Within the wider field of international schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Australia International School is one of the largest bilingual providers, running six campuses spread across the city and offering a path that joins the Vietnamese national curriculum with the Cambridge programme. It is a different proposition from the premium expatriate through schools: a Vietnamese founded group built primarily for local and returning families who want a strong English language education and an international exam route, and it features in our roundup of the best international schools in Ho Chi Minh City.
VAS at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Bilingual model joining the Vietnamese national curriculum with the Cambridge programme, leading to IGCSE and A Level |
|---|---|
| Stages | Kindergarten to high school |
| Founded | Mid 2000s; Ba Thang Hai campus opened in 2006 |
| Accreditation | Cambridge programme delivery; further accreditation not published |
| Fee band | Value to mid for the city (see Ho Chi Minh City fees) |
| Campuses | Six across the city, including District 7, District 10, Phu Nhuan, Go Vap and Thu Duc |
Curriculum and academics
VAS is a bilingual school in the genuine sense: it teaches the Vietnamese Ministry of Education national curriculum alongside the Cambridge Academic Programme International, with most subjects delivered in English and a smaller number in Vietnamese. That dual structure means a pupil keeps a full Vietnamese education while also working towards internationally recognised Cambridge qualifications, the IGCSE in the middle years and A Levels in the senior years. For families who want their child to keep options open across both Vietnamese and overseas universities, this combined route is the school's main appeal.
The Cambridge pathway is the same exam framework used by British curriculum schools worldwide, so a VAS graduate leaves with qualifications recognised by universities in Vietnam and abroad. Because the group is large, provision and facilities vary by campus, and families should confirm which programme and year groups a particular site runs. For how this bilingual Cambridge model compares with the full American and IB schools in the city, our overview of the Ho Chi Minh City schools sets the options side by side.
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Vietnam Australia International School fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten (K1 to K3) | VND 155,000,000 |
| Grade 1 | VND 179,080,000 |
| Grade 5 | VND 239,800,000 |
| Grade 9 | VND 316,800,000 |
| Grade 12 | VND 381,852,000 |
Source: Vietnam Australia International School (vas.edu.vn). Bilingual programme; fees vary by campus (representative figures). Excludes one-time registration and application fees. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
VAS sits in the value to mid part of our guide to international school fees in Ho Chi Minh City, clearly below the premium expatriate through schools whose fees carry the cost of a fully foreign staffed programme. As at most large groups, tuition climbs by year group, with the senior Cambridge years the most expensive part of the journey, and fees differ between campuses and the chosen pathway. The school publishes fee schedules, so confirm the current figures with admissions before planning around them.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or application fee, a refundable deposit, Cambridge IGCSE and A Level examination entries in the senior years, and the daily commute or school transport, which can be significant given the spread of campuses across the city. Our fee calculator pulls these lines into a single annual figure, the only fair way to weigh a bilingual Cambridge school against a full American or IB alternative.
Admissions
The school year runs from August, and VAS accepts applications year round where a place is free at the chosen campus and grade. Its scale means it can often absorb in year arrivals more readily than a small school, which suits families relocating to Vietnam off cycle. The group reviews prior school records and may assess a child, particularly in English, to confirm the right year group and any language support, which matters most for entry into the middle and senior years where the Cambridge programme builds on earlier study.
Because campuses differ in the year groups and pathways they offer, the first step is to identify the right site for your child's age and where you will live. Popular campuses and grades can fill, so a family with a fixed move date should apply early. Contact the admissions office to confirm availability, the documents required and any assessment for your child's year.
Location and who goes there
VAS spreads six campuses across the city, in districts including District 7 in the south, District 10 and Phu Nhuan closer to the centre, Go Vap to the north and Thu Duc to the east. That reach is part of the appeal for local families, who can usually find a campus within a reasonable commute, though it also means facilities and atmosphere vary from site to site, so a visit to the specific campus is essential rather than judging the group as a whole.
The intake is predominantly Vietnamese and returning Vietnamese families, with some expatriate families drawn to the bilingual model and lower fees, which gives VAS a different community feel from the expatriate dominated through schools. For families weighing where to live against which campus to choose, and how the districts compare on housing and commute, the Ho Chi Minh City hub maps out the wider picture for relocating parents.
Vietnam Australia 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 Vietnam Australia International School, please share it through our school reviews hub to help other relocating parents.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Vietnam Australia International School fees?
VAS sits in the value to mid part of the Ho Chi Minh City range, below the premium expatriate through schools, with tuition rising by year group and varying by campus and pathway. The school publishes fee schedules, so confirm current figures with admissions and budget for registration, a deposit, Cambridge examination entries and transport on top.
What curriculum does Vietnam Australia International School follow?
VAS delivers the Cambridge Academic Programme International alongside the Vietnamese national curriculum, with most subjects taught in English and a few in Vietnamese. Students work towards Cambridge IGCSE and A Level qualifications, so it is a bilingual school with a recognised international exam pathway.
How many campuses does Vietnam Australia International School have?
VAS runs six campuses across Ho Chi Minh City, spread across districts including District 7, District 10, Phu Nhuan, Go Vap and Thu Duc, most offering the full journey from kindergarten to high school.
When do Vietnam Australia International School applications open?
The school year runs from August, and VAS accepts applications year round subject to places at the chosen campus and grade. Families relocating mid year can apply for an in year place, so contact the admissions office to confirm availability and any assessment.
Is Vietnam Australia International School a good school?
VAS is one of the largest bilingual school groups in Ho Chi Minh City, with a Cambridge pathway and a wide network of campuses. As an independent guide we do not rank schools or take payment to feature them, so we point parents to Cambridge results, the bilingual model and a campus visit.
