Vietnam tightens rules on naming higher education institutions

The regulations, set out in Decree No. 91/2026, detail the implementation of several provisions of the Law on Higher Education, including rules governing the naming of higher education institutions.

Under the new rules, the names of higher education institutions must be stable and suitable for long-term use, while avoiding confusion about an institution’s type, scope of operation, governing body, training quality, or standing.

Higher education institutions are prohibited from using in their names any words or expressions that imply titles or rankings, or any names and symbols that are identical to or similar to those of state agencies, armed forces units, socio-political organizations, or other educational institutions at home and abroad.

The use of designations such as ‘university’ and ‘academy’ must reflect the institution’s legal status, organizational structure, and actual operations.

The decree places particular restrictions on terms suggesting special or national status, such as ‘international,’ ‘national,’ ‘Vietnam,’ and the names of other countries, if their use could mislead the public about an institution’s legal status, scope of activities, or state backing, unless otherwise permitted.

The term ‘national’ is reserved for higher education institutions formally recognized as national universities.

The term ‘international’ may only be used by institutions that deliver all higher education programs in foreign languages, are wholly foreign-owned, or are established under agreements between the Vietnamese government and foreign governments.

Similarly, the term ‘Vietnam’ may only be used in the names of institutions with 100 percent foreign investment in the country or those established under agreements between the Vietnamese government and foreign governments.

The decree also requires higher education institutions to have a Vietnamese name, except in cases involving wholly foreign-owned institutions or those established under agreements between the Vietnamese government and foreign governments.

Such Vietnamese names must consist of a designation of the institution type, may include fields or disciplines of study if necessary, and include a proper name drawn from a domestic place, a cultural or historical figure, or another meaningful Vietnamese term.

Words used in the Vietnamese names of higher education institutions must be meaningful and conform to standard Vietnamese.

Such names must not combine Vietnamese and foreign languages, except in cases where the institution is wholly foreign-owned, is a foreign education institution licensed to operate in Vietnam, or is established under agreements between the Vietnamese government and foreign governments.

Foreign-language or international transaction names must be equivalent translations of the Vietnamese name, must use terms consistent with international practice, and must not elevate the institution’s status or alter its classification compared to the Vietnamese name.

Domain names and trade names used in transactions must be consistent with the Vietnamese or foreign-language name, while any abbreviations must be clear and must not be easily confused with those of other universities, at home or abroad.

The names of higher education institutions established before March 30, 2026 may continue to be used or may be adjusted in accordance with the new regulations.