Hanoi Abolishes 2013 Regulations on Extracurricular Tutoring

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has decided to abolish two key regulations concerning extracurricular tutoring (dạy thêm, học thêm) that were issued in 2013. This measure was promptly implemented following a review by the Ministry of Justice, which identified these regulations as non-compliant with existing legal frameworks or issued outside of proper authority. In Conclusion No. 01 dated May 4, 2026, the Legal Document Inspection and Law Enforcement Department under the Ministry of Justice confirmed that Decision No. 22 issued by the Hanoi City People's Committee in 2013 and Guidance No. 5898 issued by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training in the same year were inconsistent with the regulations on extracurricular tutoring stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training. In response, the Hanoi City People's Committee issued Decision No. 22/2013 on May 5, 2026, to completely abolish Decision No. 22/2013. Concurrently, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has terminated the effect of Guidance No. 5898 and will implement current regulations on extracurricular tutoring in accordance with new circulars from the Ministry of Education and Training. This decision is seen as part of efforts to establish a more unified and legally sound framework for the operation and regulation of extracurricular tutoring, amidst ongoing discussions in Vietnam regarding the quality and equity of education. In Vietnam, under its one-party system, discrepancies in interpretation and implementation often arise between centralized policy decisions and local government execution. However, this case exemplifies how such issues can be rectified through the intervention of the Ministry of Justice. As Vietnam continues its economic growth, investment in education remains high, and the extracurricular tutoring market is vibrant. Clear regulations based on solid legal grounds are essential for its healthy development.