Among the wider field of international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, The ABC International School is one of the established British curriculum options, with roots going back to 1994 when it opened as a small English school for the children of foreign investors and expatriate families. It grew year by year, adopted the National Curriculum for England formally and took its present name as the community around it became more international. Today it offers the full British pathway, from the early years through to A Levels.
ABC International School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum: National Curriculum for England, with IGCSE in Years 10 to 11 and A Levels in Years 12 to 13 |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years to sixth form, ages 2 to 18 |
| Founded | 1994, originally as the ABC English School, later renamed |
| Accreditation | Member of FOBISIA, the Federation of British International Schools in Asia |
| Fee band | Mid to upper for the city (see Ho Chi Minh City fees) |
| Campus area | Binh Chanh and Nha Be, southern Saigon |
Curriculum and academics
ABC follows the British curriculum in full, teaching the National Curriculum for England from the early years up to Year 9, then moving pupils into IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in Years 12 and 13. That structure gives a child a recognised, examination backed route through secondary school and a sixth form qualification that universities in the United Kingdom, Vietnam and further afield understand without translation. The programme is adapted where it needs to be to reflect the Vietnamese setting, while keeping the English framework at its centre.
Membership of FOBISIA places ABC within a wider network of British international schools across Asia, which brings shared standards and inter school events in sport and the arts. For families comparing the British route against the IB Diploma offered elsewhere, the difference is in shape: A Levels let a pupil specialise in three or four subjects, while the IB keeps a broader spread. Our overview of the Ho Chi Minh City schools sets out where the British, IB and bilingual options sit alongside one another.
Comparing ABC with other Saigon schools?
Put up to three Ho Chi Minh City schools side by side on curriculum, stage and fees so the British and IB routes are easy to weigh.
ABC International School fees
ABC sits in the mid to upper part of our guide to international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City, above the value campuses in our look at the cheapest international schools in Ho Chi Minh City but below the very top of the premium market. As with most British schools, tuition rises by year group, so a sixth form place costs more than an early years one. The school publishes a fee schedule and offers a discount for additional children from the same family.
Budget past tuition for the costs a British school typically adds: a registration or application charge, a refundable deposit, IGCSE and A Level examination entries charged per subject, lunches, uniform and the daily commute, which matters given the southern Saigon location. Our fee calculator pulls these into a single annual figure so you can set ABC fairly against another school on the same basis rather than comparing headline tuition alone.
Admissions
The school year runs from August, and admissions are handled year round, subject to a place being free in the year group a child would enter. That makes ABC realistic for a family relocating to Vietnam mid year, since an in year place can often be arranged where many schools only take pupils at the start of the year. The school assesses applicants to confirm the right year group and the level of English support a child may need.
Entry to the sixth form is usually tied to IGCSE results or their equivalent, in line with how A Level study works, so a pupil joining for Years 12 and 13 should expect their prior grades to be reviewed. For younger applicants the process is lighter, focused on settling a child into the right class. Families should contact the admissions office early to confirm availability, the documents required and the timing of any assessment.
Location and who goes there
ABC operates in the south of the city, with its longer standing campus in the Trung Son area of Binh Hung, Binh Chanh, and a larger campus in Nha Be that adds extensive sport and performance facilities. Southern Saigon, including the planned districts around Phu My Hung, has long drawn international families for its space, newer housing and concentration of schools, and ABC fits naturally into that part of the city. Families living further north should factor the commute into their decision.
The intake is genuinely mixed, bringing together expatriate families, returning Vietnamese families and local families who want a British education in English. That breadth is part of the school's character and reflects how Ho Chi Minh City has grown as an international posting. For how Binh Chanh, Nha Be and Phu My Hung compare with the central districts on housing, commute and school choice, the Ho Chi Minh City hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents.
ABC International School reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once we can confirm the reviewer is part of the school community, and you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has experience of The ABC International School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are ABC International School fees?
ABC sits in the mid to upper part of the Ho Chi Minh City range, with tuition rising by year group from the early years to the sixth form. The school publishes a fee schedule and offers a sibling discount, so check the current figures with the admissions office and budget for registration, examinations and transport on top.
What curriculum does ABC International School follow?
ABC follows the British system, teaching the National Curriculum for England from the early years to Year 9, then IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in Years 12 and 13. It is a British curriculum school rather than an IB school.
What ages does ABC International School take?
The school takes pupils from age 2 in the early years through to age 18 at the end of the sixth form, covering the full British primary and secondary pathway on one provider.
Is ABC International School a good school?
ABC is one of the longer established British schools in Ho Chi Minh City, a member of FOBISIA, with a full pathway to A Levels. As an independent guide we do not rank schools or accept payment to feature them, so we point parents to inspection findings, results and a visit rather than a league position.
When do ABC International School applications open?
The school year runs from August, and admissions are processed year round subject to places in the relevant year group. Families relocating mid year can apply for an in year place, so contact the admissions office to confirm availability and the assessment involved.
