The main research objective of this paper is to study the current situation and solutions of effective university governance in public Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) in Vietnam in the direction of autonomy. The paper uses a method that combines qualitative and quantitative research to analyze theoretical basis and related background theories and assess the current state of university governance in Vietnam. With quantitative research, method is done in the form of online surveys through questionnaires. The topic of the questionnaire focuses on collecting comments on governance activities being carried out at the PHEIs of Vietnam in an autonomous direction. The research results have shown quite clearly the contents related to the issues of governance and administration in the PHEIs, the way of managing and evaluating the performance of the PHEIs. Since then, the authors have proposed a number of groups of solutions for effective university governance at Vietnam’s PHEIs in the direction of autonomy. The solutions and proposals will be the necessary and important practical foundation to innovate and develop policies to promote university autonomy for sustainable and efficient development.