ChatGPT, an extensively recognised language model created by OpenAI, has gained significant prominence across various industries, particularly in education. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence students' intentions to adopt and utilise ChatGPT for their academic studies. The study used a Structural Equation Model (SEM) for analysing the data gathered from 108 participants, comprising both undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in public and private universities in Vietnam. The findings indicated that students' inclination to adopt ChatGPT (referred to as adoption intention or AI) was influenced by their perception of its user-friendliness (PEU). However, the perceived usefulness (PU) of ChatGPT did not have a direct impact on students' adoption intention; instead, it had an indirect influence through personalisation (with a positive effect) and interactivity (with a negative effect). Importantly, there was no significant indirect effect of PU on AI mediated by perceived trust and perceived intelligence. This study is one of the initial empirical inquiries into ChatGPT adoption within an Asian context, providing valuable insights in this emerging area of research. As the use of ChatGPT by students becomes increasingly inevitable, educational institutions should carefully consider integrating it into the assessment process. It is crucial to design assessments that encourage responsible usage of ChatGPT, preserving students' critical thinking abilities and creativity in their assessment writing. Moving forward, educators will play a pivotal role by offering clear guidelines and instructions that set out the appropriate and ethical use of artificial intelligence tools in the assessments.