Objective: To describe factors associated with the level of sociocultural adaptation among Indian medical students at Dai Nam University in the 2025–2026 academic year.
Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from November 2025 to May 2026 among Indian medical students who had been studying in Vietnam for at least one month. The Sociocultural Adaptation Scale-Revised (SCAS-R) was utilized to quantitatively survey 184 students, followed by qualitative in-depth interviews with 12 students purposively selected based on their adaptation levels.
Results: The sample was predominantly female (67.4%) with a mean age of 19,64 ±1,38 years. The majority possessed basic Vietnamese proficiency (91.9%) and had never visited Vietnam prior to their enrollment (83.2%). Most students achieved a moderate level of adaptation (63%), followed by high adaptation (25%), and low adaptation (12%). No statistically significant associations were found between gender, Vietnamese proficiency, frequency of extracurricular participation, or prior visits to Vietnam and the level of adaptation (p > 0.05). However, the frequency of family contact was significantly associated with adaptation capability (p < 0.05), with the daily contact group demonstrating a high adaptation rate of 70.8%. Qualitative findings revealed that language and cuisine constituted a prevalent dual barrier. The primary distinction between the high and low adaptation groups lay in their proactive coping strategies and the fundamental advantage derived from regional cultural similarity (Northeast India).
Conclusion: The majority of Indian international students achieved moderate-to-high levels of sociocultural adaptation. Proactive social interaction, regional cultural similarity, and psychological support from family represent pivotal factors driving the efficiency of student integration.