How many primary schools in Hanoi
Hanoi has roughly 25 international primary providers serving the FS2 to Year 6 or kindergarten to grade 5 age range in 2026. The split is uneven. Around 10 schools deliver a British primary curriculum, anchored on the EYFS framework and Key Stages 1 and 2. Roughly 8 hold IB Primary Years Programme authorisation, including the wider UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi communities. Three or four schools run an American elementary curriculum aligned to Common Core and AERO standards, the most established being St Paul American School Hanoi. The remainder cover Singapore Math primary, French primary, Japanese primary, Korean primary and a growing tier of Vietnamese bilingual primary providers led by Vinschool and Wellspring.
Primary phase capacity has expanded faster than secondary capacity over the last five years, in part because Vingroup, Nguyen Hoang Group and the international school chains have all opened new all-through campuses targeting the post-2022 family return to Hanoi. Average primary class size at the established international schools sits at 18 to 22, with pupil to teacher ratios near 13 to 1 at UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi Primary. For a curriculum-by-curriculum view see the Hanoi IB hub and the British curriculum hub.
Fees and the primary tiers
Hanoi primary fees split into three rough tiers in 2026. The value tier, USD 9,500 to USD 14,000 a year, captures the Vietnamese bilingual primary cohort including Vinschool Wellspring Royal City and the smaller Korean and Japanese primary schools. The mid tier, USD 14,000 to USD 20,000, covers most British and American primary campuses including St Paul American School Lower Primary, Concordia Hanoi and SIS Gamuda Gardens. The premium tier, USD 20,000 to USD 27,000, is UNIS Hanoi Lower Primary, BIS Hanoi Primary and Hanoi International School lower years.
Total cost is closer to fees at primary than at secondary because exam levies do not apply and capital fees taper from Year 1. Transport at USD 1,500 to USD 2,500 a year is the main extra. Lunch typically runs USD 1,000 to USD 1,500. Read the full mathematics in our Hanoi fees guide. The fees comparison tool shows tuition by year group across cities.
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Illustrative example schools
The five primary schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has run for at least a decade in Hanoi.
United Nations International School of Hanoi on the eastern edge of Tay Ho in Ciputra International City runs the IB Primary Years Programme with a strong UN agency, embassy and INGO family base. Class size is small at the lower years and the school holds full IB World School authorisation.
British International School Hanoi Primary in Vinhomes Riverside Long Bien is the British-led IB PYP flagship across the river. Nord Anglia membership, EYFS framework, and a corporate and Vietnamese diaspora-returnee family mix.
Concordia International School Hanoi in Tay Ho is a Lutheran-affiliated American elementary provider with a smaller cohort, a Christian ethos and a more pastoral feel than the larger campuses.
Singapore International School at Gamuda Gardens in Hoang Mai runs a Singapore Math-led primary with strong English and Mandarin literacy outcomes, and a different family base from the Tay Ho cluster.
Where primary families live
Primary families in Hanoi cluster around two main anchors. Tay Ho, the western lakeside district, is the diplomatic and expatriate heart of the city. Four-bedroom villa rents at Ciputra International City and around West Lake run USD 2,500 to USD 5,500 a month, with serviced apartments at USD 1,800 to USD 3,500. The cluster of embassies along Quang An, the expatriate restaurant strip on Xuan Dieu and the proximity of UNIS Hanoi all reinforce Tay Ho as the heart of international primary family life. Across the Red River, Vinhomes Riverside in Long Bien is the natural anchor for BIS Hanoi Primary families, with four-bedroom villa stock at USD 2,500 to USD 4,500 a month and a stronger Vietnamese diaspora-returnee mix. Smaller pockets sit in Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem and around Gamuda Gardens in Hoang Mai for the SIS family base.
Commute time matters in Hanoi primary choice. School coach routes from Tay Ho across the Red River to BIS Hanoi can run 50 minutes one way at peak. The cost calculator helps factor school transport into total cost.
Admissions calendar and Decree 86
Hanoi primary admissions open the September a year before the August intake. UNIS Hanoi prioritises children of UN agency staff on rotation through Hanoi and runs a rolling admissions calendar tied to the August intake. BIS Hanoi Primary opens its main application window in November for the following August. Concordia, SIS and St Paul American School Lower Primary run rolling admissions through to June, subject to year group availability. Reception and Year 1 are the busiest entry points and can close lists by February at the most popular schools.
Vietnamese Government Decree 86 caps Vietnamese student share at 50 percent at primary at fully foreign-invested international schools, so at premium primary schools the binding constraint is the Vietnamese share rather than the expat allocation. For Hanoi sibling content see our best schools for expat families guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many international primary schools are there in Hanoi?
Hanoi has roughly 25 international primary schools serving the FS2 to Year 6 or kindergarten to grade 5 age range. Around 8 of these run the IB Primary Years Programme, 10 follow a British primary curriculum and the rest split between American elementary, Singapore Math, French primary and Vietnamese bilingual primary models.
What age does primary school start in Hanoi?
Most international primary schools in Hanoi start Reception or kindergarten at age 4 turning 5, with Year 1 or grade 1 entry at age 5 turning 6. The Vietnamese national system starts grade 1 at age 6. The August intake aligns with the Northern Hemisphere academic year used across the city's international primary providers.
How much do primary schools in Hanoi cost?
Hanoi international primary fees range from USD 9,500 a year at smaller bilingual primary schools to USD 27,000 at the IB PYP cohort at UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi Primary. Median primary fees sit near USD 17,500. Transport, lunch and books typically add another 15 to 20 percent on top of headline tuition.
When should I apply for primary in Hanoi?
Most Hanoi primary schools open the September application window 10 to 12 months before the August intake. UNIS Hanoi prioritises children of UN agency staff and runs a rolling calendar. The high-demand year groups, Reception and Year 1, fill earliest at the premium primary schools and can close lists by February for the following August intake.
Are Hanoi primary schools subject to Decree 86?
Yes. Vietnamese Government Decree 86 caps the share of Vietnamese students at fully foreign-invested international primary schools at 50 percent of total enrolment. At premium primary schools the Vietnamese quota is the binding constraint, while expat allocations are generally open at Reception and Year 1.
