In the bustling heart of Hanoi, at number 79 E Quang Trung street, a new legal player has quietly but confidently opened its doors: CÔNG TY LUẬT TNHH PKL. While the name might not yet be a household staple, the firm’s emergence comes at a time of significant legal and educational reform in Vietnam—an intersection that could see its expertise called upon sooner rather than later.
According to official records, CÔNG TY LUẬT TNHH PKL’s headquarters sits in Hà Đông ward, Hanoi city, with a direct line for queries at 0987.904.980 and an email address at [email protected]. The company’s legal representative is Lại Tuấn Long, who also serves as Director. Residing at number 46 Nam Ngư street in the Cửa Nam ward of Hanoi, Lại Tuấn Long brings a substantial legal pedigree, holding lawyer card number 20077/LS issued on September 25, 2023, and is a recognized member of the Hanoi City Bar Association.
What does PKL actually do? Official documents spell out a broad mandate: participation in prosecution, legal consulting, external representation in prosecution, and a suite of other legal services. The company’s registered business activities are solidified under operation registration certificate number 01.2025.02.2633/TP/ĐKHĐ, granted by the Hanoi Department of Justice on October 6, 2025. In short, PKL is positioned to offer a full spectrum of legal support, from litigation to advisory roles—a timely offering, given the shifting regulatory landscape Vietnam is currently navigating.
That shifting landscape is nowhere more evident than in the education sector. A recent official dispatch, numbered 6365/BGDĐT-TCCB, has set the stage for what could be a major overhaul of Vietnam’s vocational and continuing education system. This dispatch references guidance from the Central Steering Committee, specifically dispatch 59-CV/BCĐ dated September 12, 2025, outlining an ambitious plan: unify vocational education centers (GDNN) and continuing education centers (GDTX) into vocational high schools, equivalent to the high school level and directly overseen by the Department of Education and Training. The aim? Streamlining and modernizing Vietnam’s approach to vocational training, while ensuring oversight and consistency across the country.
But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one. As the Ministry of Education and Training has pointed out, the proposed 'vocational high school' model has yet to find a home in current Vietnamese law. Instead, it remains a proposal, tucked into the draft of the amended Vocational Education Law, which is only expected to be submitted to the National Assembly at its 10th session. In other words, the legal foundation for this sweeping reform doesn’t exist—at least, not yet.
This legal gap has thrown a wrench into the reform’s timeline. The Ministry of Education and Training has stated, “The 'vocational high school' model is not yet regulated in current law and is only proposed in the draft amended Vocational Education Law expected to be submitted to the National Assembly at the 10th session.” As a result, the much-anticipated unification of vocational and continuing education centers cannot proceed immediately. Instead, the Ministry proposes a more measured approach: first, review and consolidate existing centers by inter-ward and commune areas, then, once the law is passed, consider larger-scale transformation or mergers.
It’s a cautious but pragmatic response to a legal conundrum. The Ministry’s proposal is, essentially, a call for patience—an acknowledgment that while the vision for a streamlined, modern vocational education system is compelling, the legal groundwork must come first. This isn’t just bureaucratic foot-dragging; it’s a recognition that jumping the gun could create more problems than it solves, especially when it comes to the rights and responsibilities of students, teachers, and administrators caught in the transition.
There’s another wrinkle, too. The guidance from the Central Steering Committee stipulates that each province or city can have at most three vocational schools—not counting self-managed continuing education schools. This cap is intended to prevent an unwieldy proliferation of institutions, but the Ministry has urged flexibility. It has requested “special consideration for localities regarding the limit on the number of vocational schools, and synchronization of arrangement between self-managed and non-self-managed schools aiming at quality and efficiency of training activities.” In other words, one size might not fit all, especially in a country as diverse as Vietnam.
For PKL and its director, Lại Tuấn Long, these developments present both challenges and opportunities. As legal reforms inch forward, the demand for clear, reliable legal advice is likely to grow—particularly from educational institutions navigating the uncertain waters of regulatory change. With its broad mandate and experienced leadership, PKL is well-placed to provide the counsel and representation that schools, administrators, and local authorities will need as the new law takes shape.
But what about the students and communities these reforms are meant to serve? The Ministry’s approach—review first, reform later—reflects a desire to avoid disruption. By consolidating centers on a regional basis before undertaking wholesale transformation, the Ministry hopes to maintain continuity in education while laying the groundwork for a more effective system in the future. It’s a delicate balancing act: move too quickly, and risk chaos; move too slowly, and risk stagnation.
The story, then, is one of anticipation. Vietnam stands on the cusp of significant educational and legal change, but the transition will be measured, not rushed. For now, all eyes are on the National Assembly and the fate of the amended Vocational Education Law. If and when it passes, the country’s vocational education system could look very different—and firms like PKL will be right there, helping to navigate the new terrain.
In a city known for its energy and ambition, the emergence of PKL and the ongoing educational reforms serve as reminders that progress is rarely straightforward. It’s a process of fits and starts, of vision tempered by pragmatism, and of new players stepping up to meet the challenges of a changing Vietnam.