Purpose: This study aims to explore the mediating roles of self-efficacy and learning orientation in the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected from an online survey of 1,021 university students in Vietnam. The authors conducted a hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses. Findings: The results of hierarchical regression analysis reveal that entrepreneurship education positively affects entrepreneurial intentions, and this relationship is mediated by both learning orientation and self-efficacy. Research limitations/implications: This study confirms the importance of entrepreneurship education in encouraging university students' entrepreneurial intentions. Practical implications: This study offers practical implications for universities and policy makers. Social implications: This study is one of the first to empirically examine the concept of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions in an Asia-Pacific context. Originality/value: This study emphasises the significance of entrepreneurship education and its effects on university students' entrepreneurial intentions. Furthermore, the findings confirm that self-efficacy and learning orientation play an important part in explaining how entrepreneurship education relates to entrepreneurial intentions.