Financial Planning for International Students in Vietnam
Studying abroad means navigating unfamiliar banking systems, currency exchange rates, and budget planning. We help international students understand Vietnamese financial structures so you can focus on your education instead of worrying about money management.
Our team has worked with students from over 30 countries since 2019. We know the specific challenges you face when your home currency fluctuates against the Vietnamese Dong, or when you're trying to figure out if your savings will last the semester.
Most students who contact us are dealing with real concerns about monthly expenses, unexpected costs, and planning for the full duration of their studies. These aren't abstract problems—they affect your ability to stay in Vietnam and complete your degree.
What Actually Happens With Student Finances
Here's something we see constantly: students arrive with what seems like adequate funding, then discover their budget assumptions were based on outdated information or didn't account for Ho Chi Minh City's actual cost structure.
Rent varies wildly depending on district. A studio in District 1 might cost three times what you'd pay in District 12. Food costs depend entirely on whether you're eating at local cafeterias or international restaurants. Transportation adds up differently if you're taking Grab everywhere versus using a motorbike.
We work through these specifics with you. Not general advice—actual numbers based on where you'll be living and studying. Some students need help setting up Vietnamese bank accounts that work with their home country transfers. Others need strategies for managing money when their parents send funds irregularly.
Who You'll Actually Work With
Our advisors aren't just financial experts—they've either studied abroad themselves or have spent years specifically helping international students. They understand the visa financial requirements, the scholarship disbursement schedules, and the real monthly costs in different areas of the city.
Rowan Fletcher
Student Financial Planning
Desmond Holt
Currency & Transfer Specialist
How The Process Actually Works
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all approaches. Your financial situation is specific to your scholarship status, home country, program length, and personal circumstances. Here's how we typically work through it together.
Initial Financial Assessment
We review your total available funds, expected income sources, scholarship disbursement schedule, and program duration. Then we map out your fixed costs—tuition payments, visa renewals, housing deposits, insurance premiums. What's left becomes your working budget for everything else.
Banking Setup & Transfer Systems
We help you open the right type of Vietnamese bank account, set up mobile banking, and establish reliable transfer methods from your home country. This includes comparing transfer services, understanding exchange rate impacts, and creating backup options for when something goes wrong.
Monthly Budget Framework
We build a realistic monthly spending plan based on actual prices in your specific area of Ho Chi Minh City. This covers housing, food, transportation, phone service, utilities, and discretionary spending. We also identify which expenses you can reduce if needed and which are fixed.
Quarterly Check-ins
Every three months, we review how your actual spending compares to the plan. Prices change, your needs evolve, and unexpected expenses appear. These sessions let us adjust your strategy before small problems become serious financial stress.
Ready to Sort Out Your Finances?
We're accepting new students for consultations starting September 2025. Initial assessments take about 90 minutes and happen either at our Tân Bình office or via video call. The first consultation costs 800,000 VND and includes a personalized budget framework you can start using immediately.
Schedule Your Consultation