Hanoi standardizes management procedures for school lunches
Hanoi has issued Guideline No. 02/HD-BCĐ to standardize school meal models and strengthen government management accountability starting from the 2026-2027 school year.
Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Vu Thu Ha, Deputy Head of the City's Food Safety Steering Committee, has signed and issued Guideline No. 02/HD-BCĐ to ensure food safety in school lunches at preschools and general education institutions. This guideline aims to standardize procedures, enhance transparency in selecting food suppliers, and promote digital transformation to improve coordination between local authorities and schools.
Starting from the 2026-2027 school year, Hanoi will implement two standardized models for school meals: on-site cooking and pre-prepared meal services. The choice of model will be based on the infrastructure, equipment, and actual needs of each educational institution. For preschools, on-site cooking is only permitted if they meet strict requirements regarding kitchen facilities and staff qualifications.
Commune and ward-level People's Committees will play a central role in surveying needs, selecting food suppliers, and comprehensively supervising school meal operations. The supplier selection process must be transparent, requiring suppliers to update full data on the city's Food Safety Management System. This enables rapid food traceability and supports the timely handling of any incidents.
Schools are responsible for establishing a Food Safety Self-Monitoring Team and working closely with the Parent Representative Board to control ingredient quality, perform a three-step food verification process, and maintain food samples as required. Relevant departments such as the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Health will engage in cross-sector cooperation to inspect and enforce food hygiene and safety standards across the city.
According to the resolution of the Hanoi People's Council, effective from the 2026-2027 school year, the city will provide a meal subsidy of 40,000 VND per student/day for 6 priority groups, including students from ethnic minority regions, low-income households, and children of martyrs. Other primary students in the city (excluding international schools) will receive a subsidy of 28,000 VND per student/day, ensuring the well-being and health of students.