Order and Procedure for Establishing a Foreign Language Center in Hanoi

In recent times, the legal provisions governing the management of continuing education activities have been adjusted to align with the two-tier local government model and the policy of administrative procedure reform. Accordingly, the procedure for establishing, or permitting the establishment of, a foreign language center has been amended and supplemented with respect to the competent authority, the procedure to be followed, and the conditions and dossier for establishment. Organizations and individuals wishing to invest in, or establish, a foreign language center should therefore promptly update themselves on the new regulations, so as to ensure that the relevant procedure is carried out in accordance with law.

The article below summarizes and analyzes the latest regulations concerning the order and procedure for establishing a foreign language center in Hanoi, to help organizations and individuals wishing to invest readily grasp and carry out the procedure in accordance with the current regulations.

1. Competent authority

Government Decree No. 142/2025/NĐ-CP dated 12 June 2025 provides for the delineation of authority of the two-tier local government in the field of State management under the Ministry of Education and Training. This has been given concrete effect under Decision No. 453/QĐ-SGDĐT dated 23 January 2026 of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, and Decision No. 212/QĐ-TTPVHCC dated 12 February 2026 of the Hanoi City Public Administrative Service Center, approving the internal and electronic procedures for resolving administrative procedures in the field of continuing education under the management function of the city’s Department of Education and Training. Accordingly, the authority to resolve the procedure for establishing, or permitting the establishment of, a foreign language center within Hanoi is delegated to the commune-level People’s Committee of the locality in which the center is proposed to be headquartered, for a delegation period from 23 January 2026 to 31 December 2028.

During the delegation period, the Chairperson of the commune-level People’s Committee is responsible for considering and deciding on the establishment of, or permission to establish, a foreign language center, within the scope and content assigned. After the above date, the competent authority will be determined in accordance with any new regulations, if a document adjusting, replacing, or extending the delegation is issued.

The implementation of the above delegation mechanism is intended to promote decentralization and devolution of authority in State management of education, and to shorten the time for resolving administrative procedures, while also enhancing the proactiveness and responsibility of local government in managing educational activities within its locality.

2. Processing procedure

Pursuant to Clause 4, Article 32 of Decree No. 142/2025/NĐ-CP, Section II, Part C, Item 1, Appendix I.3 of Resolution 66.16/2026/NQ-CP, and Appendix II on the content of the internal and electronic procedures for resolving administrative procedures in the field of continuing education under the management function of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training (issued together with Decision No. 212/QĐ-TTPVHCC), the processing procedure is as follows:

– Step 1: The dossier is submitted at a Branch or Public Service Support Point, or through the online public service system. The receiving unit is responsible for checking and considering the accuracy and completeness of the dossier. Where the dossier is incomplete, inaccurate, or does not fall within the competent authority’s jurisdiction as prescribed, the receiving unit must give notice, clearly stating the content, the reason, and specific and complete guidance, in a single instance. If the organization’s or individual’s dossier is complete and in accordance with the regulations, it is received and forwarded to the competent authority for resolution in accordance with the prescribed procedure (0.5 working days).

– Step 2: After a valid dossier is received, it is forwarded to the competent authority for resolution in accordance with the prescribed procedure. The competent authority reviews the dossier and assigns it to a specialist for processing (01 day).

– Step 3: A specialist within the relevant professional division appraises the dossier and conducts an on-site appraisal of the conditions for establishing the center: where the dossier satisfies the regulations, the specialist reports to the division’s leadership for an on-site appraisal of the conditions for establishing the center to be organized, and prepares an appraisal report assessing the extent to which the regulations are satisfied. Where the dossier does not satisfy the regulations, the specialist drafts a Notice that the dossier is not eligible for processing/a Notice requesting supplementation or completion of the dossier, and completes and returns it to the relevant unit within 05 working days from the date of receipt (05 days).

– Step 4: The leadership of the professional division reviews the appraisal results and drafts the Decision on establishment of the center. Where approved: the draft is initialed and forwarded for signature by the leadership of the commune-level People’s Committee. Where not approved: the specialist is required to revise the dossier (03 days).

– Step 5: The leadership of the commune-level People’s Committee reviews and considers the processing result submitted by the leadership of the professional division, approves and signs the Decision, and forwards it to the Clerical Department (04 working days).

– Step 6: The Clerical Department of the commune-level People’s Committee assigns a document number and affixes the seal, then forwards the result to the City Public Administrative Service Center (0.5 working days).

– Step 7: The Branches and digital Public Service Support Points return the processing result in accordance with the regulations and confirm the return of the result on the system.

3. Conditions for establishing, or being permitted to establish, a foreign language center

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 32 of Decree No. 142/2025/NĐ-CP, and Section I, Part C, Item 2, Appendix I.3 of Resolution 66.16/2026/NQ-CP, the establishment of, or permission to establish, a foreign language center must satisfy the following conditions:

– 1. The center must have premises, facilities, classrooms, functional rooms, and teaching equipment meeting the requirements of the continuing education programs conducted at the center.

– 2. The center must have an educational curriculum and teaching and learning materials meeting the requirements of the continuing education programs conducted at the center, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

– 3. The center must have a contingent of managerial staff, teachers, employees, and workers sufficient in number and satisfying the standards required for each continuing education program conducted at the center, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

4. Dossier components

The dossier requesting the establishment of, or permission to establish, a foreign language center must be prepared in the form and with the components prescribed under Clause 3, Article 32 of Decree 142/2025/NĐ-CP, Section I, Part C, Item 1, Appendix I.3 of Resolution 66.16/2026/NQ-CP, and the internal procedure issued together with Decision No. 212/QĐ-TTPVHCC, comprising:

– 1. A statement of proposal requesting the establishment of, or permission to establish, the center (in the form of Form No. 01, Appendix II, issued together with Decree No. 142/2025/NĐ-CP);

– 2. A scheme for the establishment of, or permission to establish, the center (in the form of Form No. 02, Appendix II, issued together with Decree No. 142/2025/NĐ-CP);

– 3. Copies of the legal documents evidencing land use rights, house ownership, or a lease agreement in respect of the center’s premises;

– 4. A draft charter on the organization and operation of the center, including principally the following content: the legal status, tasks, and powers of the center; the organizational structure of the center; the organization of the center’s educational activities; the tasks and rights of managerial staff, teachers, employees, workers, and learners; the finances and assets of the center; and other matters relating to the organization and operation of the center.

Should you require in-depth assistance, please kindly contact:

Corporate & Investment Advisory Specialist: Pham Thi Huong

• – Email: info@bizlawyer.vn
• – Tel: 086.885.1900

Respectfully./.