Leading the Vietnamese cohort is Duy Tan University, ranked 969th globally, placing it in the top 4.6% of over 21,400 institutions evaluated. The Da Nang-based university jumped 61 spots from 2024, becoming the only Vietnamese institution in the top 1,000.

Ton Duc Thang University followed at 1,055, climbing 14 places. Meanwhile, Vietnam National University in Hanoi and its counterpart in Ho Chi Minh City made significant strides, improving by 72 and 114 positions respectively, though both remain outside the top 1,200.

Hanoi University of Science and Technology rose eight spots to 1,917. Hanoi Medical University was the only institution to fall in the rankings, dropping 22 places to 1,879.

On the global stage, the top five positions remained unchanged, with Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Cambridge and Oxford continuing to dominate. The results reaffirm the stronghold of U.S. and U.K. institutions in international academia.

The CWUR, based in Saudi Arabia, is recognized as one of the world's most comprehensive university ranking systems, alongside the U.K.-based QS and Times Higher Education (THE), and China's Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). It has published annual rankings since 2012.

In its 2025 edition, CWUR evaluated more than 21,000 institutions and ranked the top 2,000 based on research performance, faculty quality, alumni achievements, and academic quality. Research performance carried the most weight, accounting for 40% of the total score, followed by indicators measuring faculty reputation, notable alumni success, and overall academic excellence.

All data used in the CWUR rankings is collected independently. Research output is assessed through publication volume, citation impact, and journal quality. Alumni achievements are based on prestigious global awards and executive roles in top corporations, while faculty metrics reflect academic honors and field-specific recognition.