As of April 1st, 2019, Vietnam has the second highest number of students studying in the Republic of Korea (RoK), behind only China. According to statistics released by the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI), there are 37,490 Vietnamese students currently enrolled in universities and colleges in the RoK. This places Vietnam ahead of other popular destinations for Korean international students such as the United States, Canada, and Japan. The high number of Vietnamese students in the RoK can mainly be attributed to the scholarships and programs offered by the Korean government and universities to Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. These programs aim to strengthen cultural connections and language skills between the two countries, and to help develop talent in the region.