Within the wider field of international schools in Hanoi, the Korean International School in Hanoi occupies a specific niche: it is a national curriculum school that serves the city's large Korean community, much as the Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin serves French families. Rather than an English medium international programme such as the IB schools in Hanoi, it teaches the South Korean curriculum in Korean, which keeps children aligned with the education system back home.
the Korean International School at a glance
| Curriculum | The South Korean national curriculum, taught primarily in Korean |
|---|---|
| Opened | 2006, beginning with elementary pupils and later extending to senior years |
| Stages | Elementary, middle and high school |
| Community | Serves the Korean expatriate community in Hanoi, one of the city's largest |
| Fee band | Confirm with admissions (see Hanoi fees) |
| Area | Cau Giay district, west central Hanoi |
Curriculum and academics
The school opened in 2006 and grew from an elementary intake into a full school covering elementary, middle and high school. Its purpose is to let Korean families posted to Hanoi keep their children on the home country curriculum so that a return to South Korea, or progression into the Korean university system, is smooth. Teaching is primarily in Korean and follows the structure and content set by the South Korean education authorities, which is the central reason families choose it over an English medium international school.
This is a different proposition from the all English programmes elsewhere in the city. A family weighing the Korean curriculum here against an international pathway is really choosing between continuity with the home system and an English medium route such as the IB or a British curriculum. For families who do want the English medium option instead, our overview of the British curriculum schools in Hanoi and the IB schools in Hanoi set out the alternatives. The Korean school's strength is precisely that it does not try to be those things; it keeps a child inside the Korean system while living abroad.
Not sure a national curriculum school fits your family?
Our school finder shortlists schools that match your child's language, curriculum and stage, so you can weigh a Korean curriculum school against an English medium international option.
the Korean International School fees
National community schools of this kind typically sit differently on fees from the premium English medium campuses, and the Korean International School is not directly comparable to the international tier in our guide to international school fees in Hanoi. We do not publish a figure here because the school sets its own schedule and arrangements for community schools can differ from commercial international schools, so confirm the current numbers and any community or sponsorship arrangements directly with the school.
As with any school, budget beyond tuition for enrolment, materials, meals and transport, and ask the school to set out the full annual cost. Because the curriculum, language and calendar follow the Korean system rather than the international one, the right comparison is with the home country rather than with the best international schools in Hanoi, though families sometimes look at both while deciding between continuity and an English medium move.
Admissions
Admission is geared to the Korean community and to children who will work in Korean, so the school will want to understand a child's background in the Korean curriculum and language when placing them across elementary, middle or high school. Families arriving from South Korea or from another Korean school abroad are the natural intake, and the school can advise on documentation and year placement to keep a child aligned with the home system.
Families who are not Korean speakers, or who want an English medium education, would usually look elsewhere, and the school can be a clear yes or no depending on whether keeping a child in the Korean curriculum is the priority. Contact the school directly to confirm the current intake points, the documents required and availability in the relevant stage.
Location and who goes there
The school is based in the Cau Giay district in the west central part of Hanoi, an area with a substantial Korean population, Korean businesses and services, which makes it a natural home for a Korean community school. The concentration of Korean families in and around Cau Giay and the neighbouring districts is part of why the school sits where it does, and it is convenient for families living in that part of the city.
The community is overwhelmingly Korean, families on business or diplomatic postings who want their children to stay within the home education system. That is a very different intake from the mixed international rolls at schools such as Hanoi International School or British International School Hanoi. For how Cau Giay and the other districts compare on housing, community and school choice, the Hanoi hub maps the wider picture for relocating families.
Korean International School in Hanoi 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 the Korean International School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Korean International School in Hanoi fees?
As a national community school the Korean International School is not directly comparable to the premium English medium campuses in Hanoi. It sets its own schedule and community arrangements can differ from commercial international schools, so confirm current figures and any sponsorship arrangements directly with the school.
What curriculum does the Korean International School in Hanoi follow?
It follows the South Korean national curriculum, taught primarily in Korean, so that children stay aligned with the education system in South Korea across elementary, middle and high school.
Who is the Korean International School in Hanoi for?
It is designed for the Korean community in Hanoi, particularly families on business or diplomatic postings who want their children to keep working in Korean and on the home country curriculum.
When did the Korean International School in Hanoi open?
The school opened in 2006, beginning with elementary pupils and later extending to cover middle and high school.
Where is the Korean International School in Hanoi located?
It is in the Cau Giay district in the west central part of Hanoi, an area with a substantial Korean community and Korean businesses and services.
