Among the international schools in Hanoi, the International School of Vietnam stands out as a non profit option and one of the IB schools in Hanoi that combines the International Baccalaureate with the Cambridge IGCSE. ISV is an English medium school in the Hoang Mai district in the south of the city, and its non profit status is a point of difference in a market where many campuses are run commercially. The school describes itself as built around inquiry led learning that still holds pupils to rigorous external examinations.
ISV at a glance
| Curriculum | The International Baccalaureate across the grades, with Cambridge IGCSE in the secondary years |
|---|---|
| Governance | Non profit |
| Approach | Inquiry based learning blended with rigorous Diploma and Cambridge examinations |
| Stages | Elementary through high school, English medium |
| Fee band | Confirm with admissions (see Hanoi fees) |
| Area | Dai Kim urban area, Hoang Mai district, south Hanoi |
Curriculum and academics
ISV runs the IB across its grades while using the Cambridge IGCSE in the secondary years, a blend designed to give the breadth and enquiry of the IB together with the recognised subject qualifications of IGCSE at 14 to 16. In practice that means younger pupils work in an inquiry based, transdisciplinary way, secondary pupils take IGCSE as an internationally recognised set of examinations, and the senior years can finish on the IB Diploma. The school emphasises a holistic and balanced approach intended to nurture each pupil's potential as well as academic results.
This twin track of IB and Cambridge is a slightly different shape from a pure IB school such as Hanoi International School, and it appeals to families who value the IGCSE checkpoint in the middle of secondary. Teaching is in English for an international intake, and the non profit model means surpluses are directed back into the school rather than to owners, which the school presents as part of its character. Families weighing the IB Diploma against a British A Level sixth form elsewhere can read our overview of the British curriculum schools in Hanoi for the contrast.
Working out what an ISV place really costs?
Our fee calculator brings tuition, registration, examination entries and the extras into a single annual figure, so you can plan an ISV place properly before you enquire.
ISV fees
ISV sits within the international band of our guide to international school fees in Hanoi. We do not publish a specific figure here because the school sets and updates its own fee schedule and tuition typically rises by year group, so confirm the current numbers with admissions before planning around them. As a non profit, the school positions its fees as reinvested in teaching and facilities rather than distributed as profit.
As with any IB and Cambridge school, budget beyond the headline tuition for a registration or application fee, a deposit, IGCSE and IB examination entries in the relevant years, and a daily commute to the Hoang Mai campus. Our fee calculator brings these into a single annual figure, which is the fairest way to compare ISV against another international option, and our roundup of the best international schools in Hanoi places it in the wider field.
Admissions
The school admits across the elementary to high school range and, because it runs both the IB and Cambridge IGCSE, it will want to understand a child's prior schooling and level of English when placing them, particularly for entry into the IGCSE or Diploma years that build on earlier study. Families relocating to Hanoi during the year should ask early about availability in the relevant year group, since in year places depend on space.
The admissions team can explain the documents required, any assessment, and the support available for a pupil still developing academic English. Because the school pairs two examination systems, it is worth discussing with admissions how a child's previous curriculum maps onto the IB and Cambridge pathway so that the year placement is right. Contact the school directly to confirm intake points and current availability.
Location and who goes there
ISV is based in the Dai Kim urban area within the Hoang Mai district in the south of Hanoi, a developing residential part of the city rather than the central diplomatic core. That southern position can be convenient for families living in the newer southern neighbourhoods and is worth weighing against the commute for families based further north or across the river.
The intake is international, mixing expatriate and internationally minded local families who want an English medium IB and Cambridge education within a non profit school. It is a different proposition from the larger commercial campuses such as British International School Hanoi in Long Bien or Vinschool International. For how Hoang Mai and the other districts compare on housing, commute and school choice, the Hanoi hub maps the wider picture for relocating parents.
International School of Vietnam (ISV) 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 ISV, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are International School of Vietnam fees?
ISV sits within the international band of the Hanoi range, with tuition typically rising by year group. As a non profit, it positions fees as reinvested in the school. It sets its own schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for registration, a deposit and IGCSE and IB examination entries.
What curriculum does ISV follow?
ISV runs the International Baccalaureate across its grades and uses the Cambridge IGCSE in the secondary years, blending inquiry based learning with recognised external examinations, taught in English.
Is ISV a non profit school?
Yes. The International School of Vietnam is a non profit international school, which means surpluses are directed back into the school rather than distributed to owners.
Does ISV offer the IB Diploma and IGCSE?
Yes. ISV offers the IB across its grades and Cambridge IGCSE in the secondary years, so pupils can take IGCSE at 14 to 16 and finish on the IB Diploma.
Where is ISV located in Hanoi?
ISV is in the Dai Kim urban area within the Hoang Mai district in the south of Hanoi, a developing residential part of the city.
