Among the international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, the British International School is one of the largest and longest established, and a reference point for British education in Vietnam. It began in August 1997 as a small preschool in a District 1 villa and has grown into an all age school spread across three campuses in Thao Dien, the riverside district that has long anchored the city's expatriate community. It has been part of the Nord Anglia Education group since 2015.
BIS HCMC at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum: National Curriculum for England and IGCSE, then the IB Diploma Programme in Sixth Form |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early Years to Sixth Form, ages 2 to 18 |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School for the Diploma Programme; member of FOBISIA and the Nord Anglia Education group |
| Fee band | Premium for the city (see Ho Chi Minh City fees) |
| Campus area | Thao Dien, An Khanh Ward, Thu Duc City, east of central Saigon |
Curriculum and academics
BIS HCMC follows the British curriculum from the Early Years onward, teaching the National Curriculum for England through primary and into the secondary years, where pupils sit IGCSE examinations at 16. In the Sixth Form the school changes track to the IB Diploma Programme rather than A Levels, a route that keeps a broad spread of subjects for the final two years and is widely recognised by universities worldwide. The school publishes its IB Diploma results, which have run above the global average in recent years.
That structure, a British primary and middle school followed by the IB Diploma, is a common pattern in Nord Anglia schools and gives families a clear progression: the National Curriculum and IGCSE provide a recognised qualification at 16, and the Diploma rounds off a broad, university facing finish. Parents weighing BIS HCMC are usually comparing the IB Diploma against the A Levels offered at other British schools in the city, and the decision turns on whether a child prefers to keep six subjects or to specialise earlier. Our overview of the IB schools in Ho Chi Minh City sets out how the Diploma providers compare across the city.
Working out what a BIS HCMC place really costs?
Our fee calculator brings tuition, registration, examinations and transport into one annual figure so you can compare BIS HCMC fairly with another Saigon school.
British International School Ho Chi Minh City fees
BIS HCMC sits in the premium tier of our guide to international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City, among the higher charging campuses in the city. As with most schools that finish on the IB Diploma, tuition climbs by year group, and the Sixth Form is the most expensive stage of the pathway. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm the current figures with admissions before you plan around them.
Tuition is only part of the budget. Families should also allow for a registration or application fee, a refundable deposit, IGCSE and IB examination entries, and daily transport across the city, which can be significant given the traffic. Our fee calculator pulls these into a single annual figure, which is the only fair way to set a premium British school against an IB or bilingual alternative in the city.
Admissions
The school year runs from August, and BIS HCMC accepts applications year round wherever a place is free in the year group a child would join. That suits 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 IGCSE and IB Diploma years, which build on earlier study.
Places in the Sixth Form are competitive, so a family aiming for the IB Diploma should apply early and expect prior grades to be considered. As a large school with three campuses, BIS HCMC has more capacity than most, but popular year groups still fill, so contact the admissions office to confirm availability in your child's year group, the documents required and any assessment.
Location and who goes there
BIS HCMC is built around Thao Dien, in An Khanh Ward of Thu Duc City, with separate campuses for Early Years and Infants, for the Junior years and for Secondary, all within the same riverside district east of the centre. Thao Dien has long been the heart of expatriate Ho Chi Minh City, with international shops, cafes and a settled foreign community, which makes the school an easy fit for families who want to live close to where their children study.
The intake is broadly international, mixing expatriate families on assignment with returning Vietnamese families and local families choosing a British education, drawn in part by the school's size and its established reputation. For how Thao Dien compares with District 7 and the central districts on housing, commute and school choice, the Ho Chi Minh City hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents.
British International School Ho Chi Minh City 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 BIS HCMC, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are British International School Ho Chi Minh City fees?
BIS HCMC sits in the premium tier of the Ho Chi Minh City range, with tuition rising by year group and the Sixth Form IB Diploma years the most expensive. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for registration, a deposit, examinations and transport on top.
What curriculum does British International School Ho Chi Minh City follow?
BIS HCMC teaches the National Curriculum for England from Early Years through to IGCSE, then offers the IB Diploma Programme in the Sixth Form. It is an authorised IB World School and part of the Nord Anglia Education group.
What ages does British International School Ho Chi Minh City take?
The school takes children from age 2 in the Early Years through to age 18 at the end of the Sixth Form, across an Early Years and Infant campus, a Junior campus and a Secondary campus.
Is British International School Ho Chi Minh City a good school?
BIS HCMC is one of the largest and longest running British schools in Vietnam, and it publishes IB Diploma results that have run above the global average. As an independent guide we do not rank schools or take payment to feature them, so we point parents to its published results, inspection findings and a visit.
When do British International School Ho Chi Minh City 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.
