Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau has called for the management of textbook supplies to be treated as essential goods, emphasizing that profit should not be the primary concern. During a meeting regarding the printing, distribution, and supply of textbooks for the 2026-2027 academic year, he stated, "The most important thing is to provide textbooks in a timely and complete manner, with prices strictly regulated by the government."

This year marks the first time since 2018 that a unified set of textbooks is being used nationwide. Recently, there have been reports of localized shortages of textbooks in several areas, causing difficulties for parents and students in purchasing the necessary materials.

In response to these shortages, Deputy Prime Minister Chau has requested clarity on whether the current network of distributors and bookstores is capable of delivering books to remote areas. He also raised questions about the responsibilities of these distributors in supplying textbooks, the pricing structure, and the procurement mechanisms for public assets related to textbooks.

Chau pointed out that the existing shortages indicate shortcomings in forecasting, ordering, production, storage, coordination, and distribution processes. He instructed the Ministry of Education and Training to direct the Vietnam Education Publishing House to identify areas with shortages and surplus stock. Based on this assessment, the publishing house is to print additional copies and ensure that every student has access to the required textbooks, stating, "We must absolutely avoid any impact on teaching and learning."

Furthermore, bookstores selling textbooks are required to publicly list their available stock along with contact numbers and online ordering channels, as well as provide access to electronic textbooks for parents and students. The Ministry of Education and Training has also established a rapid response team available 24/7 to address complaints and coordinate book distribution to areas facing shortages.

In addition to these measures, Chau has called for a comprehensive review of state management regarding textbooks, which includes assessing demand, production, storage, distribution, monitoring, and supervision. He emphasized the need to develop contingency plans to avoid complete reliance on the quantity ordered by intermediary units.

The Vietnam Education Publishing House is tasked with reviewing its entire network of distributors and intermediary publishing units, proposing improvements to the management mechanisms for production, storage, and distribution of textbooks. This includes reviewing pricing mechanisms to ensure that textbook prices are determined transparently and reasonably, minimizing unnecessary intermediary costs.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been instructed to oversee market competition within the distribution system. Any signs of restricted competition or violations must be addressed promptly. Reports indicate that as of September 9, the Vietnam Education Publishing House has distributed 235.6 million copies of textbooks and 84 million copies of exercise books and reference materials. The shortages have been attributed to disruptions in the registration process for purchasing books at educational institutions and challenges related to the implementation timeline.

The 2026-2027 academic year will see the use of a single set of textbooks across the country, in contrast to the multiple sets used previously. In mid-August, many parents in Ho Chi Minh City found themselves visiting multiple stores and waiting in long lines for hours to purchase textbooks. The Ministry of Education and Training had previously instructed all parties to ensure adequate supply of textbooks by August 30. The scarcity of textbooks after the start of the school year is an unusual occurrence in recent years.