On 8 August 2025, the Government issued Decree No. 222/2025/ND-CP (“Decree 222”) introducing a new regulatory framework for teaching and learning in foreign languages across Vietnam’s educational institutions. Decree 222 will take effect on 25 September 2025. Upon its enforcement, Decision No. 72/2014/QD-TTg dated 17 December 2014 and Circular No. 16/2016/TT-BGDDT dated 18 May 2016 will be repealed. However, ongoing curriculums implemented under Decision No. 7272/2014/QD-TTg will continue until the end of the respective education levels or training course.
Decree 222 applies to a wide range of institutions, including general education schools, continuing education centers, vocational and higher education institutions, and schools under State agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, and armed forces (collectively, “Educational Institutions”). However, it does not apply to foreign-invested educational institutions delivering fully foreign-language curricula at the general, continuing, vocational, or higher education levels.
Key principles
Key principles for teaching and learning in foreign languages under Decree 222 include:
- Based on social needs and learner consent;
- Consistent with the objectives, content, and methods of the approved curriculum at each education level and training qualification;
- Compliant with relevant laws;
- Publicly disclosed on the Educational Institutions’ website immediately after the approval of the schemes for teaching and learning in foreign languages (“Schemes”); and
- Curriculum, course, and materials used for teaching and learning must not harm national defence, security, or community interests.
Key Requirements
Curriculums, Courses and Materials
All Schemes must be approved by the competent authority. In detail:
- Department of Education and Training shall approve Schemes of general education institutions (including those under the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security) and continuing education institutions under its management.
- Principals of vocational education institutions shall approve Schemes of their own institutions.
- Principals of higher education institutions, and heads of schools under state agencies, political organizations, and socio-political organizations shall approve Schemes of their own institutions.
- Direct management agencies shall approve Schemes of Educational Institutions not specified above.
- Minister of National Defence and Minister of Public Security shall approve Schemes of vocational and higher education institutions under their respective ministries.
An approval for a Scheme is valid for 10 years from the signing date and may be extended, with each extension not exceeding 10 years.
Depending on the education level and type of institution, there are specific requirements on curriculums, courses, and materials. Certain provisions apply exclusively to general education institutions and higher education institutions as follows:
- General education institutions are permitted to deliver certain subjects, educational activities, or parts thereof in foreign languages, prioritizing mathematics, natural sciences, technology, and IT. Besides, the curricula and teaching materials must meet the requirements of the Vietnamese general education curriculum.
- For higher education, the curriculums, courses, subjects, modules, and units approved by principals are delivered partly or entirely in foreign languages.
Other requirements for all Educational Institutions:
- The approved Scheme must specify the teaching language, with English encouraged.
- Curriculums, courses, and materials must exclude political education, national defence, security, history, and literature related to Vietnam.
- Encourages IT, AI, and digital transformation in teaching.
Teachers
Teachers must meet requirements on expertise, profession, training levels, and training applicable to respective education level and training qualification.
Teachers must achieve language proficiency under the Six-Level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework of Vietnam (“VNFLPF”) or an equivalent level, specifically:
- Primary and lower secondary: Minimum Level 4
- Upper secondary: Minimum Level 5
- Continuing education: Minimum Level 4 or Level 5, depending on subject
- Vocational education: Minimum Level 5
- Higher education: Minimum Level 5 or as required by the curriculum
Exemptions
No language test needed if the teacher:
- Holds a foreign degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate) taught in a foreign language and recognized in Vietnam, or
- Holds a Vietnamese degree in foreign languages or foreign language pedagogy
Learners
The learner is voluntary. Educational Institutions shall conduct entrance assessments as specified in the approved Schemes.
Facilities
Educational Institutions must have facilities and equipment meeting the same standards as teaching in Vietnamese.
Assessment, Graduation, and Certification
Depending on the education level and type of institution, there are specific requirements. Certain provisions apply exclusively to general education and higher education as follows:
- For general education, both formative and summative assessments for subjects, educational activities, or specific content taught and learned in a foreign language can be conducted in either Vietnamese or a foreign language.
- For higher education, the organization of examinations, assessments, graduation recognition, and the issuance of diplomas and certificates for all subjects, modules, and units taught and learned in a foreign language shall follow the same procedures as those applied to curriculums in Vietnamese. The testing, assessment, and evaluation of any subject or units delivered in a foreign language shall be conducted in that foreign language.
Academic Standards
Subjects, modules, units, educational activities, and content taught in foreign languages must meet the required standards of knowledge, skills, qualities, and competencies as prescribed in the educational curriculums.
Tuition Fees
For general education institutions and public continuing education institutions, tuition based on cost recovery and learner consent and comply with regulation of the provincial People’s Council.
For public vocational education institutions and public higher education institutions, tuition based on financial autonomy, affordability of learners, and economic–technical norms under relevant laws. Public vocational and public higher education institutions must publicly disclose tuition fees prior to enrollment and be accountable to explain to learners and society the tuition fee levels.
Non-public and private educational institutions set tuition to cover costs with reasonable accumulation; must publicly disclose and explain to learners and society the tuition fee levels; must explain average cost per learner, annual tuition fee, tuition fees for the entire education level, annual increases, etc.
Reporting Regime
Educational Institutions must report on the implementation of foreign language teaching and learning, difficulties, and recommendations to the provincial People’s Committee or Ministry of Education and Training in person, by post, or via the online public service portal.
Conclusion
Decree No. 222/2025/ND-CP sets out a clearer and more structured framework for teaching and learning in foreign languages across Vietnam’s educational institutions. Stakeholders who wish to teach in foreign languages after the effective date of Decree 222 should promptly assess their intended curriculum, prepare for necessary adjustments, and follow up with further guidance from the authorities to ensure timely and compliant implementation according to Decree 222.
For further information, please contact:
Pham Thi Thanh Lan, Partner, Indochine Counsel
lan.pham@indochinecounsel.com
