How many secondary schools in Hanoi
Hanoi has roughly 15 international schools delivering a full Year 7 to Year 13 or grade 6 to grade 12 secondary phase in 2026. The cohort is smaller than the primary cohort because several Hanoi schools that offer primary do not run an upper secondary phase, leaving a Year 6 transfer point at age 11. The full secondary cohort splits roughly into three by pathway. Six schools run a British IGCSE and A Level pathway, anchored on Key Stage 3 from Year 7. Five schools deliver the IB Middle Years Programme through Years 7 to 11, then continue into the IB Diploma at sixth form. Two schools run an American middle and high school programme aligned to Common Core and AERO, ending in Advanced Placement at upper secondary. The remainder mix Vietnamese bilingual upper secondary models with bolt-on IGCSE entries.
Hanoi secondary schools sit at a smaller scale than HCMC equivalents, with the largest senior schools running cohorts of 80 to 110 per year group rather than the 150 to 200 found at top HCMC names. For a curriculum-by-curriculum view see the Hanoi IB hub and the British curriculum hub.
Sixth form pathways: IB, A Level, AP
Sixth form choice in Hanoi typically comes down to three routes. The IB Diploma is delivered at UNIS Hanoi, BIS Hanoi and Hanoi International School. A Levels are delivered at Singapore International School Gamuda Gardens, Wellspring International and a handful of the British curriculum schools sitting outside the IB cluster. Advanced Placement is the route at St Paul American School Hanoi and at Concordia International School Hanoi. The choice usually drives the family's university destination. The IB Diploma is the most common route into UK, Canadian, Australian and Singapore universities from Hanoi. A Levels remain strong for direct UK university entry and Hong Kong universities. AP is the natural choice for families targeting US universities, especially the Vietnamese diaspora-returnee cohort with US college plans.
IB Diploma, A Levels or AP at sixth form?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Hanoi secondary schools based on your child's year group, your sixth form pathway and your university targets.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each holds a distinct identity in the Hanoi secondary market.
United Nations International School of Hanoi on the eastern edge of Tay Ho in Ciputra International City is the anchor IB Diploma school in the city. Full MYP and Diploma authorisation, strong UN agency and embassy family base, and a consistent record of placement into UK, US, Canadian and Australian universities.
British International School Hanoi Senior in Vinhomes Riverside Long Bien is the British-led IB Diploma flagship. Nord Anglia membership, strong music, theatre and competitive sport, and a more corporate family base than UNIS.
Hanoi International School in Ba Dinh District near West Lake is the smaller, longer-established IB Diploma school with a more diplomatic and embassy-led cohort. Single-site, smaller cohort and a quieter atmosphere than the larger campuses.
St Paul American School Hanoi in Tay Ho is the city's anchor for Advanced Placement and US-style high school transcripts, with a strong base of returning Vietnamese American families and a US college counselling team.
Secondary fees in Hanoi
Hanoi secondary fees in 2026 sit roughly USD 3,000 to USD 5,000 above lower primary at the same school, reflecting the higher cost of specialist subject teaching, science laboratories and IB or AP examination fees. Lower secondary at the smaller IB and British schools runs from USD 16,000 a year. UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi sit at USD 28,000 to USD 32,000 across Years 7 to 11. IB Diploma fees at the top schools run USD 33,000 to USD 35,000. In Vietnamese dong terms the headline range is roughly VND 400 million to VND 880 million.
Capital or entrance fees of USD 3,000 to USD 7,000 fall on first entry. Transport from USD 1,500 to USD 2,500 a year is the main extra. IB Diploma examination fees of around USD 800 fall in Year 13. A Level examination fees of around USD 500 fall in Years 12 and 13. For the full fee mathematics see our Hanoi international school fees guide and the fees comparison tool.
Admissions calendar and Decree 86
Hanoi secondary admissions open the September a year before the August intake. UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi run main application windows from October to December, with assessment days in January and February and offers in March. Most Hanoi schools accept mid-year transfers on a rolling basis subject to year group availability, with Year 10 and Year 12 the most competitive entries because both feed directly into examination years. Decree 86 caps Vietnamese student share at 50 percent at lower secondary in fully foreign-invested international schools. At the IB Diploma schools the Vietnamese share is generally the binding constraint at sixth form entry. For Hanoi sibling context see our best international schools in Hanoi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are there in Hanoi?
Hanoi has roughly 15 international schools serving Year 7 to Year 13 or grades 6 to 12 in 2026. Of these, three deliver the full IB Diploma, around six run IGCSE and A Level pathways, and two offer the American AP route. The remainder mix Vietnamese bilingual upper secondary models with IGCSE bolt-ons.
What sixth form qualifications can my child take in Hanoi?
Hanoi sixth form students typically choose between the IB Diploma at UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi, A Levels at the wider British curriculum cohort including SIS and Wellspring International, or Advanced Placement at St Paul American School Hanoi. The IB Diploma is the most common route into UK, Canadian, Australian and Singapore universities from the city.
How much do Hanoi secondary schools cost?
Hanoi secondary fees range from USD 16,000 a year at value-tier Vietnamese bilingual upper secondary schools to USD 35,000 a year at the IB Diploma at UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi. Median Year 7 to Year 11 fees sit near USD 22,000, with sixth form fees typically USD 3,000 to USD 5,000 above lower secondary at the same school.
Do Hanoi secondary schools offer GCSEs?
Yes. The Hanoi British and Cambridge cohort offers IGCSEs in Years 10 and 11, typically through Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel boards. Most schools sit between 6 and 9 IGCSE subjects, with English, Mathematics, the sciences and a humanity as the core. IGCSE results then feed into IB Diploma, A Level or AP choices in Years 12 and 13.
When should I apply for secondary in Hanoi?
Apply 10 to 12 months before your desired August start, especially at the IB Diploma schools UNIS Hanoi and BIS Hanoi where Year 10 and Year 12 entries are highly competitive. Mid-year transfers are accepted by most Hanoi secondary schools subject to assessment in English and mathematics, and depending on Decree 86 quota status for Vietnamese applicants.
Which Hanoi secondary schools take the IB Diploma?
Three Hanoi schools currently deliver the full IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. UNIS Hanoi in Tay Ho holds the longest IB Diploma history in Vietnam. BIS Hanoi in Vinhomes Riverside delivers IB alongside the Nord Anglia model. Hanoi International School in Ba Dinh runs a smaller IB Diploma cohort with a more diplomatic family base.
