Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

After a year online, we are bringing back in-person meetings inTBD. Keeping in mind the safety of ourselves and our members and ASU guidelines, we will be requiring masks in our meetings no matter the vaccination status!

There is no fee to become a member! All you have to do is attend a meeting or social to start your VSA journey. People of all backgrounds are welcome, so you do not have to be Vietnamese to join!

VSA is a part of many larger organizations, enabling our members to expand their network and connections to others across ASU and even across the continent. Within the ASU community, VSA is a member organization of both the Asian/Asian Pacific American Student Coalition (AAPASC) and the Coalition of International Students (CIS). VSA is also a part of the regional Southwest Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (SWUVSA) and the continental Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations (UNAVSA). VSA members participate in events hosted by these umbrella organizations, as well as in local ones.

Joining VSA allows opportunities to build friendships and deeper connections, while enriching cultural understanding. VSA members enjoy social events such as the Spicy Ramen Challenge and Winter Retreat, and simultaneously learn Vietnamese vocabulary, traditions, and games. For those looking to expand their network, VSA offers opportunities to attend regional and continental leadership conferences (hosted by SWUVSA and UNAVSA, respectively), where members can attend professional and cultural workshops, and meet fellow VSA members from across the continent!

The Southwest Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (SWUVSA) is a regional VSA that seeks to connect VSA members from across the Southwest. SWUVSA specifically includes ASU; University of Arizona; University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Colorado, Denver; and University of Utah. SWUVSA, along with many other regional VSAs, is a part of the larger organization UNAVSA. SWUVSA’s regional leadership conferences are referred to as “APEX,” wherein VSA members of the region congregate together to enjoy group bonding and to attend professional and cultural workshops.

The Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations is the continental umbrella organization of VSAs that seeks to connect VSA members from across the North American continent, which includes Canada and the USA. UNAVSA consists of regions Southern California, Northern California, Northwest, Southwest, South, Gulf Coast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, Northeast, and Eastern Canada. All VSAs in these regions fall under UNAVSA. UNAVSA is a non-profit, community-based organization that annually selects a beneficiary for the Collective Philanthropy Project (CPP). All VSAs share the goal of fundraising for donations toward the chosen beneficiary of the year, which is usually a humanitarian organization seeking to aid the needy in Vietnam. UNAVSA hosts annual leadership conferences where executive board elections take place and the annual beneficiary is selected, on top of events such as workshops and bonding activities.