Teaching English online via Zoom for a fee, selling pre-recorded courses on digital platforms, livestreaming exam prep while collecting “donations” — paid online teaching is booming, yet many teachers do not know whether they are breaking the law. The answer is not a simple yes or no; it depends on who teaches, what is taught, and in what form. The relevant framework includes Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, Decree 147/2024/ND-CP and Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDDT.
This article clarifies three cases of paid online teaching and the licensing duties of each.
1. Case 1 — Licensed institutions teaching online: NO new license needed
Where online teaching is organized by an already licensed school, foreign language or IT center, or continuing education center, within its permitted programs, no separate license is required for the online format. The institution must still follow online teaching management rules (e.g. Circular 09/2021/TT-BGDDT for general and continuing education, Circular 30/2023/TT-BGDDT for online higher education): quality assurance, digital learning material management, and learner data protection.
2. Case 2 — Individuals or organizations opening paid online classes independently: YES, a license is required
If you open paid online classes yourself as an independent business — not under any licensed institution — this is a conditional education activity. Legal duties include:
- Business registration with appropriate education/training lines;
- Education operation permission: operate as a continuing-education center and obtain establishment permission from the Director of the Department of Education and Training under Decree 125/2024/ND-CP (Articles 42-44).
Teaching “under the radar” — collecting fees without business registration or education permission — may draw administrative sanctions, forced shutdown and mandatory refunds to learners.
3. Case 3 — Online tutoring: same rules as in-person
Under Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDDT (effective 14/02/2025), the law does not distinguish in-person from online tutoring. All paid tutoring online must fully comply:
- Business registration, tax declaration and payment;
- The three prohibitions: tutoring primary pupils (except art, sports and life-skills training); teachers charging their own regular students; public-school teachers managing or operating out-of-school tutoring (though they may still take part in such tutoring as teachers);
- Public school teachers tutoring outside school must report to the principal.
4. Decree 147/2024 — content duties online
Decree 147/2024/ND-CP (effective 25/12/2024, replacing Decree 72/2013/ND-CP) governs the provision and use of Internet services and online information. For online teachers, it imposes content duties: no false information, no false advertising about course quality, no intellectual property violations (pirated curricula, leaked exam papers). Violations draw administrative sanctions — but note, this is not a “teaching license”; do not confuse the two duties.
5. Red flags of problematic online classes
For parents and learners, beware of online classes showing these signs:
- Collecting fees with no business registration and no invoices or receipts;
- Advertising guaranteed outcomes (scores, admissions) without verifiable basis;
- No public information about the teacher, the program or refund policies;
- Materials showing signs of copyright infringement.
6. Frequently asked questions
Q: A teacher livestreams for free and only accepts voluntary “donations” — is a license needed?
A: If genuinely free and “donations” are purely voluntary support unconnected to any service obligation, it is not a paid education activity. But if “donations” are effectively disguised tuition (no donation, no continued access), authorities may treat it as fee collection.
Q: Does selling pre-recorded courses (no live teaching) need a license?
A: Yes, if it is a regular, organized business supplying paid education services — business registration and education operation conditions under Decree 125/2024 still apply.
Q: Teaching online to learners abroad — which law applies?
A: Organizations and individuals based in Vietnam must still comply with Vietnamese law on education business conditions; also note the destination countrys rules on cross-border education services.
Running an online teaching model and need a legal review? Contact us for advice.
This article was prepared by the FLAW AI Legal Council. Content is pending QA Council review before submission for approval; information is for reference only and does not replace legal advice for your specific case.