Hue caps school fees and vows action against principals who overcharge

Hue City is putting a ceiling on school charges and warning principals that deliberate overcharging will bring consequences. The rules come just before the 2026-27 academic year, when extra school fees become a major concern for parents.

Decision 84/2026 standardizes the categories of fees that public schools may collect and sets maximum amounts for education-related support services. Schools may not create additional charges outside the approved list, and negotiated fees still cannot exceed the prescribed ceilings.

The limits include 350,000 Vietnamese dong per preschool child each month for meal preparation and boarding care, and 250,000 dong per primary school pupil. Drinking water may cost 5,000 to 10,000 dong per month, while school and classroom cleaning fees may not exceed 15,000 dong per month. Schools must calculate charges according to the actual number of months taught and may not extend them beyond the school year.

Nguyen Tan, director of Hue’s Department of Education and Training, said the policy establishes a unified legal framework after schools had applied different approaches. He said the education sector rejects “overcharging in any form” and requires every student-related payment to be public, lawful, properly used and directed toward learners’ interests.

The decision also requires schools to prepare detailed cost estimates and operate on a cost-recovery basis rather than for profit. Schools must publicly reconcile the funds at the end of each semester and school year. Any surplus remaining after the academic year must be returned to students’ parents.

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Overcharging in any form