With population growth outpacing school capacity, the pressure on Hanoi’s public high school system is mounting. In 2025, nearly 30,000 students will be left without spots at public high schools, forcing many to consider private schools or vocational education centers.

One in two students rejected in many urban districts

On May 13, Hanoi’s Department of Education and Training released the application-to-seat ratios for each public high school’s Grade 10 intake for 2025.

The highest competition rate was at Yen Hoa High School, with 1/2.44 - meaning nearly three students competed for each seat. Other highly competitive schools included Le Quy Don (Ha Dong) with 1/2.35 and Kim Lien with 1/2.15.

This marks the first time in three years that no school in Hanoi has recorded a ratio exceeding 1/3.

Of the 127,000 students graduating from lower secondary school this year, 103,456 registered for public high school entrance exams.

However, only 75,670 slots are available across 115 non-specialized public schools.

This leaves nearly 30,000 students to seek places at private schools, continuing education centers, vocational institutions, or 9+ programs at intermediate and college levels.

Tran The Cuong, Director of Hanoi’s Department of Education and Training, stated that the capital's education sector had “made great efforts” to increase public school intake to 64%, up from 60–61% in previous years.

Despite this, the Grade 10 entrance exam in Hanoi remains extremely competitive. At Yen Hoa High School last year, the rate was 1/3.11 - three students vying for one spot. It was the third consecutive year with application-to-seat ratios above 1/3 citywide.

In inner districts, many schools maintain a ratio of 1/2 - meaning one in two students fails to secure a public school seat.

Private schools or vocational tracks: Not every family can choose

Parents whose children miss out on public schools must often pivot quickly - either opting for private schools, often far from home, or choosing centers for continuing education or vocational schools.

Yet, not all families can afford private education, fueling even fiercer competition for public slots.

Associate Professor Dang Thi Thanh Huyen, former director of the Institute for Educational Management Science, noted that many parents hold the mindset that their children must enter public high schools at all costs. The existing public school system in Hanoi simply cannot meet demand.

Rapid urbanization has worsened the strain. High-rise apartments and residential zones have surged, but school construction has not kept pace.

“A new urban area adds a population equivalent to a full ward, but without enough schools, leading to overcrowding,” said Huyen.

A private high school principal in Hanoi observed that most students are reluctant to attend vocational or continuing education centers, and few parents want their children’s education interrupted by exam failure.

For many, the Grade 10 entrance exam is even more stressful than university admissions - it’s perceived as a make-or-break moment in a child’s life.

However, the principal added, “Parents don’t insist on public schools simply for the label - they want affordable, high-quality education. But private schools are driving up fees.”

Among private schools disclosing their tuition, monthly fees range from around 2 million VND (≈$80) to nearly 90 million VND (≈$3,530). Most schools raise tuition annually by 10–30%.

These figures don’t include extra charges for enrichment programs, advanced English, or arts and sports activities, which can add several hundred thousand to millions of dong per month.

With Hanoi’s average monthly income at about 6.86 million VND (≈$270), experts call this financial burden “unsustainable.” The principal urged state intervention: “We need government support to reduce tuition fees and make private education more accessible.”

Public schools lag behind population growth

Hanoi currently has 119 public high schools, over 100 private ones, and various other institutions. Associate Professor Huyen emphasized the need for diverse post-lower-secondary options, including private high schools, vocational schools, and continuing education centers.

In vocational schools, students can complete academic requirements while learning a trade - a cost-effective path for those with modest academic records or financial constraints, leading either to employment or further education.

Director Cuong reiterated the city’s goal to ensure 100% of lower-secondary graduates who wish to continue schooling are admitted into high schools, vocational centers, or continuing education institutions.

“All school types in the capital are designed to accommodate all students,” he said.

However, experts argue that Hanoi’s career orientation and student streaming programs at the lower secondary level remain ineffective, often pressured by parental expectations.

Cuong acknowledged that school placement pressure is not purely a numbers game - it depends heavily on family preferences. This leads to imbalances: some areas under-enroll, while others are overwhelmed by demand but have too few public schools.

According to the Department of Education and Training, the five districts facing the largest public high school shortages are Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Ha Dong, Hoang Mai, and Nam Tu Liem.

Thuy Nga - Hoang Thanh