The directive comes amid reports that some parents in several localities, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, have had difficulty finding complete sets of textbooks even though more than 220 million copies have already been supplied nationwide.

According to the MoET and the Vietnam Education Publishing House, the issue is mainly one of localised shortages of particular titles at particular schools, rather than an overall shortage of textbooks across the country.

As of August 15, the Vietnam Education Publishing House and its distribution network had supplied around 220 million textbook copies, alongside 76 million workbooks and reference books. The publisher said textbook output this year was 148% of the level recorded in the same period last year.

However, supply at individual sales points has not always matched actual demand. Some schools have seen their enrollment change after restructuring, while additional demand has emerged from newly established schools, boarding schools in border areas and schools in remote and disadvantaged locations.

Parents and students may also buy additional copies for use at home, and at the same time some books can sell out at one retailer even when stocks remain available elsewhere.

In Ho Chi Minh City, around 95% of textbook demand had been met by August 20, with primary schools reaching 98%, lower secondary schools 90% and upper secondary schools 80%. The remaining supplies are being delivered to the city.

These figures underline the main challenge facing the distribution system: matching supply with actual demand at the level of each school and each title.

Education Ministry sets August 30 deadline

To address the remaining gaps, the Ministry of Education and Training issued a document on August 21, requiring provincial and municipal Departments of Education and Training to urgently review the number of textbooks available and missing at each school, grade level, subject and title.

Local authorities must submit additional demand to the Vietnam Education Publishing House by August 25, allowing the publisher to develop supply plans and redistribute books from areas with excess stocks to locations facing shortages.

Priority will be given to schools that still lack textbooks, newly established schools, border boarding schools and schools in remote, mountainous and disadvantaged areas, as well as locations where student numbers have changed following administrative and school restructuring.

The MoET has set August 30 as the deadline for completing textbook supply to schools, with authorities instructed to ensure that any shortage has a specific solution in place.

Schools are also required to clearly inform teachers, students and parents about textbook supply arrangements. Where new copies are not immediately available, schools can make use of reusable books, library stocks and lending schemes, or provide support in accordance with regulations.

Electronic textbooks made available by the Vietnam Education Publishing House can also be accessed free of charge.

Building a buffer for unexpected demand

The Vietnam Education Publishing House said it is continuing to print around 9 million additional textbook copies to provide a reserve and respond to emerging demand.

At the same time, newly reported needs from schools and localities will continue to be reviewed and met through redistribution according to actual demand.

Another factor supporting supply flexibility is a major change beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, when the country moves to a single set of general education textbooks nationwide under Ministry decisions.

The Vietnam Education Publishing House also said textbooks printed in 2025 or earlier can generally continue to be used and reused, except for titles that have been updated or revised under new regulations. This gives schools an additional source of books when new supplies are temporarily unavailable.

The approach means that the immediate challenge is no longer simply how many textbooks have been printed nationwide, but whether the right books are in the right places at the right time.

With the new school year beginning on September 5, the August 30 deadline gives the education sector a clear final window to close local supply gaps, redistribute available books and ensure that students start the 2026-2027 school year with the textbooks they need.