How are the school start dates in 34 different provinces and cities? Which one is the earliest?

Up to this point, many of the 34 new provinces and cities nationwide have announced the 2025-2026 school year schedule for preschool education, general education and continuing education, and regulations on the school opening date.

The Ministry of Education and Training has issued a schedule for the 2025-2026 school year for preschool education , general education and continuing education. Accordingly, the whole country will start school at the same time on the morning of September 5, 2025, returning to school at least 1 week before the opening day. Particularly for grades 1, 9 and 12, they will return to school at least 2 weeks before the opening day.

What is special about the school calendar of 34 provinces and centrally-run cities? Which province or city will welcome students back to school first?

Ho Chi Minh City first graders return to school on the morning of August 20, 2025

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

This morning, August 20, 2025, students in grades 1, 9, and 12 of Ho Chi Minh City returned to school.

Up to this point, Tuyen Quang is the province that allows students to return to school the earliest (grades 1, 9, and 12 will return to school on August 18, 2025).

Thanh Nien Online would like to summarize the school year 2025 - 2026 schedule of 34 provincial administrative units for your reference:

School start time 11 provincial administrative units do not make arrangements:

Province, city	Students who return to school early	First day of school for all school
Hanoi City	Updating	Updating
Hue City	Students in grades 1, 6 and 10 return to school on August 21, 2025	The remaining grades will return to school on August 25, 2025.
Quang Ninh	Updating	Updating
Lai Chau	Updating	Updating
Thanh Hoa	Updating
Nghe An	The entire education sector will return to school on August 25, 2025.	The entire education sector will return to school on August 25, 2025.
Dien Bien	Updating	Updating
Son La	Grades 1, 9, and 12 return to school on August 22, 2025	The remaining grades will return to school on August 29, 2025.
Lang Son	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 return to school on August 22, 2025	Students of the remaining grades return to school on August 29, 2025.
Ha Tinh	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 return to school on August 22, 2025	The remaining grades will return to school on August 29, 2025.
Cao Bang	At least 2 weeks before the opening date of September 5, 2025	At least 1 week before the opening date

School opening schedule for 23 new provincial administrative units after arrangement:

	First day of school for first graders	First day of school for other grades
Tuyen Quang	Students in grades 1, 9, and 12 return to school on August 18, 2025	Other grades return to school 1 week before the opening date.
Lao Cai	Students in grades 1, 9, and 12 will return to school on August 20, 2025 at the earliest.	Students across the province return to school on August 27, 2025
Thai Nguyen	Updating	Updating
Phu Tho	Updating	Updating
Bac Ninh	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 return to school on August 20, 2025	Students across the province, from preschool, general education and continuing education, return to school on August 26, 2025.
Hung Yen	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 return to school on August 22, 2025	Students in Hung Yen province return to school on August 29, 2025
Hai Phong City	Updating	Updating
Ninh Binh	Grades 1, 9, and 12 return to school on August 22, 2025	For other grades, the first day of school is August 29, 2025.
Quang Tri	Updating	Updating
Da Nang City	Updating	Updating
Quang Ngai	Grade 1, 9 and 12 return to school from August 22, 2025	Students of the remaining grades will return to school on August 29, 2025.
Gia Lai	Updating	Updating
Khanh Hoa	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 will return to school from August 20, 2025.	Students of the remaining grades will return to school on August 27, 2025.
Lam Dong	Students of all grades return to school from August 25, 2025	Students of all grades return to school from August 25, 2025
Dak Lak	Updating	Updating
Ho Chi Minh City	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 will return to school from August 20, 2025.	Students of the remaining grades return to school on August 25, 2025
Dong Nai	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 will return to school on August 22, 2025 at the earliest.	The remaining grades will return to school on August 28, 2025.
Tay Ninh	First graders return to school on August 21, 2025	Students of the remaining classes, preschool, general education, and continuing education will return to school on August 28, 2025.
Can Tho City	9th and 12th graders return to school on August 22, 2025. 1st graders return to school on August 25, 2025.	Preschool and the remaining elementary school classes will return to school on August 28, 2025. The remaining junior high school, high school, and continuing education classes will return to school on August 29, 2025.
Vinh Long	Students in grades 1, 9, and 12 will return to school from August 25, 2025.	The remaining grades will return to school from August 28, 2025.
Dong Thap	Students in grades 1, 9, and 12 return to school on August 22, 2025	Students of the remaining classes, August 29, 2025
Ca Mau	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 will return to school from August 25, 2025	Other grades return to school from August 28, 2025
An Giang	Students in grades 1, 9 and 12 will return to school from August 22, 2025.	Students of other grades, return to school on August 29, 2025

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-tuu-truong-34-tinh-thanh-khac-nhau-ra-sao-noi-nao-som-nhat-185250818185109489.htm