Planning international school admissions in Hanoi early pays off more than in most Asian capitals, because Vietnam's regulations and Hanoi's geography both shape where your child can enrol. The city's international sector has grown quickly alongside manufacturing investment, diplomatic expansion and a thriving startup scene. This 2026 guide walks expat families through the admissions timeline, document checklist, the Vietnamese-student enrolment rules worth knowing, and how entrance assessments and English support work.
A Regulation Worth Knowing Before You Shortlist
Vietnam regulates how many Vietnamese-citizen students fully foreign-invested international schools may enrol. For expat families this is mostly good news — it preserves genuinely international classrooms — but it also means schools track nationality documentation carefully during admissions. Dual nationals should present their foreign passport. If your family includes Vietnamese citizens, ask each school how current quota rules affect your application before paying any fee.
The 2026-27 Admissions Timeline
- August to December: Enquiries and tours for the following August intake; applications open
- January to April: Assessments and first-round offers; popular year groups tighten
- May onwards: Rolling offers and mid-year placements as corporate moves confirm
Application fees run roughly 100 to 300 USD. Offers are secured with a deposit, typically credited against first-term fees.
Documents Checklist
- Two years of school reports (translated into English where needed)
- Passport copies for the child and parents; visa or residence card copies when available
- Confidential teacher or school reference
- Immunisation records and any learning support documentation
- Passport photos; some schools also ask for the birth certificate
Key International Schools in Hanoi
British Vietnamese International School Hanoi
British Vietnamese International School Hanoi delivers the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A Levels in Royal City. Admissions include English and maths screening from upper primary, with EAL support for children still building academic English.
Hanoi International School
Hanoi International School is an IB continuum school (PYP through Diploma) with a deliberately diverse community. Admissions are readiness-based and the school is practised at mid-year placements for relocating families.
Singapore International School at Ciputra
Singapore International School at Ciputra, in the popular Ciputra residential township near West Lake, combines Singaporean rigour with international programmes — convenient for families housed in the city's main expat compound.
Dwight School Hanoi
Dwight School Hanoi brings the global Dwight network's IB education to the capital, with personalised-learning admissions conversations rather than pass-fail testing.
Westlink International School
Westlink International School is one of Hanoi's newer IB schools, which means admissions capacity in year groups that are waitlisted elsewhere — worth checking for late movers.
Assessments and English Support
Early years and lower primary admissions are observation-based. From upper primary, expect standardised screening (CAT4 or MAP style) plus writing samples; for IGCSE and IB Diploma entry, schools assess whether students can access exam-level English, sometimes attaching conditions such as summer EAL work. Hanoi schools are highly experienced with non-native speakers — children from Korean, Japanese and European families make up a large share of enrolment, and structured EAL programmes are standard through middle school.
Practical Notes on Fees and Location
Annual tuition ranges roughly from 10,000 to 30,000 USD depending on school and grade, plus deposits, bus service and uniforms. Geography matters: most expat families live around West Lake (Tay Ho) or in Ciputra, and school bus times across the Red River bridges at rush hour are worth testing before you commit to a school-home combination.
Build Your Hanoi Shortlist
Compare school profiles, parent reviews and fees for Hanoi on International School Advisor and contact admissions teams directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should we apply for August 2026 entry in Hanoi?
Start enquiries from August to December the year before, with applications in by January. Mid-year entry is workable when seats exist, especially at newer schools.
Can Vietnamese citizens attend international schools in Hanoi?
Within regulated enrolment limits at foreign-invested schools. Dual nationals typically enrol on their foreign passport; ask each school how current rules apply to your family.
Does my child need strong English to be admitted?
Not in primary — EAL support is standard. For IGCSE and IB Diploma entry, schools require sufficient academic English and may set conditional offers with language support.