List of universities in Vietnam

This is a list of universities in Vietnam. The public higher education system in Vietnam basically consists of 2 levels: university system (called đại học) and university (usually specialize in a fixed scientific field; called trường đại học). University systems in Vietnam consist of many member institutions, with each institution equivalent to a regular specialized university. In addition, in Vietnam, there are private universities operating under the management of the Ministry of Education and Training (in terms of expertise) and private enterprises (in terms of operation and management). Private universities in Vietnam are usually multidisciplinary universities, but in terms of decentralization in the education system, these private universities are only equivalent to a public specialized university.

All universities in Vietnam are managed by a corresponding central authority, most of which are managed by the Ministry of Education and Training. Some are managed by ministries and other government organizations such as the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Women's Union, etc. However, these organizations only manage professional issues (consultations, specialized knowledge), and remains in consultation with the Ministry of Education. As for the private universities, all are under the management of the Ministry of Education.

The current Vietnamese government also maintains a national key university policy. This is a list of universities with high achievements and training quality, classified according to the scientific fields that the university offers. These universities will receive more benefits in operation and management, for example: priority to receive support packages to build training programs and facilities, approve projects to open new majors and education programs, being able to educate and self-award a doctoral degree without first approval from the Ministry of Education and Training.

University systems
Vietnam currently exists 7 university systems (đại học), each university system divided into many member universities or constituent colleges (trường đại học), member schools (trường or khoa) or member institutes (viện) specializing in training and researching a specific group of disciplines to create their own strengths. The head of a university is called a director, and the head of a member university is called a rector. All 7 university systems are in the group of national key universities.

National universities
Vietnam National University (VNU; Đại học Quốc gia) is a special hierarchy of the Vietnamese higher education system. VNUs are not under the management of the Ministry of Education or any other organization, but operate completely independently, only under the control of the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

Currently, there are only two VNUs in the two largest municipalities of Vietnam, Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City.

Regional universities
Regional universities (đại học vùng) are university systems under the management of the Ministry of Education and Training. Their organization and operation are similar to VNUs, but the directors will work with the Minister of MOET instead of the Prime Minister. Can Tho University is completing the project of upgrading to the fourth regional university.

Specialized university systems
On December 5, 2022, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1512/QD-TTg on the transformation of Trường Đại học Bách khoa Hà Nội into Đại học Bách khoa Hà Nội. Accordingly, Hanoi University of Science and Technology became the sixth university system in Vietnam.

Currently, some universities such as National Economics University, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City are preparing projects to become university systems, and are waiting for the approval of Ministry of Education and Training.

Public universities at central level
List of universities in Vietnam divided by management organizations including ministries, associations or central-level special units in Vietnam.

Universities in bold are on the national key university list.

Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is the national organization of Buddhism Community in Vietnam, only orthodox religious organization in Vietnam that is allowed to organize and train religious studies (Buddhism) programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. The Vietnam Buddhist Academy system is managed independently by the Sangha through the Central Board of Education for Monks and Nuns. The Sangha actively develops training programs and enrollment regulations for each Academy and at the same time reports to the Government on enrollment and training results annually.

Military academies, universities and colleges
Military academies and universitites are professionally managed by the Ministry of National Defense. The Minister of National Defense sets admission standards for each academy such as candidate's background, entry health, quota,... Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Training supports the academies. organize and operate teaching and management activities, as well as on behalf of the Ministry of National Defense, receive input enrollment documents and manage output graduation records.

Academies in bold are on the national key university list.

Police academies, universities
These Universities and Institutes also operate similarly to the military academies above. However, the governing body of police academies is the Ministry of Public Security instead of the Ministry of National Defense.

Public universities at local level
These are local universities, under the management of the government and the people's committees of the provinces. These universities are usually multidisciplinary but small in size.

Private universities
Private universities in Vietnam are set up by private companies/corporations and provide higher education services similar to public universities. The Vietnamese government allows corporations to set up private universities on the condition that they will be jointly managed by the Ministry of Education and Training and the Board of Directors of the corporation. The Ministry of Education and Training manages educational expertise, and issues related to building training programs, teaching and managing students,... while the Board of Directors manages issues about financial expenditure, investment attraction, and operational structure of the university.

International universities
This list includes universities in Vietnam but established and managed by international organizations or foreign governments. Unlike universities established under the cooperation between the Vietnamese government and foreign governments (for example, VGU, VJU, VKU,...), the universities in this list are under the independent management of a foreign organization/government. The Vietnamese government does not interfere in the operation of the school, however, it has the right to ask the directors to explain their management activities to ensure compliance with the provisions of Vietnamese law. Normally, these universities have the right to enroll students by separate methods, independent of the general regulations of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education.