Nguyen Van Hieu, director of the Department of Education and Training, on Thursday said around 1,500 schools in the city are being used as part of the coronavirus fighting efforts. All the schools are expected to return to their original functions by mid-November, he added.

It would take around a month to clean things up and prepare the necessary equipment for in-person classes, he said.

"If the municipal People's Committee allows it, the coronavirus is put under control and schools satisfy safety criteria, in-person classes could be resumed in January 2022," said Hieu.

Ho Chi Minh City currently has around 1.7 million students with over 2,400 schools. Back in September, the education department has already proposed to the HCMC People's Committee a plan to reopen schools in districts deemed safe against the coronavirus.

Certain safety criteria must be met however, including fully vaccinated teachers. Students can continue to study online if they wish, and televised lessons would continue as well.