According to Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son, the ministry had worked with other ministries and agencies on a report and proposed plan for reorganising higher education institutions.
Under a broader government programme, vocational education institutions will also be streamlined, with the number of administrative units cut by at least 30 per cent and management transferred to local authorities.
Son said restructuring universities would be more complex than reorganising schools because higher education institutions vary widely in size, fields of study, market segments, missions and development strategies.
While the process could initially pose challenges, he said it was aimed at strengthening the higher education system and individual institutions while eliminating poor-quality and inefficient providers.
The ministry is finalising the plan and will work with relevant agencies to carry out the restructuring in stages, Son said.
Under a proposed merger plan, the ministry expects to reduce the number of higher education institutions under its management by five and vocational institutions by 12.
The university restructuring plan is expected to be submitted to the government in the third quarter.
As part of its priorities for the 2026-2027 academic year, the ministry also plans to accelerate the restructuring of public universities and develop three to five elite research universities of international standards.
It is also considering investment in higher education, science, technology and innovation hubs in Hanoi, HCM City and other key economic regions.