At the start of the new school year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requires school principals to proactively arrange school plans and create flexible and appropriate timetables.

Accordingly, a minimum of 7 lessons per day should be conducted, with a preference for 4 lessons in the morning and 3 lessons in the afternoon. In addition to the 7 lessons in the curriculum, schools can develop their own school programs and plans to organize additional activities for elementary school students depending on the needs and abilities of the students and in agreement with their parents. The school will develop a plan for after-school clubs for students until they are picked up.

Students in Ho Chi Minh City
Students in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Nguyen Hue )


Regarding class times, the Department of Education and Training stipulates that for classes held twice a day, the first lesson of the morning session must start at 7:30 AM and no later than 7:45 AM. The first lesson of the afternoon session must start no earlier than 1:30 PM. The first week's program runs from September 9th to September 13th. Subsequent weeks will follow the prescribed schedule. The second semester begins in week 19, on January 13th, 2025.

For primary school, the Department of Education and Training encourages students to use three types of lined notebooks. These include a Math notebook for recording math-related knowledge and math exercises; a Vietnamese language notebook for recording Vietnamese language-related knowledge; and a Lesson notebook for recording other subjects. For first graders, a Lesson notebook is not mandatory; students are encouraged to use one from the middle of the second semester. For grades 4 and 5, students are encouraged to listen to and take notes on important content from the teacher's lectures in their Vietnamese language notebooks.

The Department of Education and Training requires schools to proactively arrange teaching programs, plans, and timetables to ensure that the integrated program is implemented in week 1 and subsequent weeks according to the school's annual timetable. Organize STEM education activities according to guidelines…

Over 1.7 million students in Ho Chi Minh City enthusiastically return to school.

Over 1.7 million students in Ho Chi Minh City enthusiastically return to school.

Many parents in Ho Chi Minh City bring their children to school early and settle them in the schoolyard before 7 am, lining up to enter their classrooms. The children freely chat with their friends after a long summer break of not seeing each other.
Despite being suspended from operation, the American International School has announced it will begin the new school year.

Despite being suspended from operation, the American International School has announced it will begin the new school year.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the American International School, said that the school now has an investor and will start the new school year in August. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has just issued a decision to suspend the school from July 1st.
326 students from the American International School have not yet transferred; the Department requires parents to take responsibility.

326 students from the American International School have not yet transferred; the Department requires parents to take responsibility.

The new school year has begun, and the American International School has been suspended due to bankruptcy, yet 326 students have yet to transfer. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has requested that parents take responsibility for transferring their children to other schools to ensure continuity of education.