In 2025, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) maintained a coordinated student-support framework to reduce the risk of student food insecurity and hunger, particularly for students from poor or near-poor households, other disadvantaged backgrounds, and families affected by natural disasters. The framework combined three ongoing measures: access to safe, affordable food on campus; financial and essential living-cost support; and emergency assistance when unexpected events disrupted household livelihoods.
These interventions were coordinated by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), campus facilities and dormitory management, the Youth Union and Student Association, and UEH Mekong. Tuition assistance and accommodation-fee waivers relieved pressure on essential living expenses; direct distributions of food, Tet gifts and necessities addressed immediate needs; and university canteens continued to offer safe food at reasonable prices.
In 2025, UEH awarded 784 needs-based study-support scholarships worth approximately VND 7 billion, including 95 scholarships for students from poor or near-poor households. Businesses and other partners funded another 344 scholarships, some supporting living expenses. UEH maintained its campus catering services and extended emergency relief to students affected by storms and floods. Regular and crisis-response assistance together helped students retain resources for essential needs, including daily meals.
Source – UEH Student Care Board, report on the results of supporting disadvantaged students in 2025:
These programs help reduce financial pressure and support students in maintaining essential living conditions, including daily food needs.
| Programme | Object | Deployment | Result |
| Safe and affordable food sources on campus (Green University Food Policy) | All students and staff at UEH campuses, dormitories, and UEH Mekong. | In 2025, UEH continued to maintain its canteen system and food service at its campuses to meet the daily dining needs of students with the criteria of safety, quality, and reasonable prices.
According to the Green Campus Practice Regulations, which are publicly available and applied at UEH, Article 6, Clause 1 requires that food be purchased from suppliers with food safety certificates and traceable origins; priority should be given to local, organic, or appropriately certified food. Article 17, Clause 1 stipulates that units providing goods and services at UEH must supply healthy food at reasonable prices. In addition, during the Food Safety Action Month from April 15th to May 15th, 2025, UEH implemented communication activities to guide students in selecting, preparing, and using safe food and maintaining a balanced diet. Source – Green University Practice Regulations, Article 6, paragraph 1 and Article 17, paragraph 1: https://gogreen.ueh.edu.vn/quy-dinh-thuc-hanh-dai-hoc-xanh
Image: The canteen ensures quality service, meeting the dining needs of students at the Nguyen Van Linh campus. Source of evidence: Nguyen Van Linh Campus – UEH’s green, smart, and international learning space (UEH Portal – page without a posting date, image uploaded September 13, 2025) – Original image file
Image: UEH students prepare their own delicious and nutritious meals. Source of evidence: Food Safety Action Month 2025 (UEH Portal, April 15, 2025) – Original image file |
UEH maintains an on-campus food service system and disseminates food safety knowledge to students. This is a solution to support regular access to food, while also complementing policies to assist students facing financial difficulties. |
| Financial and living assistance program for disadvantaged students – Student Support Services (DSA) | Students from disadvantaged backgrounds, students from poor or near-poor households, and other groups in need of financial assistance for tuition and living expenses. | In 2025, the Student Support Service (DSA) continued to operate the Academic Support Scholarship policy, awarding scholarships twice a year, in the first and final semesters, to students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds who meet the specified criteria. Students must apply and provide supporting documents regarding their family circumstances for consideration.
In addition to UEH’s scholarship resources, the University collaborates with businesses, organizations, and scholarship funds to implement student support programs; some programs include living expense support beyond tuition fees. At the same time, UEH provides tuition fee waivers and reductions, dormitory support, and emergency assistance programs for students facing financial crises, natural disasters, or other special difficulties. In addition, a mechanism to support living conditions was implemented in 2025 through a policy of reimbursing dormitory fees for students eligible for tuition fee exemptions and study cost support at the two UEH dormitories: 43–45 Nguyen Chi Thanh and 135 Tran Hung Dao. According to the DSA announcement for the first semester of 2025, eligible students will be guided to update their bank account information to receive the dormitory fee reimbursement. This activity demonstrates UEH’s implementation of living cost support according to specific procedures and target groups, contributing to reducing financial pressure on resident students. Source – DSA, announcement regarding the refund of boarding fees for the first semester of 2025: Source – Scholarship Policy and Application Process, DSA: https://dsa.ueh.edu.vn/tin-tuc/chinh-sach-hoc-bong/ Source – UEH Student Care Board, Report on supporting disadvantaged students in 2025: |
According to the summary report of DSA, UEH has implemented:
784 scholarships were awarded to support students’ studies, with a total value of approximately 7 billion VND; of which 95 scholarships, worth nearly 1.1 billion VND, were allocated to students from poor and near-poor households. 344 scholarships from partners, with a total value of nearly 4.8 billion VND; of which 248 scholarships, worth more than 3.3 billion VND, are for students from poor and near-poor households. 455 scholarships were awarded to students from poor and near-poor households, totaling approximately 6.3 billion VND; this includes a separate report on 53 scholarships for students from poor and near-poor households, worth 660 million VND. At the same time, UEH provides free dormitory accommodation for 31 students, including 3 Vietnamese students, 25 Laotian students, and 3 Cambodian students. Maintaining regular and ad hoc financial aid programs helps reduce the risk of financial shortfalls for students’ basic needs, including food, living expenses, and accommodation. |
| Collaborating with SATRA to bring affordable food and clean produce markets to students. | UEH students and staff; dormitory students; students from disadvantaged backgrounds (CEL Scholarship Fund). | On June 19, 2025, UEH and SATRA signed a cooperation agreement for the period 2025–2030, aiming to develop facilities serving the UEH community, strengthen welfare programs, and expand cooperation in training, employment, and social responsibility.
The agreement provides a basis for UEH and SATRA to research and develop solutions to improve the quality of services and access to essential goods for students, in line with the development orientation of a safe and affordable food supply system on the university campus. The two sides co-founded the CEL Scholarship Fund to support disadvantaged students.
Image: Overview of the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between UEH and SATRA Source of evidence: UEH and Saigon Trading Corporation – Limited Liability Company (SATRA) signed a cooperation agreement (UEH Portal, June 20, 2025) – Original image file |
The signing of the cooperation agreement between UEH and SATRA has been completed, forming a basis for long-term cooperation on amenities and benefits: vending machines, Satrafoods stores on campus; student discounts; “green hour” deals for lunch and dinner; and a mobile market at the dormitory with clean agricultural products.
Expand access to traceable, affordable food for students. Creating part-time jobs at over 180 Satrafoods stores helps students earn extra income. |
| The “Bright Future” scholarship is for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. | Students from disadvantaged backgrounds who strive to study and improve themselves. | The UEH Student Union mobilizes resources, including contributions from blood donation events (50,000 VND per donation).
On January 4th, 2025, six scholarships, each worth 4 million VND, were awarded at the program commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Students. Scholarships are awarded in several installments throughout the year.
Image: Six “Bright Future” scholarships awarded to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Source of evidence: Program commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Vietnamese Students and the Vietnam Student Union (January 9, 1950 – January 9, 2025) and the UEH 5-Good Student Award Ceremony 2024 (UEH Portal, January 9, 2025) – Original image file
Image: The “Bright Future” Scholarship Award Ceremony Source of evidence: UEH Youth Union – Student Association accompanying students in the journey of implementing UEH’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UEH Portal, February 8, 2026) – Original image file |
2025: 26 scholarships, with a total fundraising target of over 104 million VND.
Helping underprivileged students cover their living expenses so they can focus on their studies. |
| Emergency support program for students affected by storms, floods, and natural disasters in 2025. | Students whose permanent residence is in the 24 provinces and cities affected by typhoons No. 10 (Bualoi), 11, 12, and 13. | Early October 2025 (Phase 1, 19 provinces and cities): 10% reduction in tuition fees for the final semester of 2025; 100 scholarships (70 scholarships of 14 million VND, 30 scholarships of 12 million VND); extension of tuition payment deadline.
November 2025 (Phase 2): Expand to include Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong; add OCB loan package with 7.5%/year interest rate and UEH interest subsidy, and Sacombank 0% interest installment plan. Online scholarship registration is open from November 25th to December 5th, 2025; applications should be submitted to the Student Support Department.
Image: Information on the student support program for flood-affected areas in 2025.
Image: UEH expands its program to support students in flood-affected areas. Source of evidence: UEH expands its program to support students affected by storms, floods, and natural disasters in 2025 (UEH Portal, November 22, 2025)
Image: University reduces tuition fees by 10% for over 11,200 students in flood-affected areas. Source of evidence: University reduces tuition fees by 10% for over 11,200 students in flood-affected areas (VnExpress Newspaper) (UEH Portal – Press, November 24, 2025) Source 2 – DSA 2025 Results Report: |
Forms of support include partial tuition fee waivers, scholarships for severely affected students, extensions of tuition payment deadlines, and student credit solutions.
According to DSA’s 2025 implementation report, the program has recorded 10,925 tuition fee waivers with a total value of over 22 billion VND. Students reduce their financial burden and can maintain their living expenses when their families face natural disasters. |
| Tet gifts and essential supplies for disadvantaged students at UEH Mekong. | Students from disadvantaged backgrounds at UEH Mekong (Vinh Long). | The “Tet of Gratitude – Spring of Volunteerism” program in 2025 includes fundraising through the “Piggy Bank” campaign (January 6-20, 2025) and a fundraising music night organized by the club.
Giving Tet gifts and essential supplies to underprivileged students before the Tet holiday of the Year of the Snake.
Image: Giving Tet gifts at the “Tet of Gratitude – Spring of Volunteerism” program 2025 Source of evidence: UEH Mekong Student Union and Association organized the “Tet of Gratitude – Spring of Volunteerism” program in 2025 (UEH Mekong Portal, February 3, 2025) – Original image file |
30 Tet holiday gift packages for underprivileged students.
The total cost of the program was over 52.7 million VND. |
These examples confirm that UEH has a continuous and systematic program to prevent and mitigate food insecurity among students, from ensuring safe and affordable food sources to providing regular and emergency financial support.
Results of implementation and continuity of the student food security support program.
| Target | Actual results in 2025 |
| Students receive emergency assistance in the event of natural disasters. | 11,262 students, nearly 23 billion VND |
| “Bright Future” Scholarship | 26 scholarships, totaling over 104 million VND. |
| Tet gifts and essential supplies for underprivileged students. | 30 gifts (UEH Mekong) |
| The canteen applies safety and traceability standards. | 100% |
In 2025, UEH continued to maintain its support system for disadvantaged students through policies on tuition fees, accommodation, scholarships, provision of safe food, and essential support programs. The coordination between the Student Care Board, the facilities and dormitory management unit, and the Youth Union/Association demonstrates that activities to care for students’ essential living conditions are implemented at multiple levels, not just limited to emergency support.
Compared to 2024, when over 1,500 students received free or low-cost food, essential supplies, or meals, and 10 “Bright Future” scholarships were awarded, the scale of support in 2025 increased substantially: the number of “Bright Future” scholarships increased to 26, the emergency support program for flood-affected areas reached 11,262 students with nearly 23 billion VND in funding, and UEH will add a channel for accessing affordable food through cooperation with SATRA.
Following the support programs implemented in 2024, UEH continues to expand financial support and maintain activities caring for disadvantaged students in 2025. This demonstrates that UEH ensures no student has to study in a state of food insecurity, considering the care of students’ meals and well-being as part of its sustainable development mission, aiming towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Ending Hunger.