Bilingual schools, monolingual international schools — behind each model sits a different legal structure for programs, enrollment, and qualifications. Investors typically ask four questions: how much capital, must the foreign program be appraised, can Vietnamese students enroll, and are qualifications recognized. This article answers all four under Decree 86/2018/ND-CP (amended by Decree 124/2024/ND-CP).
Legal Basis and Analysis
Capital needs and whether foreign programs must be appraised
Like language centers, the law sets no single minimum-capital figure for international K-12 schools; a school project — with facilities many times larger than a center — must demonstrate financial capacity matching school scale, projected enrollment, and programs. A foreign-invested educational institution’s operation term runs up to 50 years under Article 30 of Decree 86/2018/ND-CP — the financing plan must cover that whole life.
On programs: whether bilingual or monolingual, foreign education programs applied at international schools in Vietnam must be appraised and approved under Vietnamese law. Bilingual schools combine Vietnamese and foreign programs; monolingual schools teach a fully foreign program — but both pass program appraisal in the education-operation dossier. Teaching an unapproved program is a violation.
Can Vietnamese students study at international schools
Yes, but conditionally. The law allows foreign-invested educational institutions to enroll Vietnamese students at prescribed ratios and conditions — balancing international-integration demand with guaranteed access to Vietnam’s compulsory education content. Bilingual schools usually fit Vietnamese students best, letting them follow the international program while completing Vietnam’s compulsory content.
The enrollment plan must state enrollment targets by grade, quotas, and the commitment to the Vietnamese-student ratio. Exceeding the ratio, or enrolling before the education-operation permission, are both sanctionable violations.
Are qualifications recognized
Qualifications issued by international schools are recognized through articulation and conversion mechanisms: students completing foreign programs in Vietnam receive that program’s diplomas or certificates; recognition for continuing study in Vietnam or abroad follows qualification-recognition rules and relevant international treaties. Schools must inform parents clearly about each qualification’s value and recognition scope from enrollment — a transparency duty whose breach draws sanctions and damages future enrollment reputation.
Investor advice: choose a foreign program with broad international recognition and a clear university-articulation path — qualification value decides enrollment capacity, which decides the whole school project’s financial viability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much capital is needed to open an international school?
The law sets no single figure; the project must demonstrate financial capacity matching school scale, projected enrollment, and programs — with the financing plan covering the up-to-50-year life under Article 30 of Decree 86/2018.
Must a foreign program be appraised?
Yes. Whether bilingual or monolingual, foreign education programs applied in Vietnam must be appraised and approved under Vietnamese law within the education-operation dossier. Teaching an unapproved program is a violation.
Can Vietnamese students study at an international school?
Yes, at prescribed ratios and conditions — ensuring they still access Vietnam’s compulsory education content. Schools must state enrollment targets, quotas, and the ratio commitment in the enrollment plan.
Are qualifications recognized?
Recognized through articulation and conversion for continuing study in Vietnam or abroad, under qualification-recognition rules and relevant treaties. Schools must be transparent about each qualification’s value and recognition scope from enrollment.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council