Vietnam restructures Hanoi vocational schools as college applications surge

Hanoi will reorganise its post‑secondary education system, merging 19 colleges and 10 institutions and consolidating 29 vocational‑training centres into 14. The University of Hanoi will remain the sole core institution, while several colleges will be retained for restructuring and others will be merged or absorbed. The plan also includes converting five vocational centres to a new model and ensuring all facilities meet legal standards before the transition.

At the same time, colleges across Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, are reporting a sharp rise in applications as university admission scores have not yet been released. Many students are enrolling directly in popular college programmes, with some majors nearing full capacity. Schools such as Saigon University of Technology and Saigon College of Tourism have already received thousands of applications and high fee‑payment rates, reflecting the shift in student preferences.