1. What is a foreign language center?

A foreign language center is is defined as a continuing education institution established to organize foreign language training and development for learners in need, operating outside the formal education system. A foreign language center can be established by organizations or individuals in accordance with the law, to provide foreign language courses for a wide range of learners, regardless of age, with the purpose of improving foreign language skills for study, work or exam preparation leading to certification... As a bridge to help learners enhance their language abilities, a foreign language center not only imparts knowledge but also creates opportunities for communication and international integration in a flexible and diverse learning environment.

2. What are the conditions for establishing a foreign language center?

To establish a foreign language center, individuals or organizations must satisfy the conditions stipulated in Article 43 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP as follows:

2.1. Having premises, facilities, classrooms, functional rooms, and teaching equipment that satisfy the requirements of continuing education programs conducted at the center

A foreign language center with a convenient location, adequate facilities, classrooms, functional rooms, and appropriate teaching equipment not only ensures compliance with the legal requirements but also contributes to enhancing teaching quality, building reputation, and attracting students to the center.

2.2. Having educational programs, teaching and learning materials that meet the requirements of continuing education programs conducted at the center according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training

Curriculum and teaching materials of foreign language centers are stipulated in Article 13 of the Regulation on the Organization and Operation of Foreign Language and Informatics Centers, promulgated by the Minister of Education and Training under Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BGDĐT dated August 21, 2018, specifically as follows:

• Foreign language centers may use programs issued by the Ministry of Education and Training; develop their own programs; or select programs and materials from higher education institutions, colleges, domestic and international educational organizations provided that they are appropriate to learners’ needs and the center’s capacity.
• The director of the foreign language center shall be held accountable before the law and the competent educational authorities for the content of the programs and teaching materials used at the center. The director is also required to report to the university rector (for centers affiliated with higher education institutions or teacher training colleges) or to the director of the Department of Education and Training (for other centers operating in the locality) on the programs and materials used at the center.

2.3. Having a team of managers, teachers, staff and workers sufficient in number and possess the necessary qualifications to meet the requirements of each continuing education program conducted at the center according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

1. Director of foreign language center

The director of a foreign language center is the person who directly manages and operates the organization and its structure and shall be held accountable before the law and the superior management agency for all activities of the center. The director of a foreign language center must meet the standards stipulated in Article 6 of the Regulations on organization and operation of foreign language and informatics centers, promulgated together with Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BGDDT, as follows:

• Possessing good records;
• Possessing management capacity;
• Holding a bachelor degree in foreign languages or a university degree accompanied by a foreign language certificate of at least level 3 under the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam, or an equivalent certificate;
• Having experience in the field of education and training.

The director of the center shall be appointed by the authority competent to establish the center. The authority that permits the establishment of the center shall issue a decision recognizing the director (for private centers and centers with foreign investment). The director’s term of a foreign language and informatics center is 05 years.

2. Teacher at foreign language center 

Teachers at foreign language centers are individuals responsible for teaching and guiding learners in practice, including full-time teachers, contract-based teachers, Vietnamese teachers, native-speaking teachers (depending on the specific foreign language), and other foreigners. The standards for teachers at foreign language centers are stipulated in Article 18 of the Regulations on organization and operation of foreign language and informatics centers issued with Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BGDDT as follows:

• A Vietnamese teacher is considered qualified to teach a foreign language when they meet one of the following criteria:
  • Holding a college degree or higher in foreign language pedagogy;
  • Holding a college degree or higher in foreign languages and a certificate of pedagogical training.
• Native-speaking foreign language teachers (for each specific foreign language): Holding a college degree or higher and a relevant certificate in foreign language teaching.
• Foreign teachers are qualified to teach foreign languages when they meet one of the following criteria:
  • Holding a college degree or higher in foreign language pedagogy;
  • Holding a college degree or higher in foreign languages and a relevant certificate in foreign language teaching;
  • Holding a college degree or higher, possessing a foreign language proficiency certificate at level 5 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam or an equivalent certificate and a relevant certificate in foreign language teaching.

2.4. Availability of the draft regulations on the center's organization and operation/ Có dự thảo quy chế tổ chức và hoạt động của trung tâm

The draft regulations on organization and operation of foreign language centers must comply with the provisions of the Regulations on organization and operation of foreign language and informatics centers issued together with Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BGDDT dated August 24, 2018.

3. Which agency has the authority to grant licenses to establish foreign language centers?

Article 44.1 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP stipulates the authority to establish or permit the establishment of foreign language centers as follows:

• The university council, academy council; the university council of teacher training institutions, and pedagogical college council shall decide to establish centers within the campus:
• The Director of the Department of Education and Training shall decide on the establishment of affiliated centers; permits the establishment of affiliated centers of universities, academies, colleges, and pedagogical colleges located outside the campus; permits the establishment of centers at the request of organizations and individuals.

4. What documents are required to establish a foreign language center?

The application dossier for establishing a foreign language center as prescribed in Article 44.2 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP includes:

• A written proposal for establishment or permission to establish a foreign language center (according to Form No. 01, Appendix I attached to Decree 125/2024/ND-CP);

• Project to establish or permit the establishment of a foreign language center (according to Form No. 02, Appendix I attached to Decree 125/2024/ND-CP);

• Copies of legal documents proving land use rights, house ownership or lease contract for the center’s premises;
• For foreign language centers affiliated with universities, academies, colleges, and pedagogical colleges located outside the school campus and for the centers proposed to be established by organizations or individuals, legal documents confirming the amount of investment to establish the center must be provided, ensuring legality and conformity with the expected scale at the time of submission;
• Draft regulations on the organization and operation of the foreign language center, including the following main contents: Legal status, functions and powers of the center; organizational structure of the center; organization of educational activities in the center; responsibilities and rights of the management team, teachers, staffs, employees, and learners; finance and assets of the center; other matters related to the organization and operation of the center.

5. What are the procedures for establishing a foreign language center? 

Step 1: Submit application

Schools, organizations and individuals shall submit 01 set of documents via the online public service portal or by post or directly to the Department of Education and Training.

Step 2: Review the application dossier

Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of the complete application, if the application is invalid, the Department of Education and Training shall notify in writing the contents that need to be amended to the school, organization or individual requesting to establish a foreign language center.

Step 3: Dossier appraisal

Within 10 days from the date of receipt of complete and valid dossier, the Department of Education and Training shall conduct an appraisal of the dossier and an on-site inspection of the conditions for establishing the center; prepare an appraisal report to assess the compliance with the provisions of Article 43 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP as presented in Section 2 of this Article.

Step 4: License for establishment

Within 05 working days from the date of completing the appraisal report, if the conditions are met, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall decide to establish or permit the establishment of a foreign language center; if the conditions are not met, a written notice shall be sent to the school, organization or individual requesting the establishment of the center and the reasons shall be clearly stated. The decision to establish or permit the establishment of a foreign language center (according to Form No. 10, Appendix I attached to Decree 125/2024/ND-CP) shall be publicly announced in the mass media.

6. FAQ​

6.1. Are foreign investors allowed to establish foreign language centers in Vietnam?

Article 2.3 of the Regulations on organization and operation of foreign language and informatics centers issued together with Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BGDDT stipulates that foreign language centers with foreign investment capital, in which foreign individuals and economic organizations invest all or contribute part of the capital to establish and ensure operating conditions according to legal provisions, are allowed to use their own seals and accounts.

In addition, Commitment No. 318/WTO/CK of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on services also stipulates that foreign investors are not restricted in term of charter capital ownership ratio when establishing a foreign language center.

Thus, according to the above regulations, foreign investors (individuals, foreign economic organizations) have the right to establish a foreign language center, either by owning 100% of the charter capital or by contributing capital for their establishment.

6.2. In what cases is a foreign language center suspended?

A foreign language center shall be suspended from operation in one of the following cases:

• Committing fraud to obtain the establishment or permission for the establishment of a center;
• During operation, failing to maintain one of the conditions stipulated in Article 43 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP;
• Failing to commence educational activities within 01 year from the date of the decision on establishment or decision permitting to establish;
• Committing violations against the legal provisions on education that are subject to administrative sanctions at the level of suspension;
• Other cases as prescribed by law.

(According to Article 45.1, Decree 125/2024/ND-CP)

6.3. In what cases is a foreign language center dissolved?/ Trung tâm ngoại ngữ bị giải thể trong trường hợp nào?

Foreign language center is dissolved in one of the following cases:

• Committing serious violations of regulations on management, organization and operation of the center;
• The suspension period for educational activities has expired without rectifying the cause of the suspension;
• The objectives and operational contents stated in the decision or permission for the establishment of the center are no longer suitable to the needs of socio-economic development;
• Failing to ensure educational quality;
• At the request of organizations and individuals that established the centers.

(According to: Article 47.1, Decree 125/2024/ND-CP)