In this guide
The Vietnamese international school market in 2026
Vietnam concentrates its international schooling in its two largest cities. Ho Chi Minh City holds the deepest and most varied market, with the widest spread of curricula, fee tiers and campus styles. Hanoi follows as the second cluster, anchored by long established names and serving the diplomatic, development and corporate communities in the capital. Between them the two cities hold almost all of the country's established fully international schools, which is why most relocating families are choosing within one or the other. Start with our Ho Chi Minh City guide and Hanoi city guide for the housing and neighbourhood picture in each.
The growth of the market has been rapid. A sustained wave of foreign direct investment in manufacturing, electronics and technology has pulled in corporate transferees, while a large cohort of returning overseas Vietnamese and affluent local families has expanded demand for English medium education. The result is a market that is crowded at the mid tier in Ho Chi Minh City and stronger at the premium end than its income level alone would suggest. Da Nang on the central coast has a small and growing set of options, but it does not yet approach the depth of the two main cities.
One structural point matters for planning. Vietnamese regulation distinguishes between foreign invested international schools, which historically served mainly expatriate children and limit local enrolment, and bilingual schools that blend the Vietnamese national curriculum with an international stream. Families should confirm a school's status and its language balance at enquiry, because it shapes the peer mix and the medium of instruction. For the curriculum decision underpinning the choice, read our IB curriculum guide.
Curricula offered
Vietnam offers three main international routes. The British curriculum is widely delivered, typically running the English National Curriculum through the lower and middle years, Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10 and 11, and then the IB Diploma at sixth form. The British International School network operates large campuses in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi on this model. The American curriculum, built on the US high school diploma, is anchored by Saigon South International School in Ho Chi Minh City, which feeds strongly into US and international universities.
The International Baccalaureate has a strong footprint. The International School Ho Chi Minh City runs the full IB Continuum across the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, and the United Nations International School of Hanoi, founded jointly by the United Nations and the Vietnamese government, delivers an IB pathway with a deeply international community. Bilingual schools such as the British Vietnamese International School blend the Vietnamese national curriculum with an English medium international stream, serving families who want their children to retain Vietnamese while gaining an international qualification. For the sixth form qualification decision, compare the routes across our curriculum comparison guides.
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Our school finder returns a ranked shortlist of three to six Vietnamese schools matched to your child's year group, city and budget. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi clusters covered.
Fees overview
Vietnamese international school fees span a wide range. At the value end, smaller English medium and bilingual schools start around 8,500 US dollars a year. The mid tier, where most of the established names sit, runs through the teens and twenties of thousands of dollars, with primary fees lower than secondary and the IB Diploma years the most expensive. The premium campuses reach above 32,000 US dollars a year in the senior years. Fees are often quoted in Vietnamese dong and converted, so confirm the exact figure and the currency at enquiry. Use the fees database for like for like comparison and the cost calculator for the full multi year projection. Our city level guides to Ho Chi Minh City fees and Hanoi fees break the numbers down by school.
| Tier | Example schools | 2026 annual tuition (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value English medium and bilingual | Smaller bilingual and EAL focused schools | 8,500 to 14,000 | Often Vietnamese and English blend |
| Mid tier international | BIS Hanoi, BIS HCMC, ISHCMC, UNIS Hanoi | 15,000 to 28,000 | Primary lower, secondary and IBDP higher |
| Premium senior years | Established flagship campuses | 28,000 to 32,000+ | IB Diploma years at the top |
Across all tiers, budget for registration and application fees, an occasional capital or facilities levy, and school bus and lunch on top of headline tuition. Sibling discounts and corporate fee support are common, so ask whether either applies to your situation.
Top cities
Ho Chi Minh City is the larger and more varied of the two markets, with the widest spread of schools across districts including District 2 (Thu Duc), District 7 and the central districts. Our Ho Chi Minh City guide covers where international families settle and how the commute shapes school choice, and our editorial coverage of the best international schools in Ho Chi Minh City and the best IB schools in Ho Chi Minh City goes deeper on individual schools.
Hanoi is the second cluster, anchored by long established schools serving the diplomatic and development community, with the main international campuses concentrated in the Tay Ho lake district and the western suburbs. Our Hanoi city guide covers the housing and school geography, and the best international schools in Hanoi reviews the shortlist. Da Nang has a smaller set of options on the central coast; as GlobalSchoolGuide adds dedicated coverage for it, it will link from this page.
Admissions calendar
International schools in Vietnam run an August to June academic year in line with the northern hemisphere calendar, which makes mid year transfers from most other expat hubs straightforward. Applications for August entry generally open the previous autumn and winter. The most established schools, particularly the United Nations International School of Hanoi and the larger Ho Chi Minh City campuses, maintain waitlists that can extend beyond a year at popular year groups, so early application matters.
The process follows the standard template: recent school reports, references, an age appropriate academic assessment, an English language assessment for children who are not native speakers, and a family interview. Some schools apply caps on places for English as an additional language and for learning support, so families with specific needs should disclose them early and confirm provision before committing. Mid year entry is possible at many schools where capacity exists, and the larger campuses are used to families relocating outside the August peak. For the cross market planning framework, see our piece on admissions timing by city.
Choosing a school
The first decision in Vietnam is city, and for most families that is settled by the job. Within the chosen city the next decision is curriculum and sixth form qualification, weighed against the child's likely university destination. The British to IB Diploma pathway is the most common at the larger campuses; the American route through Saigon South suits families bound for US universities; the full IB Continuum suits mobile families who may move again. Compare the qualifications across our comparison guides before committing.
The second consideration is the school's status and peer mix. Confirm whether a school is a fully international campus or a bilingual school blending the Vietnamese curriculum, and ask about the balance of expatriate and local families, since both shape the experience. The third is the practical detail that decides daily life: campus location relative to housing, the length of the bus route, and the strength of the school's support provision. Read parent experiences on our school reviews hub, and when you are ready to narrow the field the school finder will return a matched shortlist.
FAQ
How much do international schools cost in Vietnam? Fees in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi run from around 8,500 US dollars a year at the value end to more than 32,000 US dollars at the top tier. Mid tier schools sit in between, with primary fees lower than secondary and IB Diploma years. Add registration, capital levy and bus to the headline tuition.
Which curricula are offered at international schools in Vietnam? The main routes are the British curriculum with IGCSE often leading into the IB Diploma, the American curriculum, and the full International Baccalaureate. Bilingual Vietnamese and English schools sit alongside the fully international campuses.
Which cities in Vietnam have international schools? Ho Chi Minh City has the largest and most varied market, followed by Hanoi. The two cities hold almost all of the established fully international schools. Da Nang has a smaller and growing set of options.
When does the school year start in Vietnam? International schools typically run an August to June academic year. Waitlists at the most established schools can extend beyond a year at popular year groups, so apply as early as a confirmed move date allows. Mid year entry is possible where capacity exists.