How many international secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City has roughly 18 international or English language secondary settings serving the expatriate market, with around 14 operating as through schools that take children from primary into Year 13 on the same campus and four that operate primarily at the secondary phase. The deepest concentration sits in District 2 around Thao Dien and An Phu, with a secondary cluster in District 7 around Phu My Hung. Cohort sizes at sixth form remain smaller than the equivalent Bangkok or Singapore schools, with most HCMC sixth form cohorts running between 40 and 100 students rather than the 150 plus seen at the regional flagships.
What makes Ho Chi Minh City unusual at secondary is the spread of exit qualifications. The largest cohort sits the IB Diploma, around 65 per cent of senior school leavers across the city. A smaller but growing cohort, around 25 per cent, sits Cambridge IGCSE then A Level. A further 8 per cent sits the US high school diploma with Advanced Placement, principally at Saigon South International School and the American School of Vietnam. The remainder takes the Australian HSC or another national exit. This breadth means parents have a real choice of pedagogy and university destination signalling, which is not always the case in single curriculum markets.
Exit qualifications: IB, A Level, AP and HSC
The IB Diploma is the dominant senior exit in Ho Chi Minh City. International School Ho Chi Minh City, Australian International School Vietnam, European International School, the British International School and Renaissance International School Saigon all offer the Diploma. Average HCMC IB Diploma scores sit between 33 and 37 points out of 45, broadly in line with Bangkok and slightly ahead of Hanoi. The strongest cohorts at ISHCMC and AIS regularly produce candidates above 40 points. For deeper IB context see the HCMC IB hub.
Cambridge IGCSE in Year 11 followed by A Level in Years 12 and 13 is the second major exit, used at the British International School Ho Chi Minh City, AIS Vietnam as the alternative to the Diploma, and a handful of smaller British curriculum schools. A Level outcomes at the established BIS senior typically run 50 to 60 per cent A and A star at the academic strongholds. The US high school diploma with AP is used principally at Saigon South International School and the American School of Vietnam, with the strongest AP candidates regularly producing five or more passes at grade 4 or 5. For more on the British pipeline see the HCMC British curriculum hub.
Choosing the right secondary exit?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three HCMC secondaries based on your child's year, your budget and the university destinations you have in mind. Free, no obligation.
Illustrative example schools
Three illustrative HCMC secondary settings, not a ranking. Each represents a different point on the city's senior school market.
International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) secondary in Thao Dien runs roughly 800 students from Year 7 through Year 13, the largest international secondary cohort in Vietnam. IB MYP from Year 7 through Year 10 and the IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. Diploma cohort around 95 candidates a year, average score in the 34 to 37 range. Tuition runs from USD 28,000 to USD 38,000 a year depending on year level.
Australian International School Vietnam (AIS) senior in Thu Thiem runs both the IB Diploma and the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level pathway, giving senior families a choice. AIS senior has around 550 students with a Diploma cohort around 55 and an A Level cohort around 30. Tuition is around USD 26,000 to USD 36,000 a year. The Thu Thiem campus is a relatively new build with strong sport and performing arts facilities.
British International School Ho Chi Minh City (BIS) senior in An Phu, District 2 runs Cambridge IGCSE through Year 11 then a choice of the IB Diploma or A Level at Years 12 and 13. Senior cohort around 700 across Years 7 to 13. Tuition USD 28,000 to USD 37,000 a year. BIS is part of the Nord Anglia group, with strong music partnerships and a UNICEF service learning programme. Our best international schools in Ho Chi Minh City guide compares these alongside the District 7 secondary schools.
Fees and the all in cost
Senior school fees in Ho Chi Minh City sit in three bands. The entry band, USD 20,000 to USD 27,000 a year, covers the smaller boutique secondaries and the bilingual streams at the larger schools. The mid band, USD 27,000 to USD 32,000 a year, covers the bulk of the secondary years at AIS, EIS, Renaissance and ISHCMC middle school. The premium band, USD 32,000 to USD 38,000 a year, covers the IB Diploma years at ISHCMC, the British International School senior and AIS senior. By regional standards HCMC senior fees are around 15 to 25 per cent cheaper than Bangkok and roughly half the equivalent in Singapore or Hong Kong, as set out in our HCMC fees guide.
On top of tuition expect a one off registration fee of USD 2,500 to USD 5,000, an annual capital levy of USD 1,000 to USD 2,500, lunch and transport of USD 2,000 to USD 3,500 a year, uniform of USD 200 to USD 400, and the IB Diploma or A Level exam entry fees of around USD 1,200 to USD 1,800 in Year 12 or Year 13. Total cost of secondary education in HCMC, including these loadings, typically runs USD 35,000 to USD 45,000 a year per child at the premium schools.
Admissions, waitlists and university destinations
The Vietnamese school year runs from late August to early June. Most HCMC secondaries open applications for the August intake from October of the previous year, with offers in February and March. Mid year transfers are routine because expatriate turnover in HCMC remains high, particularly in the manufacturing and technology sectors. Year 12 entry into the IB Diploma is more constrained because the two year programme prefers a Year 11 start, although ISHCMC and AIS accept Year 12 transfers from a recognised Diploma start elsewhere. A Level entry into Year 12 is more flexible.
University destinations from HCMC secondaries are spread across four broad regions. North America, particularly Canada and the US, takes around 35 per cent of leavers. The UK and Europe takes around 30 per cent, concentrated on Russell Group and Dutch research universities. Australia and New Zealand takes around 20 per cent, helped by the AIS Australian HSC pathway. Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, takes the remaining 15 per cent. For families planning the secondary years see the HCMC primary schools hub and the wider HCMC city hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are there in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City has roughly 18 international or English language secondary settings, of which around 14 sit within through schools running from age 3 to 18 and four operate primarily at the secondary phase. The deepest concentration sits in District 2 around Thao Dien and An Phu, with a secondary cluster in District 7 around Phu My Hung.
What exit qualifications are offered in HCMC secondary schools?
The IB Diploma is the dominant exit, taken by around 65 per cent of HCMC senior school leavers. Cambridge A Level is the second major exit, around 25 per cent. The US high school diploma with Advanced Placement covers around 8 per cent, principally at Saigon South International School. The Australian HSC and other national exits make up the rest.
How much do secondary international schools cost in Ho Chi Minh City?
HCMC secondary school fees range from USD 20,000 a year at the entry band boutique secondaries to USD 38,000 at the premium through schools ISHCMC, AIS, BIS and SSIS. Total all in cost including capital levy, registration, lunch, transport and exam entry typically runs USD 35,000 to USD 45,000 a year per child at the premium schools.
Where do HCMC sixth form leavers go to university?
University destinations are spread across four broad regions. North America, particularly Canada and the US, takes around 35 per cent of leavers. The UK and Europe takes around 30 per cent. Australia and New Zealand takes around 20 per cent. Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, takes the remaining 15 per cent.
When should I apply for secondary school in HCMC?
Apply 6 to 12 months ahead for Year 7 entry at the most over subscribed schools, including ISHCMC, AIS, SSIS and BIS. Mid year January and April entry is usually possible at most year groups given expatriate movement. Year 12 entry into the IB Diploma is more constrained because the two year programme prefers a Year 11 start.
