For the first time, 26 million students across Vietnam simultaneously stood in schoolyards, eyes fixed on large screens, as they saluted the flag and sang the national anthem to inaugurate the 2025-2026 academic year.

This morning, all 52,000 educational institutions nationwide connected via livestream to mark the start of what is expected to be a challenging but determined school year. It is the first time in Vietnam’s history that every educational facility – from public to private, from preschool to university – held a synchronized flag ceremony and national anthem.

At school stages across the country, students collectively faced big screens to join the national ceremony, establishing a moment of unity across generations and regions.

The event also commemorated the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s Ministry of Education, formerly known as the Ministry of National Education.
The ceremony held at the National Convention Center was attended by key leaders of the country: General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and other high-ranking officials.

In his speech, General Secretary To Lam congratulated the education sector on its 80-year tradition and the opening of the new academic year. He also presented the First-Class Labor Order to the Ministry of Education and Training and beat the ceremonial drum to launch the school year.

Across Vietnam, schools celebrated in their own unique ways while remaining connected to the national livestream. At Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary School in Hanoi, students listened to a recording of President Ho Chi Minh’s letter to pupils and teachers.

At Nguyen Tat Thanh Primary School (Nam Dinh Province), young students, especially first graders, arrived early, hand-in-hand with teachers, dressed neatly in uniforms, and filled with excitement. The schoolyard sparkled with flags and flowers. Many parents stayed behind to attend the ceremony alongside their children.

In Thai Nguyen, Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung attended the school ceremony at Viet Bac Ethnic Boarding High School, joined by provincial leaders and education officials, offering encouragement and motivation.

At Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary School in Hanoi, now in its second year of operation with nearly 1,000 students and 280 new first graders, the atmosphere was jubilant.

At Luong The Vinh Secondary and High School in Cau Giay District, Hanoi, the flag ceremony was conducted with precision. Sixth graders wore costumes featuring the national flag, while new tenth-grade students donned camouflage uniforms, separated into classes based on academic streams: Group A, A1, and D. Female and male students wore coordinated but distinct uniform colors.

The artistic segment at Luong The Vinh included a parade titled "The journey of knowledge," a human formation in the shape of the Vietnamese map called "Under the school roof, we draw the shape of the nation," and a choral performance titled "Continuing the story of peace."

Following that, the school live-streamed the national ceremony, featuring the flag salute, national anthem, opening remarks from the board of directors, student representatives’ pledges, floral presentations, and the traditional drumbeat.

Elsewhere, Tran Phu High School celebrated with over 2,000 students, including 837 new tenth graders. At Chu Van An High School, grade 10 students paraded proudly to enthusiastic applause from teachers and classmates.

At Trung Yen Primary School in Hanoi, students were divided into groups either outdoors or indoors to attend the ceremony. Teacher Dinh Thi Theu (class 1A4) guided her students in following the national livestream via VTV1.

Meanwhile, in remote Viet Bac boarding schools, teachers and students gathered in unity. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, around 1.6 million teachers and 26 million students participated in this unprecedented nationwide opening ceremony.

The event carried a dual significance: it welcomed the new academic year while celebrating 80 years of the ministry’s history, symbolizing the progress and resilience of Vietnamese education.

VietNamNet