More than 200 Vietnamese parents are reeling after the sudden closure of the Australia International English School (AIES) in early May, which reportedly disappeared after collecting over VND 6.5 billion (USD 250,000) in prepaid tuition fees. The school, located in Tan Phu District in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, shut its doors without notice, leaving students, parents, and staff in disarray — and its director nowhere to be found.
According to VNExpress, parents were initially informed on May 8 that the center would close temporarily due to heavy rains affecting its facilities. But the situation quickly escalated: by May 9, the director had gone silent, his wife claimed he had traveled abroad, and the school’s website and social media pages were deleted.
Parents gather outside the shuttered Australia International English School in Ho Chi Minh City after its sudden closure in May 2025 Photo Courtesy VNExpress
“I trusted this school with my child’s future,” said one parent, who had just paid for a full-year course. “Now the building is closed, no one’s answering calls, and our money is gone.”
Teachers were just as stunned. Some reported being locked out of internal systems, while others said they had not received their salaries. Several staff members are now cooperating with police as investigations begin.
The company behind the school, Duy Khang Education and Training Co., Ltd., is registered under the name of Ho Dang Duy, who remains uncontactable as of publication. His wife’s phone has also been switched off.
Local authorities, including the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, have confirmed they are investigating the matter. Parents have begun organizing online to explore legal action and share updates on the case.
This incident follows a growing pattern of sudden closures in Vietnam’s booming private English education sector, raising concerns about the lack of regulation and financial transparency. While foreign language centers are popular among parents seeking international opportunities for their children, there is limited government oversight to protect consumers from such financial losses.
“We need stronger regulations,” said one affected teacher. “This isn’t the first time a center has vanished like this — but the scale here is shocking.”
As of now, no official charges have been announced, and the whereabouts of the director remain unknown.
