In this guide
Why Hanoi looks cheap (and where it does not)
Hanoi's international school market is among the better value globally on a quality adjusted basis. Premium tier tuition at UNIS Hanoi, Concordia and BIS Hanoi sits around USD 30,000 a year at upper secondary. That is roughly half of the equivalent Singapore school, around two thirds of the Bangkok premium, and 70 percent of the Kuala Lumpur top tier. The academic outcomes at the top of the Hanoi market are not yet as deep as Singapore at the very top end (Singapore is hard to beat for sixth-form Diploma scale), but for the typical premium tier family the proposition is genuinely strong: an internationally credible IB, British or American programme in the city's premier campuses for materially less than the regional alternatives.
The value is less obvious below the premium tier. Hanoi's mid tier schools, USD 12,000 to USD 22,000, deliver a working international curriculum but with thinner co curricular programmes, smaller sixth forms and less consistent results than the equivalent schools at similar fee levels in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. For families considering this band, the case for switching to a strong bilingual programme at USD 8,000 to USD 14,000 is sometimes stronger than fighting upward in the English medium ranks. The bilingual option also typically delivers a second language as a bonus.
The 2026 fee tiers (Hanoi)
| Tier | Annual fee range (USD) | Approx in VND | Typical schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | USD 22,000 to 38,000 | VND 550M to 950M | UNIS Hanoi, Concordia, BIS Hanoi |
| Upper mid | USD 16,000 to 26,000 | VND 400M to 650M | HIS, St Paul American, Singapore International (upper years) |
| Mid | USD 10,000 to 18,000 | VND 250M to 450M | Australian International, ISV, mid tier bilingual |
| Bilingual / value | USD 6,000 to 14,000 | VND 150M to 350M | Wellspring, Olympia, Vinschool International |
The figures above apply to upper secondary in the 2026 to 2027 academic year. Primary and early years are typically 25 to 35 percent lower at the same school. Diploma and A Level years often carry a small uplift over Year 10 or 11. Note also that some schools advertise headline fees in USD while invoicing in VND at the spot exchange rate, which can produce real variability across the year. The fees explorer tracks the published numbers and flags the schools that bill in dong rather than dollars.
How fees vary by year group
Hanoi schools typically structure tuition with three or four year group bands rather than a single flat fee. Early years and reception sit at the bottom, with Year 1 to Year 5 forming the primary band, Year 6 to Year 8 a transition band and Year 9 to Year 13 a senior band. The difference between the lowest and highest year groups at a single premium school is typically USD 8,000 to USD 12,000 per year. Families with children spread across year groups need to model this carefully. A family with two children, one in Year 2 and one in Year 11, will see a meaningfully different tuition profile from a family with two in Year 6 and Year 8.
The Diploma years (Year 12 and Year 13) sometimes carry a small uplift on top of the senior band, usually a few hundred dollars per year covering examination registration with the IB Organisation, Cambridge or AP Board. A Level entry fees alone can reach USD 1,500 to USD 2,500 per candidate across the two year programme depending on subject choice. The school usually invoices these separately rather than embedding them in tuition, which can create the false impression that senior years are cheaper than they actually are. Always ask the admissions office for a worked example of a Year 13 invoice including all examination and trip costs before signing.
The hidden extras
Hanoi schools usually charge a one time enrolment or capital fee on top of tuition. At the premium tier this typically runs USD 3,000 to USD 6,000 per child, non refundable, payable on acceptance of the offer. At the upper mid tier the equivalent fee is USD 1,500 to USD 3,000. Some schools refund part of the capital fee on departure after several years of attendance, but most do not. Annual capital levies are less common in Hanoi than in Singapore or Hong Kong, though a small number of schools collect a yearly building fund contribution of USD 500 to USD 1,200.
School bus is effectively mandatory for most families given the city's traffic patterns and runs USD 1,500 to USD 2,500 per child per year. Lunch programmes are USD 1,000 to USD 1,800 at the premium tier and slightly less at the mid tier. Most schools also include a laptop or iPad programme from Year 5 or 6 which adds USD 500 to USD 1,200. School trips, sports kit, uniform and exam fees typically add a further USD 1,000 to USD 2,500 per year. Total non tuition costs run USD 4,000 to USD 7,500 per child per year at the premium tier and USD 2,500 to USD 4,500 at the mid tier.
The single most expensive extra in the first year is the school bus and lunch combination, both of which families sometimes overlook in initial budgeting. Schools usually require an annual upfront payment for both rather than monthly invoicing, which can add USD 3,000 to USD 4,000 to the August cash flow if it has not been planned for. Treat the all in number as headline tuition plus 18 to 25 percent and you will get close to the truth.
Run your specific package
The cost calculator models the all in cost of a Hanoi posting including school fees, housing, transport and lifestyle for your specific family. Compare schools side by side with the comparison tool. For the structural picture see our hidden fees article and the Hanoi school ranking. Talk to our team if you need a personal walkthrough.
Year on year fee inflation
Hanoi fee inflation has been faster than wage inflation across the past five years, although the starting point was lower than most peer cities. Annual fee increases of 5 to 8 percent are typical at the premium tier and 4 to 6 percent at the bilingual tier, although most schools waive or reduce the increase for families enrolled before a particular contract date. The compounding effect across a five year posting is meaningful: a USD 30,000 fee in 2026 to 2027 will reach roughly USD 38,000 to USD 41,000 by 2030 to 2031 at typical premium tier inflation. Families planning a long Hanoi posting should build that compounding into the budget rather than assume the headline figure holds.
The reason for the faster inflation is partly facility investment, partly faculty cost and partly currency effects. Most premium schools imported senior leadership and a meaningful share of teaching staff on expatriate packages denominated in USD or GBP, which pushes the cost base above local wage inflation. Several premium schools have also invested heavily in new facilities (theatres, sports complexes, science buildings) over the past five years, with the capital cost amortised through fees. The trend looks set to continue.
Families with longer postings should also factor in the timing of the annual increase. Most Hanoi schools publish fee changes in January or February for the following August intake, with formal notice to current parents at the same time. Schools usually offer an early payment discount of 1 to 3 percent for families who pay the full year upfront in August or September. Whether this is a sensible trade depends on the family's cash flow and the alternative use of the cash, but it is a useful lever for budget conscious families willing to manage the upfront commitment.
Employer packages and what to negotiate
Most international assignees on senior global packages in Hanoi will have some level of school fee support from the employer. The structure varies. Some employers pay tuition directly to the school, some reimburse the family on receipt, and some pay a flat education allowance regardless of which school is chosen. Each structure has implications for the family. Direct payment is the simplest but locks the employer's name onto the school contract, which can be awkward at departure. Reimbursement requires the family to bridge the cash flow, which at USD 30,000 per child per year is meaningful. The flat allowance gives the family the most flexibility but transfers all upside and downside on school choice to them.
Worth negotiating at the offer stage: enrolment and capital fees (these are usually negotiable in either direction), the inclusion of school bus and lunch in the package, sibling coverage, end of posting departure fees, and the timing of payment. If the employer is paying tuition direct, also clarify what happens if the family changes school mid posting. Most well drafted packages cover this, but the standard global mobility template sometimes does not. A short conversation with the global mobility team at offer stage saves much friction later.
Sibling discounts and scholarships
Sibling discounts in Hanoi are present but modest. UNIS Hanoi offers around 5 percent off the second child and 10 percent off the third. Concordia and BIS Hanoi run similar structures with slight variations. Several mid tier schools offer 10 to 15 percent on the second child, which makes them genuinely better value for families with three or four children than the premium schools on a per family basis. The sibling discount round-up covers the global picture and the specific Hanoi numbers.
Scholarship provision is genuinely available but the awards are limited. UNIS Hanoi runs a small need blind academic scholarship for Diploma entrants, typically two or three full awards per cohort. BIS Hanoi has Nord Anglia scholarships at Year 7 and Year 12 covering music, sport and academic excellence, with partial tuition awards more common than full. Concordia operates a partial tuition scholarship pool for families demonstrating need. Hanoi schools generally fund scholarships from internal endowment rather than parent levies, which keeps the funding modest by international standards but the awards meaningful for the families who receive them. Apply 12 months out, treat the scholarship as a parallel application and provide credible documentation of academic record or financial need from the start. The scholarship strategies guide covers the wider playbook.
The all in number for a family of four
A two child family at a premium tier Hanoi school in 2026 to 2027 will pay roughly USD 60,000 to USD 75,000 in tuition for the year, plus USD 8,000 to USD 14,000 in capital, transport, lunch and extras. The total education line for the family runs USD 68,000 to USD 89,000 per year. Add capital fees in the first year (a one off USD 6,000 to USD 12,000 for two children) and the year one number is higher still.
The same family at a strong upper mid tier school (HIS, St Paul American, Singapore International) pays USD 40,000 to USD 52,000 in tuition plus USD 5,000 to USD 9,000 in extras, for a total of USD 45,000 to USD 61,000. At the bilingual tier the total runs USD 18,000 to USD 30,000 across the family. For most senior expatriate packages in Hanoi the choice is between the premium and upper mid tiers, with the bilingual route taken mainly by families staying long term or by families with a genuine interest in Vietnamese fluency.
Set against housing (USD 24,000 to USD 60,000 per year for a 3 to 4 bedroom expatriate flat or villa) and the rest of family life, education is usually the single largest discretionary line in a Hanoi family budget. Run the cost calculator with your specific employer package to model the full picture, and read the moving to Hanoi with kids guide for the rest of the budget. The Hanoi city guide sets out the broader cost of living context.
One closing observation. Hanoi fees in absolute terms are likely to keep rising at a steady clip, but the city's relative position against the regional alternatives is unlikely to change quickly. Families weighing Hanoi against Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur on a pure fee basis will continue to find Hanoi cheaper at the top end and broadly similar in the middle. Families weighing Hanoi against Singapore on fees will continue to find Hanoi materially cheaper. The right city for a family is rarely decided on fees alone, but the fee gap is large enough to matter in the overall calculation.
A final practical point. The published Hanoi fee schedules are usually accurate at the time of publication but the school is the authoritative source rather than a third party aggregator. Always confirm the current year's published fees directly with the admissions office before signing a contract, and ask for written confirmation of any extras included or excluded. Schools change their fee structures more frequently than they advertise, and families that rely on last year's numbers sometimes find themselves with an unexpected USD 3,000 to USD 5,000 gap at first invoice. The published numbers on this page are correct to the best of our knowledge for the 2026 to 2027 academic year, but verify before you sign.