Among the international schools in Hanoi, the Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin is the established French option and one of the oldest international schools in the capital, founded in 1982. Where the IB schools in Hanoi and the British schools teach in English, the Lycée Yersin teaches the French national curriculum in French and is directly managed by the Agency for French Teaching Abroad, the French state agency that runs the worldwide network of French schools, which gives it a clear line back to the education system in France.
the Lycée Yersin at a glance
| Curriculum | The French national curriculum to the Brevet and Baccalaureate, plus a more recent American international section |
|---|---|
| Established | 1982, one of the longest running international schools in Hanoi |
| Management | Directly managed by the Agency for French Teaching Abroad (AEFE) |
| Ages | Around age 3 to 18, roughly 1,100 students |
| Languages | French as the main language, with English, German, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Latin offered |
| Area | Long Bien district, east of the Red River near the Long Bien Bridge |
Curriculum and academics
The school follows the French national curriculum from the early years through to the Diplôme National du Brevet at the end of lower secondary and the French Baccalaureate at the end of upper secondary. Because it is part of the AEFE network, the programme, inspection and standards mirror those in France, so a child can move between the Lycée Yersin and a school in France, or another French school abroad, with continuity. More recently the school added an American international section, which broadens the offer for families who want a stronger English medium strand alongside the French core.
Language teaching is a particular strength. French is the main language of instruction, and pupils can study English, German, Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin, with Latin available in the secondary years. The campus, on around 2.8 hectares near the Long Bien Bridge, has substantial sports facilities including a swimming pool and an auditorium for arts and culture, and the school runs the extracurricular and community service programmes typical of the French system. For a family choosing between the French Baccalaureate and the IB Diploma or a British sixth form, the contrast with the British curriculum schools in Hanoi is the key decision.
Comparing the French route against an English medium school?
Use our compare tool to set the Lycée Yersin beside an IB or British curriculum school in Hanoi, side by side on curriculum, language and stage before you enquire.
the Lycée Yersin fees
The Lycée Yersin sits within the international band of our guide to international school fees in Hanoi, and as an AEFE managed school its fee structure follows the conventions of the French network. We do not publish a figure here because the school sets and updates its own schedule, so confirm the current numbers with the school before planning around them. French families may also want to ask about any support arrangements available through the French system.
As with any school, budget beyond tuition for registration, a deposit, examination entries for the Brevet and Baccalaureate, and transport across the river to Long Bien. Our fee calculator brings these into a single annual figure, which is the fairest way to set the Lycée Yersin against an English medium option, and our roundup of the best international schools in Hanoi places it in the wider field alongside the IB and British schools.
Admissions
The school admits from around age 3 through to the Baccalaureate. As a French curriculum school, the natural intake is French speaking families and children coming from the French system, whether from France or another AEFE school abroad, and for them placement is straightforward and continuous. The more recent American international section also opens a route for families who want an English medium strand, and the school can explain how the French and American provision sit together.
For a child arriving without French, the school will look carefully at language when deciding on placement and support, since the core programme is taught in French. Families relocating to Hanoi should ask early about availability in the relevant year group and about the language pathway, particularly for older children joining the secondary years where the Brevet and Baccalaureate build on earlier French study. Contact the school directly to confirm intake points and current availability.
Location and who goes there
The Lycée Yersin is based in the Long Bien district on the east bank of the Red River, near the historic Long Bien Bridge, on a campus of around 2.8 hectares. Long Bien has become one of the districts favoured by international families for its space and newer housing, and the school shares that side of the river with other international campuses, which makes the area a recognised cluster for international schooling away from the dense central districts.
The community centres on French and francophone families, including those on diplomatic and business postings, alongside Vietnamese families who want a French education and, increasingly, families drawn to the American section. That is a distinct community from the English speaking rolls at British International School Hanoi nearby in Long Bien or the central Hanoi International School. For how Long Bien and the other districts compare on housing, commute and school choice, the Hanoi hub maps the wider picture for relocating parents.
Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin fees?
The Lycée Yersin sits within the international band of the Hanoi range, and as an AEFE managed school its fees follow the conventions of the French network. The school sets its own schedule, so confirm current figures with the school and budget for registration, a deposit, examination entries and transport on top.
What curriculum does the Lycée Yersin follow?
It teaches the French national curriculum from the early years to the Diplôme National du Brevet and the French Baccalaureate, in French, and also offers a more recent American international section. It is managed by the Agency for French Teaching Abroad.
When was the Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin founded?
The school was established in 1982, which makes it one of the longest running international schools in Hanoi.
Is the Lycée Yersin only for French speakers?
Its core programme is taught in French and the natural intake is French speaking families, but it offers a range of languages and a more recent American international section. A child arriving without French would be assessed for language placement and support.
Where is the Lycée Yersin located in Hanoi?
It is in the Long Bien district on the east bank of the Red River, near the Long Bien Bridge, on a campus of around 2.8 hectares.
