Students may return to school up to one week before the September 5 opening ceremony, while first, ninth, and twelfth graders may start up to two weeks earlier. The first semester will end before January 18, 2026, and the school year will conclude before May 31, 2026.

Primary school completion and lower secondary graduation evaluations will be held before June 30, 2026. Enrollment for entry grades must be completed before July 31, 2026. The national high school graduation exam is scheduled for June 11-12, 2026, while other national-level exams will follow MOET’s regulations.

Local academic calendars must ensure 35 weeks of study (18 weeks in the first semester, 17 weeks in the second) and align with each province’s specific conditions. Public holidays will follow the Labor Code, and teachers’ annual leave will typically be in summer but may be arranged differently as needed.

The schedule must be consistent across education levels within the same locality, especially in schools with multiple levels. Provincial People’s Committee chairpersons have the authority to adjust start or end dates by up to two weeks in cases of natural disasters or epidemics, with prior MOET approval if special circumstances apply.

Provincial education directors can decide on temporary school closures during severe weather or disasters, ensuring teachers’ leave entitlements are met.

Thanh Hung