Primary international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City (2026)

The city's premium primaries, names such as Saigon South International School and the British International School, price close to regional rivals and bill directly in US dollars, which removes some currency risk for families paid in dollars but raises it for everyone else. Below them a deep mid market and a fast growing bilingual sector give budget conscious families real options.

Districts shape the choice. The established foreign owned campuses cluster in District 7 and the southern Phu My Hung area and in District 2 across the river, where most expatriate families live, while bilingual and Vietnamese international schools spread more widely across the city.

Primary fee bands

The table below bands annual primary tuition by school tier, drawn from our Ho Chi Minh City international school fees research. Primary year groups usually sit at the lower end of each school's published range, with fees stepping up through secondary. Figures are tuition only; one off and recurring extras are set out separately below.

School names illustrate each tier and are not endorsements or exact quotes. Confirm current fees directly with each school.

Registration, deposit and other costs

Tuition is only part of the bill. The line items below are indicative bands for international schools in this market and should be confirmed with each school, as policies vary widely and some waive individual charges entirely.

Bands above are indicative industry ranges, not school specific quotes. Always confirm current figures in a school's fee schedule before budgeting.

What drives the cost

Ownership and curriculum drive the headline. Foreign owned, fully international primaries with overseas hired staff and English medium teaching sit at the top, while bilingual and Vietnamese international schools that blend the national curriculum with an English stream cost far less for comparable primary provision.

The dollar billing convention matters. Because the premium schools quote in US dollars, their fees are insulated from dong movements but feel expensive to families earning in other currencies. Mid market schools that bill partly in dong can work out cheaper depending on the exchange rate.

Capacity and demand finish the picture. A small group of established international primaries dominate expatriate demand and sustain premium pricing, while newer entrants and the expanding bilingual chains discount to fill primary cohorts and build reputation.

Hidden costs primary parents miss

Capital and facilities levies are common at the premium campuses and are sometimes among the larger one off charges in Asia, so the first year cost runs well above the annual tuition figure. Check whether the levy is one off or recurring.

Transport is a meaningful recurring cost given the spread between residential District 2 and the southern school cluster, and a primary child crossing the city by bus adds a real annual line. Many families pick a home with the school commute front of mind.

Meals, the activities programme, devices for upper primary, uniforms and trips sit on top of tuition. The bilingual schools carry lighter extras, but the gap to a fully international place is still large once everything is counted.

For the full breakdown by school and tier, including secondary projections, read our guide to international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City, or start from the Ho Chi Minh City international schools hub to shortlist by curriculum and neighbourhood. To weigh one city against another, the international school fee calculator totals tuition plus living costs.

Frequently asked questions

Primary international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City range from about USD 4,000 a year at bilingual and Vietnamese international programmes to roughly USD 32,000 at premium foreign owned primaries. Most fully international primary places fall between USD 18,000 and USD 24,000.

The established foreign owned campuses cluster in District 7 and the southern Phu My Hung area, and in District 2 across the river, where most expatriate families live. Bilingual and Vietnamese international schools are spread more widely.

The premium international schools bill in US dollars, which removes dong currency risk but makes fees feel expensive for families earning in other currencies. Some mid market and bilingual schools bill partly in dong.

Expect capital or facilities levies that can be substantial at the premium campuses, plus transport across the city, meals, the activities programme, devices, uniforms and trips. The first year is the most expensive once levies are added.

Yes. Bilingual and Vietnamese international programmes can sit in the USD 4,000 to 12,000 band, well below the foreign owned international primaries, because they blend the national curriculum with an English stream and a different staffing model.