How to Choose an International School in Ho Chi Minh City: 2026 Family Guide

Quick answer: how do you choose an international school in Ho Chi Minh City? Start with the district: Thao Dien and An Phu or District 7. Then pick the curriculum that fits your next move (IB, British or American), compare full annual costs, roughly VND 250 to 900 million, and visit at least three schools during a normal school day.

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

Ho Chi Minh City has more than 30 international schools listed on International School Advisor, which makes choosing an international school in Ho Chi Minh City a real exercise in narrowing down. The schools differ by curriculum, size, price and above all location, and in a city where a 10 km trip can take an hour at rush hour, location often decides more than the prospectus.

This guide sets out a step-by-step method, explains the city's two main school hubs, compares five schools with verified profiles and lists the questions worth asking on a visit.

Know the map: two hubs and a new city boundary

Ho Chi Minh City changed shape on 1 July 2025, when Vietnam's provincial merger joined the city with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. For families, the practical school map has not changed much: most international schools are still in two hubs.

Thao Dien and An Phu, in the former District 2 now part of Thu Duc City, are the traditional expat area. Riverside villas, apartments and a dense cluster of schools, including the British International School, the Australian International School and the European International School, sit within a few kilometres of each other.

District 7 and Phu My Hung, in the south, are the second hub. Planned neighbourhoods, wide roads and newer housing make it popular with families from Korea, Japan and Taiwan as well as Western expats. Saigon South International School, Renaissance International School and the Singapore International School are here.

Living close to the school is the single best decision you can make. Children in Thao Dien who attend a District 7 school can spend two hours a day on the bus.

Step two: choose the curriculum

IB: ISHCMC, the first IB World School in Vietnam, and several others offer the IB from early years or in the final two years.
British: BVIS, BIS HCMC and others follow the English National Curriculum to IGCSE and A Level, some with the IB as an alternative.
American: Saigon South International School and the American Academy offer US-style college preparatory programmes with AP or IB.
Bilingual Vietnamese-English: schools such as Wellspring, EMASI and Horizon combine the Vietnamese programme with English, mainly for Vietnamese families.
National schools: French, German, Australian, Canadian and Singaporean schools serve families who want continuity with their home system.

Step three: compare a short list

British Vietnamese International School (BVIS HCMC)

BVIS is part of Nord Anglia Education and teaches an enhanced British curriculum in English and Vietnamese, with collaborations with MIT, Juilliard, UNICEF and IMG Academy. It publishes strong results: in 2024-2025, 62 percent of IGCSE grades were A or A*, and 42 percent of A Level grades were A or A* against a UK average of 28.2 percent. More than 40 percent of graduates enter top 50 universities worldwide. ISA lists a monthly cost band above USD 4,000. It suits families who want British qualifications and a strong Vietnamese language component.

International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC)

Established in 1993, ISHCMC is the oldest international school in the city and was the first IB World School in Vietnam. It teaches the full IB continuum in English. Families who expect to move to another IB school abroad will find the transition easiest from here.

Saigon South International School (SSIS)

SSIS, in District 7, is one of the oldest international schools in Vietnam and is known for its college preparatory programme with the IB Diploma. It is the anchor school for the Phu My Hung hub and often the reason families choose to live in the south of the city.

European International School (EIS)

EIS, in Thao Dien, is a boutique school offering the IB continuum for children aged 2 to 18, with more than 40 nationalities and a very low student-to-teacher ratio in the middle and upper years. It suits families who prefer a smaller community without giving up the IB.

Australian International School Saigon (AIS)

AIS, on Mai Chi Tho street in An Phu, offers an Australian-influenced programme with the IB, and has 10 reviews on ISA. It is a common choice for Australian and New Zealand families and for those who like a curriculum built around real-world projects.

Step four: understand the full cost

Indicative annual tuition for 2026-27:

Early years: roughly VND 250 to 500 million.
Primary: roughly VND 350 to 700 million.
Secondary and IB or A Level: roughly VND 450 to 900 million.

Extras include application and enrolment fees, a one-off development fee at some schools, buses, meals, uniforms, devices and exam fees. Note also that foreign-invested schools operate under Decree 86/2018, which limits the share of Vietnamese students they can enrol, so some schools will ask about nationality at the first contact.

Step five: visit and ask the right questions

Ask about teacher turnover. In a city with many schools competing for staff, turnover is an important quality signal. Ask how many teachers left last year and how long the current heads of section have been in post.

Check the language mix. Some schools have a large majority of Vietnamese students and others are mostly expatriate. Neither is better, but it changes your child's social life and how fast they will settle.

Look at air quality and heat measures. Ask how the school handles hot days and poor air, whether there are indoor sports facilities and how outdoor play is managed in the rainy season.

Time your application. The school year at most international schools runs from August to June. Popular grades at the larger schools can fill by spring, so families relocating in summer should apply as soon as the move is confirmed, ideally to two or three schools in the same hub so that one late answer does not leave you without a place.

Compare schools on our Ho Chi Minh City ranking

Our ranking of the best schools in Ho Chi Minh City helps you compare reviews, curricula and profile details and contact several schools at once.

More guides to schools in Ho Chi Minh City

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to live for international schools in Ho Chi Minh City?

Thao Dien and An Phu, in the former District 2 now part of Thu Duc City, have the largest cluster of international schools and expat housing. District 7 and Phu My Hung in the south are the other main hub, home to Saigon South International School and several British and Singaporean schools. Choose the hub first, then compare schools within it.

How much do international schools in Ho Chi Minh City cost?

Indicative tuition runs roughly from VND 250 million to VND 900 million a year. Bilingual Vietnamese-English schools sit at the lower end, while the large IB, British and American schools charge the most in the final years. Enrolment fees, buses, meals and exam fees usually add 10 to 20 percent.

Can Vietnamese children attend international schools in Ho Chi Minh City?

Yes, but foreign-invested schools in Vietnam are subject to rules on how many Vietnamese students they can enrol, set under Decree 86/2018, and some schools are licensed mainly for foreign students. Bilingual schools such as Wellspring or EMASI were designed for Vietnamese families. Ask each school about its licence and current mix of nationalities.