An advertisement claiming that students can send home VND100 million (approximately US$4,000) every month after taxes and expenses through vocational study abroad programs is misleading. As someone living and working in Munich, Germany, I have observed that these programs are often portrayed in an unrealistically positive way. Many young people in Vietnam are easily influenced by exaggerated promises.
Typically, students seeking vocational training overseas come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, may not have strong academic records, and often lack the experience or resources to critically evaluate promotional claims or research life abroad independently.
Despite this, advertisements lure students with promises such as “You can earn and send home VND100 million each month after taxes and expenses.” Such claims are unrealistic. Even with a formal university degree in Germany, fluent German, and decades of experience, earning enough to send home that amount monthly is unlikely.
Many of my friends, who were top students in specialized schools in Vietnam, studied at prestigious institutions like TUM and LMU in Germany and now work at well-known companies such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Intel, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Despite their credentials, managing daily expenses is still challenging, let alone sending large sums home regularly.
For vocational students abroad, the qualifications are typically equivalent to vocational or intermediate-level education in Vietnam. During the three-year vocational training, students usually earn about 900-1,300 euros before taxes each month. After graduation, starting salaries range from roughly 2,200 to 3,800 euros before taxes. These figures contrast sharply with the exaggerated promises seen in advertisements.
I do not discourage students from studying abroad but advise young people to be cautious and conduct thorough research before making decisions. Reality often differs greatly from the attractive agency advertisements. It is important to avoid investing heavily only to face disappointment after arriving overseas.
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