We understand that foreign University is an educational institution duly established and operating under the law of foreign country and is now planning to setup a legal entity in Vietnam which shall act for the purpose of marketing and service promotion in Vietnam.
In light of this purpose, foreign University should consider setting up a representative office of University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Under Vietnam Law, a Foreign Educational Institute having been operating in Foreign Country for at least 5 years upward, being recognized by competent authority in Foreign Country for its quality can setup a Representative Office in Vietnam.
Representative Office of a Foreign Educational Institute in Vietnam shall be allowed to conduct with following tasks:
a) Boosting the cooperation with Vietnamese educational institutions via promoting cooperation education programs and projects concerned by the Vietnamese party;
b) Organizing the consultation, information exchanges, seminars, and exhibition about education aiming to introduce the foreign educational institution;
c) Expediting and supervising the implementation of the agreements on education cooperation signed with Vietnam’s educational institutions.
We also would like to note that the Representative Office of Foreign Educational Institute must not engage with educational activities that directly generate profit in Vietnam.
Last but not least, although Vietnam Law is silent on requirements of experience and expertise of Chief of Representative Office of Foreign Educational Institute in Vietnam, in practice, the competent authority is always prefer person who has many year experience practicing in education services and has high diploma in the field.
According to Vietnam Law, within 30 working days from submission of application dossier to the competent authority, the Ministry of Education and Training shall grant License for establishment of Representative Office of Foreign Educational Institute. However, in practice, the licensing process can be much longer as it takes time for study and consideration.
