On 10 December 2025, Viet Nam’s National Assembly approved three major legal documents in the education sector, marking a significant step toward modernization and global integration. The amendments cover the Education Law, Vocational Education Law, and Higher Education Law, aiming to develop the education system in alignment with the country’s strategic pillars outlined in Resolution 71 and Resolution 57.
The amended Education Law expands the scope of compulsory education, restructures the education system, revises tuition fee policies, and establishes a national scholarship programme to support talent development. Priority is given to postgraduates and learners in fields such as basic sciences, technology, engineering, and other strategic areas critical to Viet Nam’s development goals.
The Vocational Education Law emphasizes lifelong learning, progression, and innovation in programmes, training, and quality assurance. It aims to modernize vocational education to meet the evolving needs of the workforce while promoting skills development and employability.
The Higher Education Law aligns with recent Politburo Resolutions on breakthrough development in education and training, focusing on science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and international integration. The amendments support sustainable development of private higher education institutions, formation of universities of excellence, and provision of sufficient resources to foster sector growth.
For UK higher education institutions, the new legal framework presents opportunities in several areas. These include increased postgraduate mobility through national scholarship programmes in STEM and strategic fields, expanded research collaboration in science, technology, engineering, and innovation, lifelong learning pathways supporting micro-credentials and vocational partnerships, and favorable conditions for cross-border education such as branch campuses and transnational education programmes.
Recommendations for UK universities include developing joint scholarship and research programmes aligned with Viet Nam’s talent development priorities, especially in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, defence, and medicine. Expanding faculty exchanges and collaborative PhD supervision in STEM and innovation fields using existing scholarship schemes, introducing micro-credential and professional development offerings, and exploring transnational education opportunities including branch campuses and dual-degree programmes are also suggested. These initiatives follow the trend of regional investment in transnational education, exemplified by Australian universities expanding operations in Southeast Asia.
