Vietnam’s landmark teacher law brings greater benefits to educators

The new law, comprising nine chapters and 42 articles, will come into effect on January 1, 2026.

For the first time, the legislature has established a comprehensive legal framework for educators in both public and private institutions.

Teachers at non-public institutions are now recognized as professional practitioners, holding equivalent standards, rights, and responsibilities as their counterparts in public schools.

A groundbreaking feature of the law is the provision that teachers' salaries in the public education sector are ranked highest within the public non-business pay scale.

In addition, teachers will receive occupational preferential allowances and other allowances in accordance with the nature of their work and region.

Meanwhile, the salaries of teachers in non-public educational institutions are governed by relevant provisions under labor legislation.

Significantly, this law marks the first time that teaching ethics have been formally codified, setting standards for conduct in interactions with students, colleagues, parents, and the broader community.

Emphasizing the teacher's role as a moral exemplar marked by integrity, professionalism, and dedication, the law affirms teachers' rights to respect and protection of their honor and dignity.

To safeguard teachers' reputations, the law introduces measures against acts that insult educators, including a ban on individuals and organizations disseminating allegations without official conclusions from competent authorities.

This provision aims to shield educators from negative social pressure and foster a respectful and safe teaching environment.

Under the new law, educators at public educational institutions shall fulfill duties as stipulated in legislation governing public officials, while those at non-public schools and foreign teachers shall fulfill their obligations under relevant labor legislation.

The law does not prohibit teachers from engaging in private tutoring but stipulates that they must not coerce students into participating in any extra lessons.

The new legislation also grants greater autonomy to the education sector by empowering institutions to manage teacher recruitment and deployment.

Specifically, university and vocational school leaders are authorized to recruit independently, while the Ministry of Education and Training will oversee recruitment at preschools, general education, and continuing education institutions.

To attract talent, the law encourages individuals with advanced qualifications and vocational expertise to pursue teaching careers—particularly in strategic areas such as science, technology, digital transformation, and vocational education.

Currently, the ministry is preparing two decrees and nearly 20 circulars for the enforcement of the law.