Can Vietnamese students use De An 89 for internships in Europe?

Yes. De An 89 (Project 89) covers overseas training and internship-style placements at universities, research institutions, and companies worldwide, including Europe. Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the UK are among the most popular De An 89 destinations for Vietnamese students. The host organisation must be a recognised institution and able to provide official documentation of the placement.

Does the host company need to be pre-approved by the Vietnamese government?

No, there is no fixed pre-approved list of host companies. The host must be a legitimate, recognised organisation -- a university, research institution, government body, or established company -- that can provide: an official acceptance letter on letterhead, confirmation of a named supervisor, a description of the training or research programme, and a certificate of completion at the end. MOET reviewers assess each host on a case-by-case basis.

How long does a De An 89 placement need to be?

De An 89 placements are typically 3 to 24 months. Short-term research visits (3-6 months) are common for postgraduate students. The minimum duration depends on the specific programme type: for training or research visits, 3 months is typically the minimum. Placements shorter than 3 months are generally not funded under De An 89 -- students in this category should look at other MOET short-term grant programmes.

Can I combine De An 89 funding with Erasmus+?

In principle yes, since De An 89 is a Vietnamese government grant and Erasmus+ is a European programme. However, you must disclose both funding sources and confirm with both parties that double-funding of the same cost category (e.g. both paying living allowance for the same months) is permitted. De An 89 funds travel and living support from the Vietnamese side; an Erasmus+ grant at the host university is a separate European instrument. Confirm with VIED and the host university before proceeding.

Which countries are included in De An 89's highest stipend tier?

Countries classified as high-cost destinations under De An 89 include the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Japan, and Singapore -- these receive the highest living allowance tier of approximately USD 1,800-2,000 per month. Western European countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden) fall in the mid-tier at USD 1,400-1,700 per month. Eastern European countries and some Southeast Asian destinations fall in the lower tier.

De An 89 Scholarship for Overseas Internships 2026: Vietnamese Students Complete Guide

Vietnam's Project 89 -- formally De an nang cao nang luc doi ngu giang vien, can bo quan ly cac co so giao duc dai hoc (Decree 89) -- funds domestic university lecturers and postgraduate students for overseas training placements with monthly stipends of USD 1,200 to USD 2,000 depending on the destination country in 2026. The programme is administered by MOET (Ministry of Education and Training) through VIED (Vietnam International Education Development).

This guide covers who qualifies in 2026, the exact funding amounts by destination region, the step-by-step application process, and how De An 89 compares to other Vietnamese government scholarships. For students going to Europe, also read our companion guide on Erasmus+ ICM scholarships for Vietnamese students -- the two programmes can complement each other for European placements.

What is De An 89 (Project 89)?

De An 89 was originally established to improve the qualifications of Vietnamese university faculty through overseas doctoral studies and postdoctoral training. The programme was significantly expanded in 2020 and again under updated MOET regulations in 2023, now covering:

Full doctoral programmes abroad (the original purpose)
Postdoctoral research stays (3-24 months)
Master's degree programmes abroad
Short-term specialised training and research visits (3-12 months) -- this is the category most relevant for internship-adjacent placements
Faculty development programmes at overseas universities

For students and early-career researchers, the "short-term training and research visit" category under De An 89 is the most accessible route for gaining overseas laboratory, research, or professional experience in 2026 -- equivalent to what other countries call an overseas internship or traineeship.

See how students present their international experience using a real example profile on our platform to understand what host universities and companies internationally look for.

Who qualifies for De An 89 in 2026?

Primary target group: Full-time lecturers and academic staff at Vietnamese public universities. Must be under 45 years old for doctoral programmes; no upper age limit for short-term training.
Postgraduate students: Master's and PhD candidates enrolled at Vietnamese public universities whose home institution nominates them. The nomination from your institution's leadership is mandatory -- you cannot apply to MOET directly without institutional endorsement.
Language requirement: Minimum B2 English (IELTS 6.0 equivalent, TOEFL iBT 79+) for English-language destinations. French B2 for France; German B2 for Germany. Language certificates must be valid (issued within 2 years of application).
Academic standing: For postgraduate students, a strong academic record is expected. The home institution selection committee typically uses internal GPA thresholds.
Institutional endorsement: Your rector or department head must formally nominate you. Institutions receive an annual quota from MOET for De An 89 nominations -- check with your international office how many slots your institution has.

Important: Private university students and students at non-public institutions do not qualify for De An 89. Look at VIED's other programmes (including bilateral government scholarships and MOET short-term grants) if you are enrolled at a private institution.

How much does De An 89 provide in 2026?

Destination region	Example countries	Monthly living allowance (USD)	Travel grant
Tier 1 -- Highest cost	USA, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore, Japan, Australia	USD 1,800 - 2,000	Up to USD 3,000 return
Tier 2 -- High cost	Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Ireland	USD 1,400 - 1,700	Up to USD 2,500 return
Tier 3 -- Medium cost	Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, South Korea, Canada	USD 1,200 - 1,400	Up to USD 2,000 return
Tier 4 -- Lower cost	Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Eastern European countries	USD 800 - 1,200	Up to USD 1,500 return

In addition to the living allowance and travel grant, De An 89 may also cover: tuition or enrolment fees at the host institution (if applicable), health insurance, and visa fees (reimbursed on submission of receipts). Total support for a 6-month placement in Germany can reach USD 12,000-15,000 including travel.

How to apply -- step by step

Contact your university's international office (Phong Hop tac Quoc te). Ask about the De An 89 nomination window for 2026-2027. Institutions typically nominate candidates between January and April for placements starting in the second half of the year.
Secure an acceptance from your host organisation first. MOET requires proof that the host organisation abroad has agreed to receive you. This is an offer letter or acceptance email on official letterhead, naming the supervisor and programme duration. Use our free internship toolkit to prepare your materials before approaching overseas universities and research labs.
Prepare your application package: (a) Completed MOET application form (available from VIED website or your institutional office), (b) Host organisation acceptance letter, (c) Language proficiency certificate (IELTS/TOEFL), (d) Academic transcripts, (e) Institutional nomination letter signed by your rector, (f) Passport copy, (g) Research/training plan describing what you will do at the host institution.
Submit through your institution, not directly to MOET. Your international office aggregates all institutional nominations and forwards them to MOET by the national submission deadline.
MOET review: 4-6 months from submission. VIED contacts you directly if additional information is needed. Successful applicants receive a formal scholarship decision letter.
Pre-departure: Attend the mandatory MOET pre-departure orientation (Hoi nghi trien khai). Apply for your visa only after receiving the official scholarship letter -- this letter helps with visa applications in most countries.
Post-placement report: Within 3 months of returning, submit a mandatory report to MOET through your institution. Failure to submit results in partial repayment of the scholarship.

De An 89 vs. other Vietnamese government scholarships

Programme	Who it targets	Amount	Key distinction
De An 89 (Project 89)	Public university staff and postgrad students	USD 1,200-2,000/month + travel	Institutional nomination required; focuses on faculty development
VIED bilateral scholarships	Undergraduates and postgrads	Varies by country agreement	Country-specific quotas; managed via bilateral treaties
VinIF scholarship (Vingroup)	STEM postgrads and researchers	USD 1,500-3,000/month	Private funder; STEM focus; competitive; no institutional quota
Erasmus+ ICM	Students at EU-partnered Vietnamese universities	EUR 700-1,000/month	Requires your Vietnamese university to have an active Erasmus+ ICM agreement with the specific European university

The practical strategy for Vietnamese postgraduate students targeting Europe: apply for De An 89 through your institution for the primary living allowance, and check whether your home university has an Erasmus+ ICM agreement with your target European university -- Erasmus+ ICM can provide a separate European-side top-up grant. For more on Erasmus+ options from Vietnam, see our guide on ERASMUS+ ICM scholarships for Vietnamese students 2026.

When to apply for placements starting in late 2026

Vietnamese postgraduate students targeting overseas placements in August-December 2026 are now in the critical planning window. MOET nomination deadlines typically fall in April-June. If your institution's internal selection window for De An 89 nominations has not yet closed, contact your Phong Hop tac Quoc te this week.

Securing the host acceptance letter is the most time-consuming step. Start your outreach to overseas universities and research labs at least 4-6 months before your intended start date. Register on our platform to connect with international companies and universities that actively welcome Vietnamese researchers and students.