Within the wider field of international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, AIS Saigon is one of the larger and longer running options, and one of the early IB schools in Ho Chi Minh City to be authorised in Vietnam. Founded in 2006 as the Australian International School, it has grown into a community of around 1,300 pupils from some 40 nationalities, spread across campuses in the riverside districts east of the centre, with a boarding option that is unusual for the city.
AIS Saigon at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB World School: IB Primary Years Programme, then Cambridge Lower Secondary and IGCSE, then the IB Diploma Programme |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years to senior, ages 18 months to 18; boarding from Year 7 |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School for the Primary Years and Diploma programmes |
| Fee band | Premium for the city (see Ho Chi Minh City fees) |
| Campus area | Thao Dien and Thu Thiem, Thu Duc City, east of central Saigon |
Curriculum and academics
AIS runs an IB pathway with a recognised programme at each stage. The early and primary years follow the IB Primary Years Programme, an inquiry led approach that suits the youngest learners. In the middle years the school moves to the Cambridge Lower Secondary curriculum and then IGCSE, giving pupils examination practice and a recognised qualification at 16, before returning to the IB for the senior years. The IB Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13 is the school's headline route to university.
That mix, IB at either end with Cambridge in the middle, is a deliberate design: the Primary Years Programme builds curiosity, IGCSE adds rigour and breadth at the right age, and the Diploma rounds off a broad, university facing finish. Families weighing AIS will usually be comparing the IB Diploma against A Levels offered elsewhere, and the choice comes down to whether a child thrives on a broad spread of six subjects or prefers to specialise. Our overview of the Ho Chi Minh City schools sets out where the IB, British and bilingual options sit alongside one another.
Working out what an AIS place really costs?
Our fee calculator brings tuition, registration, examinations and boarding into one annual figure so you can compare AIS fairly with another Saigon school.
AIS Saigon fees
AIS sits in the premium tier of our guide to international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City, well above the value campuses in our look at the cheapest international schools in Ho Chi Minh City. As with most IB schools, tuition climbs by year group, and the senior IB Diploma years are the most expensive part of the pathway. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm the current figures with admissions before you plan around them.
Boarding is the line that sets AIS apart from most Saigon schools, and a boarding place carries its own charge on top of tuition for pupils in Years 7 to 13. Beyond that, budget for a registration or application fee, a refundable deposit, IB and IGCSE examination entries and the daily commute or transport. Our fee calculator pulls these into a single annual figure, which is the only fair way to set a premium IB school against a British or bilingual alternative.
Admissions
The school year runs from August, and AIS accepts applications year round where a place is free in the year group a child would join. That makes it workable for families relocating to Vietnam outside the usual cycle, since an in year place can often be arranged. The school reviews prior school records and may assess a child to confirm the right year group and the level of English support, particularly for entry into the IB Diploma, which builds on earlier study.
For boarding families the process has an extra layer, since the school will want to understand a pupil's readiness for boarding alongside the academic fit. Places in the senior IB years are sought after, so a family aiming for the Diploma should apply early and expect prior grades to be considered. Contact the admissions office to confirm availability in your child's year group, the documents required and any assessment.
Location and who goes there
AIS is based in the riverside districts east of central Saigon, with campuses in Thao Dien and a larger one in Thu Thiem, both now part of Thu Duc City. Thao Dien has long been the heart of expatriate Ho Chi Minh City, with international shops, cafes and a settled foreign community, while Thu Thiem is the newer planned district across the river. The location is easy to reach from the central districts and from neighbouring areas, which suits a school drawing pupils from a wide catchment.
With around 1,300 pupils from many nationalities, the intake is broadly international, mixing expatriate families on assignment, returning Vietnamese families and local families choosing an IB education, and the boarding option brings in pupils from further afield. For how Thao Dien and Thu Thiem 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.
AIS Saigon 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 AIS Saigon, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are AIS Saigon fees?
AIS sits in the premium tier of the Ho Chi Minh City range, with tuition rising by year group and the senior IB years the most expensive. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for registration, a deposit, examinations and any boarding charge on top.
What curriculum does AIS Saigon follow?
AIS is an IB World School. It teaches the IB Primary Years Programme in the early and primary years, the Cambridge Lower Secondary and IGCSE programmes in the middle years, and the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13.
What ages does AIS Saigon take?
The school takes children from 18 months in the early years through to age 18 at the end of the IB Diploma, with boarding available for pupils in Years 7 to 13.
Is AIS Saigon a good school?
AIS is one of the larger and more established international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, an early IB World School in Vietnam with a community of around 1,300 pupils from many nationalities. As an independent guide we do not rank schools or take payment to feature them, so we point parents to IB results, inspection findings and a visit.
When do AIS Saigon applications open?
The school year runs from August, and applications are accepted 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 any assessment.
