Vietnamese community
The Vietnamese community in Jonesboro: small, close-knit and growing
There is no "Little Saigon" in Jonesboro, and we will not pretend otherwise. What there is: an Asian grocery on the university shuttle route, a Multicultural Center active year-round, and Vietnamese students already on campus who are glad to show new arrivals the way.
An honest word about community size
A-State has more than 1,200 international students from 70+ countries; the Vietnamese group is still small and grows with each intake recruited through our admissions team. Families looking for the hundreds-strong Vietnamese student populations of Texas or California will not find that here — and for many of them that is exactly the point: a student has to use English every day and mix with American and international friends.
What a student arriving from Vietnam can expect: knowing most of the other Vietnamese students on campus within a semester, being shown the ropes by seniors — from buying a SIM to opening a bank account — cooking together on holidays and carpooling to Memphis. Our admissions team connects new students with current ones before departure.
Where to buy Vietnamese and other Asian ingredients
Asian Food Market — 2114 S Caraway Rd
Jonesboro’s main Asian grocery and a mainstay for A-State’s Asian and international students, on the international-student grocery shuttle route (Mon, Tue, Thu 4–7 pm; Sat 10 am–3 pm). Rice, fish sauce, rice noodles, dried phở noodles, seasonings, seasonal Asian vegetables and frozen goods.
Walmart, Kroger, Aldi
Large supermarkets on the same shuttle route: meat, fish, produce, room supplies. Walmart’s international aisle stocks soy sauce, Sriracha and instant noodles.
Memphis (1.5 hours)
For a fuller Vietnamese range (rice paper, fresh herbs, bánh mì, chả lụa), students carpool to Memphis on weekends — the city has a much larger Vietnamese community and restaurants.
Vietnamese food in town
Jonesboro has several Asian restaurants (Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean) and occasionally a place serving phở or bánh mì, but quality and availability change over time — we do not list names to avoid outdated information. In practice most Vietnamese students cook: Pack Place apartments and many halls have shared kitchens, and a 110V rice cooker costs about $20–30 at Walmart.
Source: A-State International Programs — Shopping shuttle · Updated 08/2026
Support on campus
International Student Services (ISS)
Immigration advising for F-1 students: I-20, CPT/OPT, travel, extensions. Your first stop before any visa-related decision.
Multicultural Center
A year-round space for cultural events: international week, food showcases, seasonal festivals. Vietnamese students can host a Tết booth or present áo dài at these events.
Office of International Programs (OIPS)
Runs orientation, the airport shuttle, Memphis trips and international social activities through the semester.
International student organisations
Many country and regional clubs are active on campus. Whether a formal Vietnamese Student Association exists in a given year depends on member numbers — ask our admissions team about the current cohort.
Tết away from home — what Vietnamese students usually do
- A shared New Year’s Eve meal cooked in a hall kitchen or a friend’s apartment — frozen bánh chưng comes from Memphis or from online grocers
- A Vietnamese Tết booth at the Multicultural Center (lì xì, couplets, áo dài)
- Video calls home timed to midnight in Vietnam — usually morning or midday in Jonesboro
- American and international roommates invited to the Tết dinner — the fastest way to turn classmates into close friends
- Tết falls mid-spring-semester, so most students stay; the university has no Tết holiday
Nearest Vietnamese diplomatic mission
Consulate General of Vietnam in Houston, Texas — phone +1-713-850-1233. It handles passports, civil documents and citizen support for the southern US. Check directly with the Consulate General about which states it covers and which procedures can be done by mail.
Students from Vietnam should save this number alongside UPD (+1 870-972-2093) and ISS from their first day on campus.
The VNIS alumni network
VNIS has supported Vietnamese students at partner universities in the US for over a decade. Students who enrol at A-State through our admissions team are added to a group with current students and graduates — the place to ask about housing, used cars, internships or simply meet for dinner. The group is maintained by our admissions team and is not an official university organisation.
Frequently asked questions
How many Vietnamese students are at A-State?
The number changes with each intake and is small compared with states with large Vietnamese populations. Our admissions team can share the current figure during advising; we do not publish a fixed number to avoid being inaccurate.
Is there a Vietnamese church or temple in Jonesboro?
Jonesboro has many Catholic and Protestant churches with English services; the nearest Vietnamese Catholic community and Vietnamese temples are in Memphis. Some students go as a group on weekends.
Can a student request a Vietnamese roommate?
A specific roommate can be requested during the housing application if both students apply. Many families, however, prefer an American or international roommate so their child improves English faster.
Is it easy to ship items from Vietnam?
International courier parcels reach Jonesboro in about one to two weeks; packaged dry food is allowed, fresh meat and vegetables are not. Many families order from Vietnamese online grocers in the US with delivery to the residence hall.
Does the admissions office keep supporting my child after arrival?
Yes. The office stays in touch with students and parents throughout the program: I-20 renewal reminders, registration guidance, and liaison with ISS when issues arise. This service is free.
Want to talk to a Vietnamese student currently at A-State?
Our admissions team connects you with current students so you can ask directly about life in Jonesboro.