In this guide
Why Hanoi for IB
Hanoi's IB market is genuinely small. Four schools currently run the full IB Diploma Programme in the city, against the dozens that run Cambridge IGCSE or A Level. That sounds like a constraint but it is also a feature. Each of the four runs the Diploma with real institutional commitment rather than as a marketing add on; cohort sizes are large enough to support credible subject choice; and the IB community in Hanoi is tight enough that the schools compete on quality rather than just brand. The IB Diploma remains one of the most portable upper secondary qualifications in the world, accepted at almost every major university globally, which makes it particularly attractive for the genuinely international families that Hanoi attracts.
For families committed to the IB philosophy from primary level, the situation is even narrower. Two schools run the full IB continuum from PYP through DP. The others pick up the Diploma at Year 12 alongside another primary or middle curriculum. This matters because the continuum schools deliver the cumulative depth of the IB approach (Theory of Knowledge precursors, Approaches to Learning, the international mindedness thread) more consistently than the schools that switch to IB only at sixth form. That said, plenty of children move into the IB at Year 12 from a British or American background and do well. The continuum is a strong choice; it is not the only one.
The 2026 IB schools in Hanoi
United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi)
The Hanoi IB benchmark and one of only two UN International Schools in the world. Full continuum from Early Years to Diploma. Three year Diploma average sits between 33 and 36 points with the strongest cohorts pushing into the high 30s. Strong faculty stability, deep CAS programme, well resourced visual and creative arts. The default first choice for IB committed families and the school the diplomatic community defaults to.
Concordia International School Hanoi
An American curriculum school that runs the IB Diploma alongside AP at sixth form, giving families optionality across the two pathways. The IB cohort at Concordia sits at around 60 to 90 candidates a year, smaller than UNIS but credible in subject breadth. Particularly suited to families considering US university destinations who want IB optionality. The campus is one of the most modern in the city.
British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi)
Part of the Nord Anglia network. BIS Hanoi runs the IB Diploma as a parallel pathway to A Level at sixth form. The IB cohort is smaller than at UNIS or Concordia but the school's broader academic infrastructure and Nord Anglia network advantages (the Juilliard music partnership, the MIT linked STEM programme) carry over into the IB stream. Worth considering for families who want British curriculum continuity through primary and middle with the option of IB at sixth form.
Hanoi International School (HIS)
The original Hanoi international school, founded in 1996. Full IB continuum and one of the smaller cohorts in the city. Diploma outcomes are solid for the cohort size, which is around 30 to 50 candidates a year. Smaller subject choice than UNIS but the tighter community feel and the central location are real advantages. Particularly suited to families wanting a more intimate IB environment.
Genesis School
A newer entrant working toward IB authorisation at primary and Diploma level. Smaller cohort, growing faculty, an explicit commitment to the IB approach. Worth a tour for families who want an IB pathway at a more accessible fee level than the premium tier and who are comfortable accepting a school still in candidate phase. Outcomes record is still developing.
Sentia International School
A newer central Hanoi school running the PYP at primary with an explicit pathway toward MYP and eventually DP authorisation. Smaller cohort, more intimate setting. Best fit for families starting at primary who want an IB primary foundation and are comfortable with a school still building out its upper secondary. The school is several years away from running its own Diploma cohort.
How to choose between them
The Hanoi IB choice comes down to four practical variables. The first is where you will live. UNIS Hanoi sits in Ciputra (Tay Ho), Concordia and BIS Hanoi sit in Vinhomes Riverside (Long Bien), HIS sits in Ba Dinh, Genesis in Tay Ho, Sentia in central Hanoi. The Long Bien commute against Tay Ho or central districts can run 30 to 45 minutes in rush hour. Most families let the school choice drive the housing choice rather than the other way around, but the housing implications are real.
The second is cohort size and subject breadth. UNIS Hanoi runs the largest Diploma cohort in the city (around 100 to 130 candidates a year), which supports a broader subject choice including some HL combinations that the smaller schools cannot consistently timetable. Concordia and BIS run mid sized cohorts; HIS, Genesis and Sentia run smaller cohorts where the subject choice is narrower. For academically specialised children targeting competitive university destinations, the larger cohorts are usually a meaningful advantage.
The third is the curriculum trajectory. Families that want pure IB from primary through to Diploma have two clear continuum options: UNIS Hanoi and HIS. Families that want IB optionality at sixth form alongside another primary curriculum have Concordia (alongside American) and BIS Hanoi (alongside British). Each of those structures has different implications for transferability if the family moves mid posting. The IB continuum schools are more portable to other IB schools globally; the dual track schools are more portable to specifically American or British environments.
The fourth is the social and cultural feel. UNIS Hanoi is the most international in profile, with a strong diplomatic and UN community presence. Concordia tilts more American. BIS Hanoi has the largest non-Vietnamese parent body broadly Anglophone. HIS has a tighter, more intimate community. Genesis and Sentia are smaller and more boutique. Visit each, talk to current parents, and pick the one that fits the family rather than the brochure. The best international schools in Hanoi piece covers the broader school landscape and the IB curriculum hub covers programme structure.
Compare Hanoi IB schools side by side
Use the comparison tool to put up to three Hanoi IB schools next to one another on fees, cohort size, campus and admissions cycle. For the broader curriculum view see the IB curriculum hub. Families weighing IB against alternatives should read best international schools in Hanoi and our IB versus AP university outcomes piece.
Fees and value at the Hanoi IB tier
Hanoi IB tuition sits in two clear bands. UNIS Hanoi, Concordia and BIS Hanoi cluster between USD 25,000 and USD 38,000 per year at Diploma level, with primary fees running USD 18,000 to USD 28,000. HIS sits USD 4,000 to USD 6,000 below the leading group at equivalent year groups. Genesis and Sentia run materially cheaper at USD 9,000 to USD 14,000 but are still building out their senior secondary programmes, so the lower fees come with a corresponding trade off in current outcome record.
Value at the IB tier in Hanoi is genuinely strong against the regional alternatives. UNIS Hanoi delivers a comparable IB outcome record to mid tier Singapore IB schools at roughly half the fee. Concordia delivers a comparable IB plus AP combination to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur premium schools at materially lower cost. The trade off is cohort size and subject choice at the very top end. Families targeting the most competitive university pathways may find the larger Singapore or Bangkok cohorts more flexible for HL subject selection, but for most IB families the Hanoi value proposition holds well. For the full fee picture see the Hanoi fees deep dive.
Admissions timing
Hanoi IB admissions follow a more flexible rhythm than the most pressed Asian markets. UNIS Hanoi, Concordia and BIS Hanoi can run waitlists of 9 to 12 months at the most pressed entry points (Reception, Year 7, Diploma) but routinely have availability at other year groups within 4 to 6 months of application. HIS, Genesis and Sentia typically have rolling admissions across all year groups with 3 to 6 month lead times. Diploma entry at the start of Year 12 is the most popular single entry point and the one most likely to require an early application; almost every other entry point is more flexible.
Assessment processes at the top schools combine a written entry task in English, an interview and a review of prior school reports. UNIS Hanoi and HIS also use a Mathematics screen for upper secondary candidates. Most schools want to see at least two years of recent school reports and a teacher reference. Families relocating mid year are usually accommodated; UNIS Hanoi and Concordia regularly take January, March or May arrivals into the lower year groups, with Diploma mid-year entry possible but more constrained by the examination cycle. For the broader admissions context see our admissions timing by city guide.
The pipeline of IB candidate schools
Three or four Hanoi schools are working toward IB authorisation at one or more programme levels. Genesis and Sentia are the furthest along on the PYP side. Several bilingual schools (Wellspring, Olympia, Vinschool International) have indicated interest in IB authorisation at one or more programme levels, although none has yet announced a firm pathway. Over the next half decade the Hanoi IB market will likely double in school count if even half of these candidates complete authorisation. For families with younger children, this means today's choice is less constraining than it might appear; the IB landscape in five years will look meaningfully different from today.
What is unlikely to change is the structural position of UNIS Hanoi at the top of the Hanoi IB market. The school has been in continuous IB operation since the early 1990s, has the deepest institutional knowledge of the Diploma in the city, and benefits from its UN affiliation and the diplomatic community's structural commitment to it. Concordia and BIS Hanoi will continue to compete strongly for the families who prioritise modern campus and network advantages. HIS will continue to serve the central Hanoi families who want a smaller IB community. The newer entrants will fill the gap below that.