Parents, schools in Ho Chi Minh City show interest in Hanoi-style late pickup fees

Hanoi authorities have approved a policy to charge VND12,000 (US$0.5) per hour for students picked up late or dropped off early during the 2025–26 school year.

Several parents in Ho Chi Minh City said they would support a similar program, citing long work hours and commuting constraints that make on-time pickup difficult.

Many school administrators also signaled agreement, saying they are evaluating how such a program could be applied locally.

They noted that any late-pickup program would require structured activities for students while waiting and that fees might need to be higher than Hanoi’s rate to compensate teachers adequately.

They suggested a rate of VND25,000–30,000 ($1–1.1) per hour could align with local labor costs.

Some international schools in Ho Chi Minh City already offer extended care services.

After-school care is typically billed at VND100,000 ($3.8) for the first hour and VND50,000 ($2) for each subsequent hour, up to 6:30 pm.

Semester-long packages are also available for some students.