Ho Chi Minh City Open University

What Ho Chi Minh City Open University does

Ho Chi Minh City Open University (Trường Đại học Mở Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is a state-owned public university established by Prime Ministerial Decision No. 389/TTg on July 26, 1993, operating under Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training. The university delivers higher education across four core modalities: full-time undergraduate programs (Đại học chính quy), postgraduate master's and doctoral programs (Đào tạo Sau Đại học), distance learning (Đào tạo Từ xa), and online/blended learning (Đào tạo Trực tuyến). It serves primarily Vietnamese domestic students seeking flexible higher education access, alongside a growing cohort of more than 200 international students from France, Germany, Turkey, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Cambodia, and other countries enrolled in long-term degree programs. The university is organized around 12 faculties spanning Information Technology, Law, Accounting and Auditing, Economics and Public Management, Foreign Languages, Business Administration, Finance and Banking, Construction, Biotechnology, and basic/applied sciences.

The institution's technology backbone comprises a Learning Management System (learn.ou.edu.vn), a Student Information System (sis.ou.edu.vn), an online course registration portal (dkmh.oude.edu.vn), an admission portal (tuyensinh.ou.edu.vn), and a VSTEP English proficiency testing center, all delivered through its main domain ou.edu.vn. Dedicated operating units include the Distance Learning Center (oude.edu.vn) and the Online Learning Center (elo.edu.vn). Physical infrastructure spans 8 campuses across Ho Chi Minh City (6 sites), Dong Nai province (1 branch/Phân hiệu), and Khanh Hoa province (1 satellite site), supporting the open-education mission of providing equitable access to higher education across southern Vietnam.

The business model is tuition-driven, with revenue generated from fees across all delivery modes and from ancillary services such as VSTEP English testing (priced at 1.4 million VND for enrolled students and 1.8 million VND for external candidates). Student acquisition is conducted through the centralized national university admission system (nguyện vọng xét tuyển), the university's own admission portal, and dedicated online portals for distance and online learners. Marketing channels include the official website, social media (Facebook, YouTube, TikTok), email communications, and on-campus events such as career fairs and the annual Traditional Sports Tournament. The university supplements tuition with substantial scholarship programs — over 10,000 scholarships annually worth more than 60 billion VND, including a long-running Nguyen Duc Canh scholarship scheme that has issued 4,364 awards over 26 years. No public revenue figure is disclosed; this is a not-for-profit educational institution with no equity funding, M&A, or IPO history.

Name

Ho Chi Minh City Open University

Legal name

Trường Đại học Mở Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

Website

https://ou.edu.vn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Ho Chi Minh City Open University is a Vietnamese state-owned public university, founded in 1993, delivering multi-modal higher education (regular, distance, online, postgraduate) across 8 campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Khanh Hoa provinces to domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Distance learning
• Online education
• Postgraduate programs
• English proficiency testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ho Chi Minh City

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue is primarily generated from tuition and fees across multiple delivery modes: full-time undergraduate, distance learning, online/blended, postgraduate (master's and doctoral), and continuing education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ho Chi Minh City Open University is a public university offering higher education across multiple delivery modes — full-time undergraduate, graduate (master's and doctoral), distance learning, and online/blended programs — to domestic and international students in Vietnam. It also administers the VSTEP English proficiency certification exam for students and external candidates. Education is delivered through 8 campuses and digital platforms spanning IT, law, economics, foreign languages, construction, biotechnology, accounting, and finance disciplines.

Product overview

Ho Chi Minh City Open University operates as a comprehensive public university offering multiple educational delivery modes. The core portfolio includes four main products: (1) Regular University Programs (Đại học chính quy) for undergraduate face-to-face education, (2) Graduate Education (Đào tạo Sau Đại học) for Master's and doctoral programs, (3) Distance Learning (Đào tạo Từ xa) for flexible remote study, and (4) Online Learning (Đào tạo Trực tuyến) for fully digital education. These are supported by technology platforms including the Student Information System (sis.ou.edu.vn) for academic records management, a Learning Management System (learn.ou.edu.vn) for course delivery, and the VSTEP English proficiency testing service. The university operates through 12 faculties (Khoa) covering disciplines from Information Technology to Law, and manages specialized centers for distance and online education delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Regular University Program (Đại học chính quy) Undergraduate education programs offered in traditional face-to-face format at the university's main campus and satellite locations across Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Khanh Hoa. For Vietnamese and international students pursuing bachelor's degrees.
• Graduate Education (Đào tạo Sau Đại học) Master's and doctoral degree programs for advanced academic and professional development, delivered through the Faculty of Graduate Education (sdh.ou.edu.vn).
• Distance Learning (Đào tạo Từ xa) Distance education programs allowing students to study remotely with flexible scheduling and reduced on-campus requirements, administered through the Center for Distance Education (oude.edu.vn).
• Online Learning (Đào tạo Trực tuyến) Fully online education programs delivered through digital platforms (elo.edu.vn), enabling remote participation in 'work while studying' modalities.
• VSTEP English Proficiency Testing (Kỳ thi VSTEP) English proficiency certification exam administered by the university for assessing language competency of students and external candidates. Recognized for graduation requirements, employment, and professional advancement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 international students enrolled in long-term degree programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• 07 Construction CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2026On August 12, 2026, the university signed cooperation agreements with 7 construction companies to enhance practical training quality in the construction/built environment sector. The partnerships aim to bridge academic learning with real-world industry practice.
• Australian UniversitiesmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2026On August 10, 2026, in Sydney, Australia, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha — Secretary of the Party Committee and Rector of Ho Chi Minh City Open University — signed cooperation agreements with Australian universities to promote academic exchange and collaboration.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026On August 6, 2026, the university signed a cooperation agreement with ACCA to expand career development opportunities for students in the Accounting and Auditing program. The partnership aims to provide students with internationally recognized professional qualifications.
• Southern Queensland University (Australia)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Ho Chi Minh City Open University and Southern Queensland University (Australia) are developing cooperative relations and working toward expanded IT program linkages, as part of the Special Training Faculty's international programs.
• Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2024On February 21, 2024, the university welcomed a delegation from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) for a cultural and academic exchange event hosted by the Faculty of Information Technology. The exchange aims to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two institutions, focusing on IT and broader academic collaboration.
• Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh CityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2023On October 11, 2023, the university received the Consul General of India at its Hồ Hảo Hớn campus to discuss potential cooperation in education, including academic exchanges, faculty and student mobility, and joint scientific conferences, aiming to strengthen cultural and educational ties between Vietnam and India.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam's premier multi-campus public university system in HCMC, competing for the same regional student pool with stronger research and brand credentials. Closest direct competitor within HCMC for undergraduate and graduate enrollment.
• University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH): Major public university in HCMC specializing in economics, business, finance, and accounting. Direct competitor for HCMC OU's economics, accounting, and business administration faculties.
• Van Lang University: Major private Vietnamese university in HCMC offering multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs across similar fields (IT, business, languages, design). Comparable in mission and program breadth, with a similar student-outcome emphasis.
• Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT/BK): Leading public technical university in HCMC under VNU-HCM system, with strong IT and engineering programs that overlap with HCMC OU's IT and Construction faculties. Competes for STEM-focused students in the same geography.
• Hanoi Open University: Vietnam's other national open university, offering similar multi-modal (full-time, distance, online) undergraduate and graduate programs under the open education model. Direct counterpart in the north operating under the same ministerial governance as HCMC OU.

Broad incumbents

• FPT University: Large private technology-focused university with multiple campuses across Vietnam and strong online/digital learning capabilities. Significant competitor in IT and business programs and a leader in digitally delivered education in Vietnam.
• RMIT Vietnam: Australian university's Vietnam campus offering international-standard business, technology, and design programs. Competes for premium-paying Vietnamese and international students in HCMC, particularly at the international student segment HCMC OU serves.

Regional players

• British University Vietnam (BUV): UK-affiliated private university in Hanoi offering British degrees, competing for international and Vietnamese students seeking globally-recognized credentials. Repsents the foreign-affiliated segment that pressures domestic open universities in international student recruitment.

Emerging players

• Open University of Malaysia (OUM): Malaysian open university operating a similar flexible, multi-modal (distance + online) learning model. Helps benchmark open university best practices and is a regional peer for the open education delivery model HCMC OU employs.
• Southern Queensland University (USQ): Australian university with which HCMC OU has an existing IT program cooperation agreement. Important international academic partner and a structural peer for cross-border distance and online higher education delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Facebookfacebook.com/OU.VSTEP
• TikToktiktok.com/@huongnghiepvieclamou
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ho-chi-minh-city-open-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ho Chi Minh City Open University