Among the international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Star International School is one of the smaller, more contained British options, focused on the early years and primary phases rather than running all the way to a sixth form. Established in 2006 and set in District 2 on the eastern side of the city, it offers an English language British education with UK trained teachers, and it appears in our roundup of the best international schools in Ho Chi Minh City. The school's deliberate scale and its preschool to Year 7 range shape who it suits.
Saigon Star International School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum: British National Curriculum with the International Early Years, Primary and Middle Years curricula; Montessori in preschool |
|---|---|
| Stages | Preschool to Year 7, ages 2 to 14 |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Accreditation | Not published; confirm current accreditation directly with the school |
| Fee band | Lower to mid for the city (see Ho Chi Minh City fees) |
| Campus area | Thanh My Loi, District 2, east of central Saigon |
Curriculum and academics
Saigon Star teaches the British curriculum, built around the British National Curriculum and a sequence of international programmes designed to sit alongside it. The youngest children follow the International Early Years Curriculum, primary pupils work through the International Primary Curriculum, and the oldest pupils move into the International Middle Years Curriculum for the 11 to 14 age group. The preschool years also draw on Montessori practice within the early years setting, giving the youngest children a hands on, child led start.
The British structure means a child arriving from a UK or British international school can continue with familiar year groups and expectations. The practical point for parents is that the school currently runs to Year 7, so a family will plan a move to a senior school for the GCSE and sixth form years that follow. Our overview of the Ho Chi Minh City schools shows which British and international schools carry the curriculum through to the end of secondary for the next step.
Working out what a Saigon Star place really costs?
Our fee calculator brings tuition, registration and transport into one annual figure so you can compare Saigon Star fairly with another Saigon school.
Saigon Star International School fees
Saigon Star sits in the lower to mid part of our guide to international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City, more contained than the city's largest premium campuses and closer to the value end covered in our look at the cheapest international schools in Ho Chi Minh City. As at most schools, tuition rises by year group, with the older year groups costing more than the preschool classes. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm the current figures with admissions before you plan around them.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or application fee, a deposit and the daily commute or transport. Because the school stops at Year 7, a family staying in the city should also look ahead to the cost of a senior school place, so the decision is made with the full pathway in mind rather than the immediate fee alone. A smaller school can offer close attention and lower fees, and our fee calculator helps turn the published figures and extras into one annual number for a fair comparison.
Admissions
The school year runs from August, and Saigon Star accepts applications year round where a place is free in the year group a child would join. The early years and primary focus means many families apply at the youngest entry points, and because classes are smaller, early enquiry is sensible for popular groups. The school will look at a child's age and stage to confirm the right class, and for older applicants it will review prior school records and any English language needs.
For families moving to Vietnam outside the usual cycle, a mid year place can often be arranged in a school of this size, which is one of the advantages of a smaller setting. Since the school ends at Year 7, the admissions conversation often turns to the next school, and planning that transfer early is worthwhile. Contact the admissions office to confirm availability in your child's year group and the documents required.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in the Thanh My Loi area of District 2, on the eastern side of the city across the river from the central districts and now part of Thu Duc City. District 2 has grown into one of the main residential choices for expatriate families, with Thao Dien its best known neighbourhood, so the school draws on a settled foreign community nearby. Families weighing Saigon Star will want to map the commute from where they plan to live, as the eastern districts and the centre are a real drive apart at peak times.
The community is a mix of expatriate families on posting and Vietnamese families who want a British style education in English, and the preschool to Year 7 range gives the school a young, family centred feel. For how District 2, Thao Dien and the central districts compare on housing, commute and school choice as a child moves up, the Ho Chi Minh City hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents.
Saigon Star International 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 Saigon Star International School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Saigon Star International School fees?
Saigon Star sits in the lower to mid part of the Ho Chi Minh City range, more contained than the city's largest premium campuses, with tuition rising by year group. The school publishes a fee schedule, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for registration, a deposit and transport on top.
What curriculum does Saigon Star International School follow?
Saigon Star teaches the British National Curriculum, with the International Early Years Curriculum in the preschool years, the International Primary Curriculum through primary and the International Middle Years Curriculum for ages 11 to 14. The early years also draw on Montessori practice.
What ages does Saigon Star International School take?
The school takes children from age 2 in preschool through to Year 7 at around age 14. It does not run the upper secondary or sixth form years, so families plan a move to a senior school after Year 7.
Is Saigon Star International School a good school?
Saigon Star is a smaller British curriculum school in District 2 with UK trained teachers and a focus on the early years and primary phases. As an independent guide we do not rank schools or take payment to feature them, so we point parents to a visit, the class sizes and the curriculum on offer.
When do Saigon Star International School applications open?
The school year runs from August, and applications are accepted year round subject to places in the relevant year group. Families relocating mid year can apply for an in year place, so contact the admissions office to confirm availability.
