including at prestigious and high-quality universities, in alignment with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States, for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development."