Vietnam to add Lao language and expand school infrastructure for 2026‑2027 academic year
From the 2026‑2027 school year, Vietnam will introduce Lao as a new foreign language in public schools, starting with pilot programmes in border communes. The move follows a memorandum signed by Education Minister Hoàng Minh Sơn and Lao counterpart Thongsalith Mangnomek, with curricula and teaching materials slated for final review in June‑July 2026.
Hanoi city is reorganising its school network, reducing administrative layers while adding 1,805 classrooms across primary and secondary levels. The plan keeps 124 public high schools unchanged, upgrades existing facilities and ensures each commune retains at least one preschool, primary and secondary school.
Nationally, a single unified textbook series titled “Kết nối tri thức với cuộc sống” will be used from 2026‑2027. Teachers in Ho Chi Minh City have already undergone intensive training to master the new material, and schools are prohibited from assigning classes to teachers who miss the training.
The Ministry of Education and Training also launched a nationwide English self‑study month for teachers in 2026, promoting an AI‑powered platform that helps staff personalise learning and track progress. Together, these steps aim to modernise curricula, improve teaching quality and strengthen Vietnam’s human‑resource development ahead of the 2025‑2035 bilingual education agenda.