You step into the National Convention Center’s grand hall virtually, joining nearly 30 million pupils and students across Vietnam in a moment that would reshape the educational landscape. As the ceremonial drums echo through VTV1’s broadcast, we witness not just another academic year beginning, but the dawn of a new era for Vietnamese education. Together, 1.7 million teachers and their students raise flags in perfect synchronization, marking both an 80th anniversary celebration and the launch of unprecedented educational reforms.
Vietnam’s Historic 80th Anniversary Education Sector Celebration and 2025-2026 Academic Year Launch
Catalyst
The morning of September 5, 2025, brought together every corner of Vietnam’s educational system in an extraordinary display of unity and purpose. Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) joined this nationwide celebration, participating online in the dual commemoration of the Ministry of Education and Training’s 80th anniversary and the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Under the Ministry’s general direction, this momentous event aimed to affirm the education sector’s pivotal role and proud traditions while spreading innovation and creativity throughout the nation’s schools. For the first time in Vietnamese educational history, all institutions simultaneously conducted the flag salute and sang the National Anthem, creating an unprecedented wave of educational solidarity from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
Rising Action
Meanwhile, the ceremony’s scale revealed the true magnitude of Vietnam’s educational transformation. Broadcasting live on VTV1 – Vietnam Television from the National Convention Center in Hanoi, the event connected classrooms, universities, and educational institutions in a solemn yet celebratory atmosphere that transcended geographical boundaries.
As the program unfolded, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son delivered a pivotal speech marking both the anniversary milestone and the academic year’s inauguration. Student representatives from across the nation shared their perspectives, adding youthful voices to this historic moment. However, the ceremony’s crescendo came when General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, conferred the highest honors of the Party and State to MOET.
Turning Point
The 2025-2026 academic year represents the first nationwide implementation of a revolutionary two-tier government model.
This breakthrough moment signifies that preschools, primary schools, and lower secondary schools will now be directly managed at the commune level, fundamentally restructuring Vietnam’s educational governance. Suddenly, decades of centralized educational management give way to localized control, promising more responsive and community-focused learning environments.
As we discovered, this transformation extends far beyond administrative changes. The education sector commits to continuing the rollout of the 2018 General Education Program while expanding full-day schooling initiatives. Digital transformation takes center stage, with enhanced digital competencies and artificial intelligence applications becoming integral to the learning experience. Furthermore, STEM education receives renewed emphasis, complemented by the innovative inclusion of artisans, artists, and athletes in school-based education.
Resolution
Within this jubilant atmosphere of welcoming new students and embracing the academic year’s theme “Smart Governance – Empowering HCMUTE Brand,” the university positions itself at the forefront of educational excellence. HCMUTE demonstrates its commitment to promoting strengths in technical and technological training while accelerating digital transformation initiatives.
The university’s strategic approach includes strengthening partnerships with enterprises and society, enhancing both training quality and scientific research capabilities. Through collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Education and Training, these initiatives align with national educational objectives while maintaining institutional identity.
With collective determination from staff, employees, and learners alike, HCMUTE expresses confidence that this transformative academic year will create abundant opportunities for learning, development, and institutional advancement within Vietnam’s higher education system.
This historic celebration marks more than ceremonial significance—it signals Vietnam’s commitment to educational innovation and quality enhancement. As institutions nationwide embrace digital transformation and community-centered governance, the foundation is set for sustainable educational growth that will serve generations of Vietnamese learners while strengthening the nation’s competitive position in global education markets.
