Education minister holds authority to approve foreign university branches in Viet Nam
VGP – The Minister of Education and Training shall have the authority to approve the establishment of foreign university branches in Viet Nam, according to the Government’s Resolution No. 23/2026/NQ-CP dated April 29, 2026.
RMIT University-Ha Noi Campus
Previously, only the Prime Minister shall have the authority to approve the establishment of foreign university branches.
The decentralization of approval power is part of the Government’s effort to simplify administrative procedures in the field of education and training.
Foreign universities can only open branches in Viet Nam if they are ranked in the global top 500, according to the Government’s Decree No. 124/2024/ND-CP on international cooperation and investment in the field of education and training.
Each branch project of a foreign university in Viet Nam shall have the minumum investment capital of VND500 billion (over US$19 million).
The Minister of Education and Training shall also have the authority to dissolve foreign university branches in Viet Nam.
Currently, Viet Nam has five operational branches of foreign universities: RMIT University Viet Nam, British University Viet Nam, Amerrican University in Viet Nam, Fulbright University Viet Nam, and Tokyo Human Health Sciences University Viet Nam./.
