Best International Schools in Vientiane: 2026 Guide for Families

Quick answer: What are the best international schools in Vientiane? Vientiane International School suits IB families, with 2026-27 tuition from US$8,000 to US$28,200 plus a US$3,000 capital fee from Prep Two. International School of Laos offers a Cambridge route with a Lao bilingual option, and Briston covers early years in English. The market is small, so fit matters more than rank.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Anyone searching for the best international schools in Vientiane quickly finds that the choice is narrower than in Bangkok or Singapore. The Lao capital is a small, quiet city, and the English-medium options a family can realistically compare come down to a handful of schools with very different curricula, campuses and price levels.

That makes this a guide about fit rather than a league table. Below we explain what "best" means for different families, how the three schools we cover differ, what they cost and what to ask before you commit, using the schools' own 2026-27 documents and institutional records such as the International Baccalaureate Organization's school listing.

What "best" means in a small capital

With few schools to choose from, the useful questions are practical. Does the curriculum let your child move to another country later? Is the campus within a sensible commute of your home? Will your child be taught in English, and is there any Lao in the timetable? And can the school support a child who arrives mid-year or needs extra English?

The answers depend on how long you expect to stay. Families on a two or three year posting usually prioritise a curriculum with an international exit route, such as the IB Diploma or Cambridge IGCSE. Families who plan to stay longer, or who want their child to keep up Lao, may weigh a bilingual programme more heavily. Cost matters too: fees at the two schools that publish them differ by a wide margin, and one of them is quoted in US dollars.

Geography is simple. Vientiane International School sits on Phonesavanh Road in Sisattanak District. International School of Laos has its Nongbone campus in Saysettha District and a second Vientiane campus at Thongkang in Sisattanak, plus a third in Pakse, in the south of the country. Most families choose by commute, since the two Vientiane campuses of ISL and the VIS site are in different districts.

Curricula on offer

International Baccalaureate: Vientiane International School teaches all three IB programmes in English. The IBO lists its Primary Years Programme as authorised in 2009, the Middle Years Programme in 2011 and the Diploma Programme in 2008.
Cambridge: International School of Laos follows the Cambridge curriculum from primary to pre-university, with Cambridge Primary for ages 5 to 11, IGCSE for ages 14 to 16 and AS and A Level in Years 12 and 13.
Lao and Cambridge bilingual: the same school runs a bilingual programme combining the Lao national curriculum with Cambridge, which sets it apart from the IB route at VIS.
Early years in English: Briston International Nursery and Kindergarten serves young children in English before they move on to a primary school.

The schools and who they suit

Vientiane International School (VIS)

VIS is a private day school (the IBO lists it as such) for students from age 3 through the IB Diploma. The school says it is the only IB continuum school in Laos. It is accredited by the Council of International Schools, which recorded its re-accreditation on 1 June 2023, and by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, according to the school.

It suits families who want one curriculum from nursery to graduation and an exit route that universities recognise worldwide. The school year runs from August to June, and families can apply all year round. Tip: VIS says it can support only students with mild learning difficulties, so share any educational records early if your child has additional needs.

International School of Laos (ISL)

ISL began as the Eastern Star Bilingual School in 2006 and its website lists more than 500 students and over 50 staff across three campuses, with nationality figures that vary between pages of the site. It combines Cambridge programmes with a Lao national curriculum bilingual stream, and its curriculum page describes the bilingual stream as the Lao national curriculum taught alongside Cambridge.

It suits families who want Cambridge qualifications with a link to Lao language and culture, or who are weighing a lower-cost alternative to the IB. Its admission policy is open throughout the year: Nursery to Kindergarten 3 are accepted once documents are in, Grades 1 to 3 have an oral interview, and Grades 4 to 12 sit a written English exam and interview. Tip: we could not find a published fee schedule, so request the current figures from the campus you prefer.

Briston International Nursery and Kindergarten

Briston is a nursery and kindergarten in Vientiane that is listed with English as its language of instruction, a listing that the school has not yet verified. The name points to early years only, so it looks like a first step rather than a full-school choice. It may appeal to parents of toddlers and pre-schoolers who want an English-language start while they decide where to enrol for primary.

Tip: because we could not find a published fee schedule or curriculum statement, and the age range and stages are not confirmed, ask the school for its fees, its hours and its language policy in writing, and check that places at your preferred primary school are available before you plan your child's route.

Fees in Vientiane

The clearest published fee schedule belongs to VIS, which sets annual tuition in US dollars for 2026-27: US$8,000 for Nursery, US$11,200 for Prep One and for Prep Two, US$21,975 for Grades 1 to 5, US$25,280 for Grades 6 to 8 and US$28,200 for Grades 9 to 12. A capital fee of US$3,000 a year applies from Prep Two onwards, so the total for Grades 9 to 12 is US$31,200.

A hard fact worth knowing: VIS states that all its fees are quoted and payable in US dollars. Families who cannot get dollars may pay in kip at the school's exchange rate on the day, and card payments at the business office are taken in kip with a 3% bank charge. Ask any other school you consider which currency it bills in, since a fee set in dollars and paid from a kip income carries exchange rate risk.

For ISL and Briston we have no published figures, so treat any number you hear as indicative and confirm it in writing. As a rough guide for budgeting, expect the IB route at VIS to be the highest-priced choice in the city. Extras to ask about at every school:

Application fee: US$250 per student at VIS, non-refundable.
Enrolment fee: US$1,000 at VIS to secure a place, refundable if the student is not admitted.
New student fee: US$2,500 at VIS, payable in full whatever the start date.
Bus: US$1,325 a year at VIS for a limited service, subject to routes and seats.
Trips and exams: IB exam entries and course trips are usually charged on top of tuition at any IB school, so ask VIS for its current list.
Language support: a Personal Home Language programme in German costs US$3,000 a year at VIS.
Meals, uniforms and devices: usually charged separately, so check each school's list.

Practical advice for choosing

Match the school to your time horizon. If you will be in Laos for two years, the main risk is a curriculum change when you leave, which favours the IB at VIS or Cambridge at ISL. For a long stay, compare how each school handles Lao and whether your child will meet the national language in class.

Plan the arrival date. VIS prorates tuition by enrolment date: 100% before the October holiday, 75% after it, 50% after December and 25% after Pi Mai. It also sets payment dates on 1 August, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April. If you are arriving mid-year, ask each school what you will owe and when.

Prepare documents before you apply. VIS asks for two years of school records, a transcript from Grade 10, passport copies, a birth certificate, photos and vaccination records, plus a physical examination with mandatory TB screening for new students. Documents not in English need certified translation. ISL asks for a report card, birth certificate, passport and a Certificate of Student Status.

Visit more than once. With so few schools, a visit costs little and tells you more than any ranking. Ask about class sizes, teacher turnover, how English support works and what the school expects from parents during the year.

Compare more schools in Laos

To see how these schools sit in the national picture, browse the best international schools in Laos ranking and open each school's profile to get in touch.

More guides to schools in Vientiane

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best international school in Vientiane?

It depends on the family. Vientiane International School offers the IB from age 3 to the Diploma, and says it is the only IB continuum school in Laos. International School of Laos offers Cambridge with a Lao bilingual option. Choose by curriculum, commute and budget, and visit before deciding.

How much do international schools in Vientiane cost?

Vientiane International School publishes 2026-27 tuition in US dollars from US$8,000 for Nursery to US$28,200 for Grades 9 to 12, plus a US$3,000 capital fee from Prep Two. One-off fees add a US$250 application fee, a US$1,000 enrolment fee and a US$2,500 new student fee.

Can my child join a Vientiane international school mid-year?

Yes at the schools we checked. Vientiane International School accepts applications all year and says admitted students can enter at any time, though tuition is prorated by enrolment date, from 100% before the October holiday to 25% after Pi Mai. International School of Laos also operates open admission throughout the year.