A 23-year-old man, reportedly an international student from Bangladesh, is in a critical condition after a violent assault in Darwin.

Northern Territory Police have arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with the incident at a home in Millner early on Wednesday.

They say a man entered the property at about 4.25 am and assaulted the resident before fleeing the scene.

The alleged attacker was detained in a vehicle a short time later.

The injured man was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital.

Police are urging any potential witnesses to come forward especially if they have any CCTV footage of suspicious activity in the area.