English Center in Ho Chi Minh City Collects Billions and Suddenly Closes: File Transferred to City Police

On May 19, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City reported to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on the operation of the Australian Language Center and Australian Language Center 1.

Accordingly, regarding legal documents: Australia Foreign Language Center (address 182-184-186 Le Van Viet, Tang Nhon Phu B Ward, Thu Duc City) was established under Decision No. 248/2023 of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City and was permitted to operateeducation under Decision No. 640/2023 of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, recognizing the Director of the Center as Ms. Tran My Ngoc, term 2023 - 2028 in Decision No. 759 2023.

- Australia Foreign Language Center 1 (address 729-731 Kha Van Can, Linh Tay Ward, Thu Duc City) was established under Decision No. 375/2023 of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City and was permitted to operate education under Decision No. 907/2023 of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, recognizing the Director of the Center as Ms. Tran My Ngoc, term 2023 - 2028.

In Decision No. 1080/2023 of the Department of Education and Training of the City, the investor of the above two centers is Duy Khang Education - Training Company Limited (Mr. Ho Dang Duy - Director).

The Department of Education and Training synthesizes relevant documents and evidence to consider suspending educational activities of the Australian Foreign Language Center and Australian Foreign Language Center 1 and recommends that the City Police revoke the seals of the two centers according to regulations.

Regarding the operation situation: Since being licensed, the Australian Language Center and Australian Language Center 1 have operated relatively stably; have made periodic reports and attended training sessions organized by the Department of Education and Training. According to the first quarter report of 2025, the Australian Language Center has 7 Vietnamese teachers (no foreign teachers), 4 Vietnamese staff, 1 director, enrolling 14 classes with 172 students.

Australia Language Center 1 has 5 Vietnamese teachers (no foreign teachers), 4 Vietnamese staff, 1 director, enrolling 12 classes with 144 students.

During the process of managing the operations of the two centers, the Department of Education and Training inspected the operations of the Australian Language Center and Australian Language Center 1 on July 6 and 12, 2023. After the inspection, the unit sent a corrective report to the department.

Since May 15, many parents of the Australian English Center (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) have been devastated because the center suddenly closed after collecting a lot of tuition fees.

According to the City Department of Education and Training, the Department has not yet received a report on the suspension of operations from the Australian Language Center and Australian Language Center 1. Regarding the information about the "abandoned investor", the center has not yet reported to the Department of Education and Training. On May 15, 2025, the Department of Education and Training transferred information on the legal records of the two above-mentioned centers to the City Police (PC03).

On May 16, the Department of Education and Training proactively worked with the Linh Tay Ward Police and Tang Nhon Phu B Ward Police (where the two centers are located) to obtain information. Accordingly, the Linh Tay Ward Police and Tang Nhon Phu B Ward Police are receiving petitions from parents regarding the suspension of operations of the two above-mentioned centers. The police are consolidating the case file, transferring it to the Investigation Police Agency - Ho Chi Minh City Police for consideration, investigation and clarification, and informing the Department of Education and Training of the results.

In the coming time, the Department of Education and Training said it will continue to coordinate with the City Police, Linh Tay Ward Police, and Tang Nhon Phu B Ward Police to grasp the situation; organize citizen receptions to receive information and guide citizens to contact competent authorities for consideration and resolution.

The Department of Education and Training synthesizes relevant documents and evidence to consider suspending educational activities of the Australian Foreign Language Center and Australian Foreign Language Center 1 and recommends that the City Police revoke the seals of the two centers according to regulations.

The HCM City Department of Education and Training also proposed that the City People's Committee direct the City Police to continue to monitor and ensure security and order in the area, and coordinate to provide the Department of Education and Training with information related to the Australian Language Center and Australian Language Center 1.

Previously, as reported by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper , since May 15, a series of parents of the Australian English Center (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) have been devastated because the center suddenly closed after collecting a lot of tuition fees. The total amount that the center still owes parents of students could be up to billions of dong. In addition to students, the center's staff are also currently owed wages.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/trung-tam-anh-ngu-tai-tp-hcm-thu-tien-ti-roi-dot-ngot-dong-cua-chuyen-ho-so-sang-cong-an-thanh-pho-196250519205143644.htm