Circular No. 75/2023/TT-BTC guiding the management of training funds for Laotian and Cambodian overseas students (under the Agreement) studying in Vietnam using the financial aid from the Government of Vietnam.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for managing training funds for Laotian and Cambodian exchange students studying in Vietnam using government aid funds
(under Agreement)

Government of Vietnam

Pursuant to the State Budget Law dated June 25, 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 163/2016/NĐ-CP dated December 21, 2016 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on State Budget;

Pursuant to Decree No. 14/2023/NĐ-CP dated April 20, 2023, issued by the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Implementing the conclusions of the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the adjustment of training cost standards for Laotian and Cambodian students (under Agreement) as stated in Notification No. 427/TB-VPCP dated October 20, 2023 of the Government Office;

This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2025.

The Minister of Finance issues this Circular to guide the management of training funds for Laotian and Cambodian exchange students (under Agreement) studying in Vietnam using government aid funds as follows:

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

      This Circular stipulates the management and use of non-repayable aid funds from the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the Governments of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia to train Laotian and Cambodian exchange students sent to study in Vietnam under agreements for cooperation between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and with the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Laotian and Cambodian exchange students").

2. Scope of application: This Circular applies to educational institutions in Vietnam; Laotian and Cambodian exchange students and organizations and individuals related to the management and use of non-repayable aid funds from the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the Governments of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia to train and enhance Laotian and Cambodian exchange students.

3. For Laotian and Cambodian officials and managers coming to Vietnam for research, study, and enhancement at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics according to approved programs, projects, or special training plans, the cost standards shall be implemented according to separate Circulars issued by the Ministry of Finance. In the absence of such separate Circulars, the provisions of this Circular shall apply.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms and phrases shall be understood as follows:

1. Agreement: Refers to Agreements, Minutes of Joint Government Committee Meetings signed between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic or with the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

2. Exchange Students: Are Laotian and Cambodian cadres, students, and university students studying in Vietnam under the Agreements as specified in Clause 1, Article 1 of this Circular.

3. Long-term Training: Includes secondary education, vocational training at intermediate and advanced levels, undergraduate and postgraduate education as prescribed, with a training duration of 12 months or more; and Vietnamese language courses for entrance examinations into these programs.

4. Short-term Training: Refers to specialized knowledge enhancement courses with a training duration of less than 12 months.

Article 3. Principles of Management

1. Training funds, initial support, and living expenses are provided through educational institutions assigned by authorized bodies to train Laotian and Cambodian exchange students.

2. Educational institutions training exchange students must fully meet the legal requirements for standards and quality of training exchange students assigned by the competent authority, not subcontract other educational institutions to perform the assigned tasks; they are responsible for managing and using funds for their intended purposes, effectively, transparently, and in accordance with regulations.

3. Budget preparation, settlement, and finalization shall be carried out in accordance with the Law on State Budget, relevant regulations, and this Circular.

4. Training costs for non-resident exchange students are calculated based on the number of months the exchange students are present in Vietnam for study; if less than one month, it is calculated based on the actual number of days present for study.

Article 4. Training Fees

1. Content of Expenses

a) Recurrent expenses: Including expenses for teaching and learning activities, including translation and interpretation costs for materials (if applicable); expenses for short-term training classes to attend study tours and practical surveys (if applicable); accommodation support for international students.

b) One-time expenses for the entire course: Including equipment support expenses for teaching and practice, and living facilities for international students residing in dormitories; sightseeing expenses; admission procedure fees; course completion and graduation thesis defense expenses; visa extension fees when the visa duration is shorter than the course duration; gift and individual and group award expenses for outstanding academic and discipline achievements at educational institutions; airport reception and departure expenses for international students.

c) Other expenses

Initial comprehensive health check expenses; annual comprehensive health check expenses; medical insurance purchase expenses; additional support on Vietnamese National Day and the host country's National Day, Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the host country's Lunar New Year; other expenses according to the actual needs of short-term training programs (not exceeding 5% of the defined expense limit for short-term training programs as stipulated in point b Clause 2 Article 4 of this Law), including: visiting and emergency sick leave support expenses for international students; electricity and water living support, cultural exchange, and sports expenses for international students as prescribed.

2. Expense Limits

a) Long-term training program: Not exceeding 3,350,000 VND/person/month.

b) Short-term training program: Not exceeding 7,150,000 VND/person/month.

c) Educational institutions under the defense, security, cryptographic, physical education, and arts sectors shall be entitled to an additional 10% increase in the expense limits for corresponding long-term and short-term training programs as stipulated in points a and b Clause 2 Article 4 of this Law.

d) For specific expense items as prescribed in Clause 1 Article 4 of this Law: Apply the expense limits prescribed by the educational institution, ensuring compliance with legal regulations and that the total expenses do not exceed the limits set out in points a, b, and c Clause 2 Article 4 of this Law. In cases where the educational institution exceeds the prescribed expense limits, the institution must use its own legitimate financial resources to cover the excess.

Article 5. Living Allowance

The living allowance includes a subsistence allowance and food expenses, provided by the educational institution to international students based on the following standards:

1. International students in long-term secondary school training programs, including preparatory Vietnamese language courses for entrance exams and admissions: 4,300,000 VND/person/month.

2. International students in long-term vocational secondary, college, and university training programs, including preparatory Vietnamese language courses for entrance exams and admissions: 4,750,000 VND/person/month.

3. International students in long-term postgraduate training programs, including preparatory Vietnamese language courses for entrance exams and admissions: 5,350,000 VND/person/month.

4. International students in short-term training and training programs: 6,750,000 VND/person/month.

Article 6. Initial Support for Equipment Provision

1. Support Standards

a) Long-term training program international students: 5,800,000 VND/person.

b) Short-term training program international students: 4,650,000 VND/person.

c) International students in the defense, security, cryptographic sectors: An additional uniform difference allowance of 100,000 VND/person/month.

2. Principles of Support

a) Initial support funds for equipment provision are provided through the educational institution to assist international students.

b) Initial personal equipment support necessary for each student is provided once for the entire course period, including essential items such as clothing, backpacks, quilts, mosquito nets, washbasins, etc. In case of loss or damage, replacement will not be provided.

c) International students who have already received initial personal equipment support when studying Vietnamese language for entrance exams and admissions will not be eligible for initial personal equipment support when entering the formal training program.

Article 7. Travel Cost Support

1. For long-term concentrated students, short-term students: They are supported with one round-trip economy class air ticket (a ticket to Vietnam upon enrollment and a return ticket upon graduation) and airport fees, excess baggage charges beyond the ticket weight allowance (20kg) along the most cost-effective route.

In cases where students choose other means of transportation (not air travel), they will be reimbursed for the actual fare recorded on the service travel invoice. The fare shall not exceed the lowest economy class airfare from the point of departure to the destination.

2. For regular non-concentrated master's degree programs: For each period of concentrated study, students are supported with one lowest economy class air ticket for either the outbound or inbound journey. If the training institution organizes centralized pick-up/drop-off services at the border crossing, with student agreement, the travel costs from/to the border crossing will be reimbursed based on actual expenses, not exceeding 50% of the lowest economy class airfare from the point of departure to the destination.

Article 8. Budget Estimation, Allocation, Payment, and Settlement of Aid Funds

1. Budget Estimation and Allocation

a) Based on the number of current students, new training quotas, and support cost standards for training institutions for Lao and Cambodian students under the Agreement as stipulated in this Circular and relevant laws, ministries, central agencies, and localities authorized to allocate training quotas for Lao and Cambodian students shall prepare the budget for aid funds for training in accordance with state budget laws, and submit it to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for consolidation into the aid fund budget, to be reviewed and decided by the competent authority.

b) On the basis of allocated aid fund budgets, ministries, central agencies, and localities shall allocate aid fund budgets to their subordinate training institutions.

2. Payment of Aid Funds

a) Training institutions shall withdraw aid fund budgets through the State Treasury in accordance with regulations.

b) The State Treasury shall control expenditures and pay aid funds according to regulations.

3. Settlement of Aid Funds

a) Settlement of expenditures based on actual spending, with complete invoices and supporting documents proving compliance with regulations, except for items subject to lump-sum allocation as provided by law.

b) Ministries, central agencies, and localities shall prepare reports on the settlement of aid fund expenditures for training, to be included in their overall expenditure settlement reports for submission to settle the state budget in accordance with state budget management laws.

Article 9. Implementation Organization

1. Effective date

This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2024, and replaces Circular No. 24/2018/TT-BTC dated March 12, 2018, issued by the Ministry of Finance, guiding the management of training funding for Lao and Cambodian students (under the Agreement) studying in Vietnam.

2. Transitional Provisions

Where ministries, central agencies, and localities have been allocated 2024 aid fund budgets for training Lao and Cambodian students based on Circular No. 24/2018/TT-BTC dated March 12, 2023, issued by the Ministry of Finance, these entities shall propose supplementary aid fund budgets for the difference in cost standards based on this Circular, and report to the competent authority for review and decision.

3. During implementation, if there are difficulties or issues, relevant agencies and units shall promptly notify the Ministry of Finance for consideration of supplementation or amendment in accordance with regulations./