Among the early years choices for international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, SmartKids International School is one of the better established kindergartens, having opened in 2006 and built a reputation in the years since for a warm, play based approach. It is an early years setting rather than a through school, focused entirely on children from toddler age to the start of primary, and it runs two campuses in the city, one of them in Thao Dien. Families weighing value alongside quality will also find it in our look at the cheapest international schools in Ho Chi Minh City.
SmartKids at a glance
| Curriculum and language | English language play based early years, drawing on the IB Primary Years Programme framework |
|---|---|
| Stages | Preschool only, around 18 months to 6 years |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Accreditation | Formal accreditation not published; early years programme |
| Fee band | Value to mid for the city (see Ho Chi Minh City fees) |
| Campus area | Two campuses including Thao Dien, Thu Duc City |
Curriculum and learning
SmartKids runs an English language, play based early years programme. Rather than following a single named system, it blends influences from Montessori, Steiner and Reggio Emilia, three of the best known child centred approaches, and draws on the IB Primary Years Programme framework to shape inquiry led, holistic learning. In practice that means a day built around play, exploration and projects rather than formal lessons, with the goal of developing curiosity, language and social skills before a child starts primary school. Classes are kept small, typically supported by a foreign early childhood specialist and several assistants.
For parents, the questions at this stage are about the environment and the people rather than exam outcomes. It is worth asking how the play based philosophy translates into a typical day, how English is built for children who arrive with little or none, and how the school prepares older children for the move to a primary school. Because SmartKids stops at age 6, a family should also have a view on the next step, and our overview of the Ho Chi Minh City schools sets out the primary options across the city.
Weighing SmartKids against another kindergarten?
Put it side by side with other Ho Chi Minh City early years settings to compare approach, hours and the real annual cost.
SmartKids International School fees
SmartKids sits towards the value end of our guide to international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City, a long way below the premium through schools whose fees reflect the cost of senior school programmes. As an early years setting, its pricing is usually tied to the number of mornings or full days a week, so a part time toddler place costs far less than a full day kindergarten place. Confirm the current schedule with the school, because early years fees move more often than headline school tuition.
On top of tuition, budget for a one off registration or enrolment fee, meals and snacks, and any optional extras such as holiday programmes or additional sessions. Some settings also ask for a deposit. Because kindergarten fees are quoted in several ways, our fee calculator helps turn a quote into a single annual figure you can compare fairly with other Ho Chi Minh City nurseries, including the value campuses in our roundup of the cheapest international schools in Ho Chi Minh City.
Admissions
SmartKids takes children from around 18 months, and as an early years setting it can usually accept enrolments through the year wherever a place is free in the right age group, which suits families relocating to Vietnam off the standard August cycle. There is no entrance test at this age. The school will instead want to know a child's age, any prior care and any particular needs, and most families are encouraged to visit or arrange a settling session so both sides can see how the child responds.
Popular full day places and convenient hours can fill, so contact the school early if you have a fixed move date. It is worth asking about the ratio of adults to children, the experience and training of the lead teachers, how the small class sizes work in practice and how the bilingual or English immersion day is structured, since these are the details that distinguish a strong early years programme.
Location and who goes there
SmartKids runs two campuses in the city, one of them on Street 10 in Thao Dien, part of Thu Duc City on the eastern bank of the Saigon River. Thao Dien is the district most associated with expatriate family life in Ho Chi Minh City, with international supermarkets, cafes, family housing and a dense cluster of schools, so families living nearby can keep the commute short, which matters with very young children.
The community is broadly international, drawing expatriate families on assignment, returning Vietnamese families and local families who want an English language start, with many nationalities represented over the years. Because it is a kindergarten, the intake naturally turns over as children move on to primary school, so parents should plan the next step early. For how Thao Dien compares with District 7 and the central districts on housing, commute and the wider school landscape, the Ho Chi Minh City hub maps out the full picture for relocating parents.
SmartKids 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 SmartKids International School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are SmartKids International School fees?
As an international kindergarten, SmartKids sits towards the value end of the Ho Chi Minh City range rather than the premium K to 12 tier, with fees that depend on the number of mornings or full days a week. Confirm the current schedule with the school and budget for a registration fee, meals and any extras.
What ages does SmartKids International School take?
SmartKids is an early years setting for children from around 18 months to 6 years, with flexible part time programmes for toddlers and longer days for the kindergarten groups, so a child moves on to a primary school afterwards.
What curriculum does SmartKids International School follow?
SmartKids runs an English language play based early years programme that blends Montessori, Steiner and Reggio Emilia influences and draws on the IB Primary Years Programme framework, with small classes supported by a foreign specialist and assistants.
Where is SmartKids International School in Ho Chi Minh City?
SmartKids has two campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, including one in Thao Dien in Thu Duc City, the district on the eastern side of the river that is home to much of the city's expatriate family community.
Is SmartKids International School a good school?
SmartKids is one of the longer established international kindergartens in Ho Chi Minh City, with a play based programme and a community spanning many nationalities. As an independent guide we do not rank schools or take payment to feature them, so we suggest a visit to see the classrooms and ask about staff training.
