Secondary and sixth form tuition at Ho Chi Minh City international schools runs roughly USD 4,000 to USD 38,000 per year in 2026. Premium international schools sit at about USD 26,000 to 38,000, the upper mid tier at USD 18,000 to 26,000, the mid tier at USD 12,000 to 18,000, and bilingual or Vietnamese international schools at USD 4,000 to 12,000. Secondary is where fees peak, so the senior numbers in our Ho Chi Minh City international school fees guide set the planning figures for this stage. The fuller Ho Chi Minh City city guide covers schools, neighbourhoods and admissions in detail.
Ho Chi Minh City has matured into a deep international school market where most expat package families end up at one of around half a dozen premium schools that lead the city on academic outcomes. At secondary and sixth form the senior school range applies, sitting at USD 26,000 to 38,000 a year at the premium tier with capital fees of USD 6,000 to 12,000 on enrolment. Mid tier schools offer credible quality at a notable discount, and the market quotes almost exclusively in US dollars at the premium and upper mid tier, reflecting the foreign currency exposure most families carry.
The bands below are senior tuition only and are taken from the tier structure in our Ho Chi Minh City fees guide, which already frames the premium tier on senior school fees. Treat them as planning ranges. The exact fee depends on the school, the year group and whether the child follows IGCSE and A Levels, the IB Diploma or AP.
| Tier | Annual tuition (USD) | Indicative VND | Illustrative schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium international | USD 26,000 - 38,000 | VND 660M - 970M | Saigon South International School, British International School HCMC, International School HCMC, American International School Vietnam |
| Upper mid international | USD 18,000 - 26,000 | VND 460M - 660M | Australian International School Saigon, Renaissance International School Saigon, European International School, Canadian International School Vietnam |
| Mid international | USD 12,000 - 18,000 | VND 305M - 460M | ABC International School, Saigon Star International School, Cambridge IGCSE providers, Korean and Japanese schools |
| Bilingual and Vietnamese international | USD 4,000 - 12,000 | VND 100M - 305M | Vietnam Australia International School, VinSchool international campuses, selected bilingual privates |
School names indicate the fee tier and are illustrative, not a ranking. The IB Diploma and final A Level years are the dearest place at almost every premium school. The premium and upper mid tier quote in US dollars, while mid tier and bilingual schools quote in Vietnamese dong with US dollar invoicing usually available.
Model senior tuition against the full cost of place across up to three schools and other stages.
Three things move the senior number. The first is the year group, since the IB Diploma and the final examination years sit at the top of every school scale. The second is the tier, since the premium schools that anchor the city outcomes price well above the mid tier. The third is fee inflation, which ran around 4 to 5 percent in US dollar terms at the premium tier across the 2025 to 2026 cycle, broadly in line with Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Families on longer placements should budget for compounded fee inflation of 18 to 28 percent across a typical four to five year posting, on top of the year one fee.
The capital fee is the line that surprises most new arrivals. Most premium schools charge a one off capital or development fee on enrolment, usually USD 6,000 to 12,000 per child, and these are almost always non refundable, although a small minority structure them as a refundable bond. Beyond that, headline tuition understates the full cost of place by 12 to 18 percent through bus, lunch, trips, and exam entries for IGCSE, AP and the IB Diploma at USD 700 to 1,600 across each exam year. Our Ho Chi Minh City fees guide sets out the line items in full, and the relocation cost calculator places them inside a complete family budget. To weigh the city against another posting, the fee comparison tool models several cities at once.
Premium tier schools quote in US dollars and accept payment in dollars or in Vietnamese dong at the school published exchange rate, while mid tier schools quote in dong with dollar invoicing usually available. Most schools offer an annual upfront option with a 2 to 4 percent discount, a termly option, and a monthly option that sometimes carries a small administrative loading. For families paid in a third currency the practical approach is to hold a working dollar balance covering at least one term plus the capital line. The wider international school fee calculator helps translate these bands into a year by year projection.
Secondary and sixth form tuition runs roughly USD 4,000 to USD 38,000 per year in 2026. Premium international schools sit at about USD 26,000 to 38,000, the upper mid tier at USD 18,000 to 26,000, the mid tier at USD 12,000 to 18,000, and bilingual or Vietnamese international schools at USD 4,000 to 12,000.
Yes. Secondary tuition is consistently higher than primary at the same school, and the IB Diploma and final A Level years carry the highest published fee. Premium schools also levy a one off capital fee of USD 6,000 to 12,000 on enrolment that is separate from tuition.
Expect a one off capital or development fee of USD 6,000 to 12,000 at premium schools, plus bus, lunch, trips, and exam entries for IGCSE, AP and the IB Diploma at USD 700 to 1,600 across each exam year. Together the recurring extras add 12 to 18 percent to headline tuition.
Most premium schools run a full secondary and sixth form, including Saigon South International School, the British International School HCMC, the International School HCMC and the American International School Vietnam, alongside many strong upper mid and mid tier schools. The named schools are illustrative of the tier rather than a ranking.
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