Among the international schools in Hanoi, Hanoi International School holds a particular place as one of the longer established full IB schools in the capital and one of the IB schools in Hanoi that runs the whole International Baccalaureate continuum rather than only the Diploma at the top. HIS is an English medium, coeducational IB World School in the central Ba Dinh district, and it is known for a deliberately small community where the cohorts are modest in size and pupils are not lost in a large campus.
HIS at a glance
| Curriculum | The full International Baccalaureate continuum: Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes |
|---|---|
| Status | Authorised IB World School, English medium and coeducational |
| Ages | 4 to 18, from early primary through to the IB Diploma |
| Community | A small school of a few hundred students, central rather than campus on the edge of the city |
| Sport | Fixtures through the Mekong River International Schools Association (MRISA) |
| Area | Ba Dinh district, central Hanoi |
Curriculum and academics
HIS teaches the complete IB pathway. The Primary Years Programme runs through the early and primary years as an enquiry led, transdisciplinary framework, the Middle Years Programme covers the roughly 11 to 16 age range and builds the bridge into senior study, and the Diploma Programme finishes the school in the final two years with its six subject groups plus the core of theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service. Running all three means a child can stay on a single coherent philosophy from age 4 to 18 rather than switching systems at secondary.
The smaller roll shapes the academic experience. Class sizes are contained, the arts in music, theatre and visual art are a visible part of school life, and sport is played through the Mekong River International Schools Association, which gives a regional fixture list against peer schools. English as an additional language support is built into classroom teaching through co planning and small group work for pupils still developing academic English, which matters for an international intake. Families who specifically want a British sixth form on A Levels rather than the IB Diploma tend to look instead at the British curriculum schools in Hanoi.
Comparing HIS against the other IB schools in Hanoi?
Use our compare tool to set Hanoi International School beside another IB or international campus in the city, side by side on curriculum, stage and location before you enquire.
HIS fees
HIS sits in the international tier of our guide to international school fees in Hanoi as a full IB World School, and as with most IB schools tuition rises by year group with the Diploma years the most expensive part of the journey. We do not quote a figure here because the school publishes its own fee schedule and it changes, so confirm the current numbers with admissions before you plan around them rather than relying on a third party estimate.
As a day school there is no boarding charge, but families should budget beyond the headline tuition for a registration or application fee, a deposit, IB examination entries in the Diploma years and a daily commute within the city. Our fee calculator pulls these into a single annual figure, which is the only fair way to set HIS against another IB or international option, and our roundup of the best international schools in Hanoi places it in the wider field alongside the larger campuses.
Admissions
The school year runs from August, and HIS accepts applications year round where a place is free in the year group a child would join, which suits families relocating to Hanoi outside the usual cycle. As an IB school it reviews prior school records and may assess a child to confirm the right year group and the level of English, particularly for entry into the Middle Years or Diploma Programmes, which build on earlier study.
Because the cohorts are small, places in popular year groups can be limited, so a family aiming for the Diploma should enquire early. The admissions team can explain the documents required, any assessment, and the English as an additional language support available for a child still building academic English. Contact the school directly to confirm availability in your child's year group and the current intake points.
Location and who goes there
HIS is based in the Ba Dinh district, one of the central administrative and diplomatic areas of Hanoi, which gives it a genuinely city centre setting rather than a campus out toward the suburbs like some of the larger international schools. That central position is convenient for families living in or near the core of the city and is part of the school's appeal for parents who do not want a long cross town school run.
The community is broadly international, mixing expatriate families on assignment in Hanoi with internationally minded local families who want a full English medium IB education. The scale is the defining feature, and it is a different feel from the larger rolls at British International School Hanoi or Concordia International School Hanoi across the river. For how Ba Dinh and the other districts compare on housing and school choice, the Hanoi hub sets out the wider picture for relocating parents.
Hanoi International School (HIS) 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 HIS, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Hanoi International School fees?
HIS sits in the international tier of the Hanoi range as a full IB World School, with tuition rising by year group and the Diploma years the most expensive. The school publishes its own fee schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for registration, a deposit, IB examination entries and transport on top.
What curriculum does Hanoi International School follow?
HIS teaches the full International Baccalaureate continuum: the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, in English, for students from age 4 to 18.
Is HIS a real IB World School?
Yes. Hanoi International School is an authorised IB World School running all three IB programmes. It is one of the longer established full IB schools in the capital.
How big is Hanoi International School?
HIS is deliberately small, with a community of a few hundred students, which gives contained class sizes and a close knit feel rather than a large campus.
Where is Hanoi International School located?
HIS is in the Ba Dinh district, one of the central areas of Hanoi, giving it a city centre position rather than a suburban campus.
