Within the wider field of international schools in Hanoi, Genesis School sits in the bilingual band rather than the fully international one, and it is one of the better known Vietnamese bilingual schools in the Tay Ho area near West Lake. The school is part of the Genesis education system and combines the Vietnamese national curriculum with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) of Fieldwork Education in England, so a child follows the local programme while doing a meaningful share of the timetable in English. Families comparing Genesis are usually weighing a bilingual route that keeps the Vietnamese curriculum against the fully English medium IB schools in Hanoi, and the two models suit different families.
Genesis School at a glance
| Curriculum and approach | Vietnamese national framework blended with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) of Fieldwork Education, England |
|---|---|
| Language model | Two streams: a bilingual stream with around 45 percent of learning time in English and an integrated stream with around 33 percent in English |
| Stages | Kindergarten, primary and secondary, taught on a bilingual model |
| Identity | Green school and STEAM focus, with the curriculum mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals |
| Fee band | Below the premium fully international campuses (see Hanoi fees) |
| Area | Tay Ho district, north west Hanoi near West Lake |
Curriculum and academics
Genesis builds its programme around the Ministry of Education and Training framework and layers the International Primary Curriculum on top of it. The IPC is a thematic, cross curricular primary programme used in many international and bilingual schools, and at Genesis it shapes how subjects are taught through enquiry units rather than as isolated lessons. The school describes its design around three ideas: academic proficiency, broad general competency, and cross curricular learning, with the aim of producing learners who can study independently, think critically and solve problems rather than simply memorise.
The language model is the part most parents focus on. Genesis runs two streams. The bilingual stream gives around 45 percent of learning time in English, while the integrated stream gives around 33 percent, so a family can choose how much of the week sits in English against the Vietnamese programme. That is a different proposition from a school such as Hanoi International School, where the whole timetable is in English on an international curriculum. Genesis also leans hard into its identity as a green school, with a STEAM emphasis and a curriculum mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and it has positioned itself among the eco focused schools in the city.
Weighing Genesis against a fully international school?
Our school finder shortlists schools that fit your child, your language priorities and your budget, so you can set a bilingual option such as Genesis fairly against a full international campus.
Genesis School fees
As a Vietnamese bilingual school rather than a full international campus, Genesis generally sits below the premium tier in our guide to international school fees in Hanoi, which is part of its appeal for families who want a strong English component without the cost of a fully international programme. We do not publish a specific figure here because fees change by year group and by stream and the school sets its own schedule, so confirm the current numbers directly with the admissions office before you plan around them.
Whichever stream you pick, budget beyond the headline tuition. Expect an enrolment or registration charge, possible deposit, meals, uniform and any optional clubs or transport. Because the bilingual and integrated streams differ in English contact time, they can differ in price too, so ask admissions to set out both side by side. Our fee calculator brings these strands into a single annual figure, which is the fairest way to compare a bilingual school such as Genesis against the value end of the best international schools in Hanoi.
Admissions
Genesis admits children into kindergarten, primary and secondary, and the bilingual model means the school will want to understand a child's Vietnamese and English starting points when placing them in a year group and a stream. For younger children the entry is straightforward, while for an older child joining mid school the school will look at prior records and may assess language to decide between the bilingual and integrated streams. Families relocating into Hanoi during the year should ask early about availability in the relevant year.
Because the choice of stream shapes the whole experience, it is worth visiting and talking through the difference in English contact time before you apply, particularly if your long term plan is to move a child toward a fully English medium or international pathway later. The admissions team can explain the documents required, the assessment for older entrants, and how a child with limited Vietnamese or limited English would be supported in each stream.
Location and who goes there
Genesis is based in the Tay Ho district in the north west of Hanoi, the lakeside area around West Lake that has long been popular with both Vietnamese professional families and the international community. Tay Ho is well supplied with cafes, housing and family services, which makes it a convenient base for parents who want a bilingual school close to home rather than a commute across the city. The setting fits the school's green and outdoor learning emphasis.
The intake is mainly Vietnamese families who want a strong English component alongside the national curriculum, together with some international and mixed heritage families drawn to the bilingual model. That is a different community feel from the expatriate heavy rolls at schools such as British International School Hanoi or Concordia International School Hanoi. For how Tay Ho and the other districts compare on housing and school choice, the Hanoi hub maps the wider picture for relocating parents.
Genesis 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 Genesis School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Genesis School Hanoi fees?
Genesis is a bilingual Vietnamese and English school, so it generally sits below the premium fully international campuses in Hanoi. Fees vary by year group and by whether a child is in the bilingual or integrated stream, and the school sets its own schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for enrolment, meals, uniform and any transport on top.
What curriculum does Genesis School follow?
Genesis combines the Vietnamese national curriculum with the International Primary Curriculum of Fieldwork Education in England, taught through cross curricular enquiry units with a green school and STEAM emphasis mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
What is the difference between the bilingual and integrated streams?
The bilingual stream gives around 45 percent of learning time in English while the integrated stream gives around 33 percent, so families choose how much of the week sits in English alongside the Vietnamese programme. The streams can differ in fees, so ask admissions to compare both.
Is Genesis School an international or a bilingual school?
Genesis is a bilingual school rather than a fully international one. It keeps the Vietnamese national curriculum and adds a significant English medium component, which is a different model from the all English international schools in the city.
Where is Genesis School in Hanoi?
Genesis is in the Tay Ho district in the north west of the city, the lakeside area around West Lake that is popular with both Vietnamese professional families and the international community.
