In a sweeping wave of reforms, both the Ministry of Health and the Department of Education and Training in Vietnam are moving forward with ambitious plans to reorganize and streamline public institutions under their management. These changes, designed to enhance operational efficiency, reduce administrative overlap, and improve service quality, are set to reshape the landscape of healthcare and education across the country.
On October 12, 2025, the Department of Education and Training of Thanh Hoa province unveiled a comprehensive proposal to restructure public educational institutions throughout the region. According to Bao Thanh Hoa, the department put forward four main plans: reviewing and reorganizing preschools, general education schools, vocational and continuing education centers, as well as colleges and universities managed by the province. This initiative is part of a broader national trend toward rationalizing public sector operations.
One of the most notable recommendations involves merging the University of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thanh Hoa into Hong Duc University. The goal is to create a multidisciplinary university that will not only consolidate resources but also boost the institution’s appeal to prospective students and international partners. The department explained that this merger would "reduce the number of higher education institutions from two to one, forming a multidisciplinary university, increasing attractiveness to learners and international cooperation, and focusing investment resources to expand scale and improve training quality."
The restructuring doesn’t stop at the university level. For the 16 border communes in Thanh Hoa, the department proposes the construction of boarding schools that combine primary and secondary levels, utilizing merged campuses for greater efficiency. School mergers will be carried out within commune-level administrative units, with a clear priority: maintain schools with strong physical infrastructure and accessibility, while dissolving those that fail to meet minimum standards. This pragmatic approach aims to ensure that educational opportunities remain accessible, especially in remote areas, without spreading resources too thin.
Vocational and continuing education is also in for a major overhaul. The department has proposed merging 23 vocational education centers and one continuing education center into just 14 vocational high schools. This consolidation is expected to streamline management and enhance the quality of vocational training, which is increasingly seen as a critical pathway for young people entering the workforce.
Changes are also on the horizon for colleges and vocational schools. While some institutions, such as the College of Agriculture and the College of Medicine, will remain unchanged, others will be combined. For example, the Thanh Hoa College of Industry will merge with the Nghi Son Vocational College to become the new Thanh Hoa College of Industry. Several vocational schools, including Ben Son and Thanh Hoa Technical Vocational Schools, will be absorbed into this new entity, with a northern campus established at the current Ben Son Vocational School headquarters. Meanwhile, Thach Thanh and Nga Son Vocational Schools are set to be transformed into vocational high schools.
After these changes, the total number of higher education and vocational institutions in Thanh Hoa will drop from 38 to 24—a reduction of 14 institutions. The department believes this will not only cut administrative costs but also allow for more focused investment in the remaining schools, ultimately raising educational standards across the province.
While Thanh Hoa’s education reforms are ambitious, they mirror equally significant changes underway in the health sector. As reported by Sohagame News, the Ministry of Health currently oversees 90 units, including hospitals, research institutes, training schools, forensic facilities, and pharmaceutical centers. Since 2017, the ministry has been steadily implementing a restructuring process to reduce overlap and boost operational efficiency.
Among the most impactful changes has been the transfer of three hospitals from central to local management, as well as the merger of several units. For instance, the College of Medical Equipment Technology was merged into Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, resulting in the creation of the Viet Duc College of Medicine and Equipment. The Ministry also merged the Practical Medical and Pharmaceutical Journals into a single Medical-Pharmaceutical Journal, signaling a trend toward consolidation in both administration and academic publishing.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Health has proposed transferring 13 additional units to local management and reorganizing 11 others. The SOS Children’s Village system is also slated for handover to local authorities, with the central office being streamlined into a leaner model. This move is expected to improve the management and delivery of services to vulnerable populations.
Hospital management is a particular focus of the restructuring. Of the 39 hospitals currently under the direct management of the Ministry, 25 will remain centrally managed to ensure their continued leadership in treatment, research, and training. These include some of the country’s most prestigious medical institutions, such as Bach Mai Hospital, K Hospital, Viet Duc Hospital, and the National Children’s Hospital. Specialized hospitals, however, are being merged into larger general hospitals to reduce redundancy and improve patient care. For example, the Can Tho Orthopedic-Rehabilitation Hospital will be merged into the Can Tho General Hospital, while the Orthopedic-Rehabilitation Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City will join Thong Nhat Hospital.
Some hospitals will also be transferred to university management to serve as teaching hospitals. The Da Nang Orthopedic-Rehabilitation Hospital, for instance, will become part of the Da Nang University of Medical Technology. According to the Ministry, these changes will "ensure uniformity and efficiency in management while maintaining high standards in training and patient care."
Forensic and preventive health services are not being left out. The Ministry currently manages eight forensic and mental forensic units and is proposing amendments to the Law on Forensic Examination to transfer five of these centers to local management. In preventive health, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will remain under the Ministry and take on the role of a national center, with other institutes being merged into it for greater effectiveness. In the south, the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology in Ho Chi Minh City and the Public Health Institute will be merged into the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City.
Medical training institutions will largely be maintained but with some streamlining to improve network connectivity. For example, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy will absorb Hai Duong Medical Technical University, and Hai Duong Central Pharmaceutical College will merge into Hanoi University of Pharmacy. The Ministry emphasized that all restructuring will be carried out "according to an appropriate roadmap, ensuring inheritance, stability, and no disruption to specialized work."
These sweeping reforms in both education and healthcare reflect a broader national effort to create leaner, more effective public institutions. By consolidating resources, eliminating redundancies, and focusing on quality, both sectors hope to better serve the needs of Vietnam’s growing population and keep pace with international standards.
As the dust settles from these reorganizations, all eyes will be on how effectively these newly streamlined institutions can deliver on their promises of improved quality and efficiency, shaping the future of public service in Vietnam for years to come.
