Saigon South International School (SSIS) Ho Chi Minh City
Reviews & Information

4.8 from 14 reviews
School Overview Reviews

About Saigon South International School (SSIS)


Saigon South International School (SSIS) is one of the oldest international schools in Vietnam and has earned a reputation for its robust college preparatory program, excellence in teaching and innovation, and the infusion of Core Values into the program and the student experience.

These Core Values - the pursuit of Academic Excellence, a grounding in a Sense of Self, a commitment to Dedicated Service, striving for a Balance in Life, and a heartfelt Respect for All unite us as a school and are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to the intellectual and personal development of each student, and we believe that our values will help prepare them for a purpose-driven life as a member of an increasingly globalized and changing society. We believe that a rigorous and challenging academic program is an essential preparation for the top colleges and universities around the world. At the same time, we are just as aware that international communities can be transient and we recognize the importance of offering a program which allows for the successful transition for our students to other elementary and secondary schools around the globe.

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Ethos Statement


SSIS is a not-for-profit school offering an American standards based curriculum for grades EC-12. We offer both the IB diploma programme and AP coursework. SSIS is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

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Curriculum

American, IB

Primary Language

English

Ages

3 to 18

Max Class Size

Unknown

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14 Reviews of Saigon South International School (SSIS)

Average Ratings

Overall 4.80
Facilities 4.78
Academics 5.00
Teachers 4.78
Sports 4.67
Music & Arts 4.67
Science & Tech 4.78

Reviewer Nationalities

German (1) American (4) British (1) Vietnamese (3)

How would you rate Saigon South International School (SSIS)?

Mario, 04/10/2023 @ 06:13:42
Relationship   Pupil

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It's a really good school because it has updated technology that other schools might not have like Schoology. Also, this school pushes student's to their highest potential both physically and academically.

Vincent Nyvene, 03/03/2023 @ 11:44:42
Relationship   Pupil

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As a student who has been at SSIS for more than a decade, it is evident that it is the best school in Vietnam. From a high school standpoint, SSIS offers the largest course offerings in all of Vietnam, offering both the highly renowned and rigorous Advance Placement (AP) courses as well as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and its SSIS courses. Students are not secluded from taking IB, unlike other international schools, providing great comfort to the learning of students. Having one of the highest IB average scores in Vietnam, it outperforms many international schools as it can have such a high score while having to handle the AP curriculum as well. That said, it isn't perfect. SSIS is well known to have "professor-attitude" teachers, in which students may occasionally have to self-study. And although it better prepares students for the rigors of college, it takes a toll on the level of happiness of students as it brings further rigor in a student's life. Nonetheless, with 4 high school counselors and a psychiatrist (not even counting middle and elementary school), this issue is under control and in great hands. Student life is beyond great here. Except for the frequent complaints of expensive, overrated food for lunch. I wouldn't complain about that because I have lived in the United States before, and trust me, it is way better here than the $10 overrated lunches at boarding school. Speaking of boarding school, although it doesn't offer a boarding program, SSIS students are known to be very preppy. It is known to be the place where some world leaders, highly-respected CEOs, or multi-millionaire tycoons dump their kids for school. Fun fact: Vietnam's first and richest female billionaire, sent her kids to SSIS. And although students retain their respectable manners among their peers, there is a sense of classism in the student body. If you plan to bump into a millionaire at every corner (like Monaco), SSIS is the place. SSIS is also known for its great variety of extracurricular activities. In terms of sports, SSIS offers not only the conventional sports teams of Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Track & Field, and Swimming, but it also has Ping-Pong, Tennis, Softball, and Golf. SSIS competes in 3 sports districts/conferences: the Saigon International Schools Athletic Conference, the Mekong River International School Association, and the South East Asia Student Activities Conference. This allows students to be immersed in the Vietnamese and international community quite frequently, and quite frequently they place in the Top 3 of the respective competition. That said, its extra-curricular activities are way more impressive. Aside from the countless service clubs, SSIS is the only school in Vietnam that offers an NSDA-accredited Debate Program, in which students can compete at University competitions like Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, and Georgetown. I, for one, received a speaker award from Harvard University.

Joe, 14/12/2022 @ 08:13:35
Relationship   Parent

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The most healthy and health-conscious school in Vietnam by far! The campus is green, the air is clean, and the school has a large team of counsellors and psychologists to care for students' mental health. Their athletics are great, and they have all the best facilities to promote physical health too. Very happy!

Katelyn, 15/10/2021 @ 06:30:48
Relationship   Parent

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Because my daughter goes there and it is a very good school and they care about the students feeling. They cater to most of your child needs.

Tuong Nghi Pham, 14/04/2021 @ 02:04:00
Relationship   Ex Pupil

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I used to to be a student there in ssis and I think that this school is amazing and helps other people succeed in life.

THW, 07/10/2020 @ 21:24:42
Relationship   Ex Pupil

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I am a former student that attended SSIS from 2005-2009 for 9th-12th grade. At that time, the building was much smaller, some facilities were "under the weather," and the IB program was not yet available (plus so much more). Despite these minor setbacks, my education was phenomenal. I attribute my success, values, and diligence to my time spent at SSIS.

Sonia, 14/04/2020 @ 06:09:45
Relationship   Parent

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I have two children that attend this superb school. As with anything, there is always room for improvement, but overall, this school has exceeded my expectations. Education: The school follows the American Curriculum offering the IB and AP programs in high school. In both the Elementary and Middle School, project-based learning is highly valued and inquiry based, so very similar to the IB program. Teachers at this school are top notch, with all having Masters Degrees and beyond. My daughter is currently in 5th grade and I appreciate her teacher's approach to learning this year, focusing on self-management and regulation in preparation for Middle School. These are essential skills that are needed for fostering independence. The approach is different for my 2nd child in Kindergarten where the focus is on socialization and an introduction to basic concepts like reading, math, science, and social studies. In Kindergarten, essential concepts like sharing, collaboration, patience, etc. are really learned through meaningful play, so I'm pleased that the school starts with this focus at the beginning of the year and then gradually moves into academics. Support Services: The school has several support services including EAL, counseling and psychologists. The school is slowly rolling out a wellness program that hopes to dovetail with the academic program. As a parent, the social and emotional well-being of my kids is a top priority and I think the school knows that students who are more emotionally centered perform better academically. The high school guidance counselors are amazing and if one measure of success is University acceptances, then our students have hit the jackpot! Students have gone on to study at some of the top universities in the world. The guidance counselors really work with individual students to find the best "fit" for them. Individual Education Plans: This is an area where the school could show some growth. Some students have learning disabilities or may be gifted and need more individualized attention. My understanding is that focusing on a personalized learning program is part of the long term plan for the school and will be a focus of overall academic goals in the future. Diversity: The school has a diverse population from all over the world. While many of the students hail from Korea, Japan, Vietnam, China, and India, several Americans, Australians, Brits, Russians, and handful of others attend the school giving it a truly international feel. Not for Profit Status: As a parent, I am a huge proponent of not-for-profit education. It's important that the money the school makes is invested back into the community, in particular for two things: high quality programs and top notch teachers. Saigon South is the only not-for-profit international school in Ho Chi Minh City and as a parent, I am confident that the tuition I am paying goes directly to building on an improving programs that further the intellectual and social and emotional development of my children. Activities: Saigon South hired a new Activities and Athletic Director who brings an enormous amount of experience to the job. Under his leadership, both of these programs have already grown and everyone seems excited about what is in store for the future. Environment: Saigon South International School has the best campus of any international school in Ho Chi Minh City, hands down. The amount of green space the school has and its grounds really make it an environment in which kids want to socialize and play. Located in Phu My Hung, District 7 is the most livable part of the city and has plenty of parks where you can walk, bike and exercise, so families should feel really comfortable getting around. In sum, I would strongly recommend this school to prospective parents who are interested in providing their children with an international education that has strong academics, a variety of extra curricular activities, and a burgeoning social and emotional wellness program.

Stefan, 26/02/2020 @ 06:41:49
Relationship   Parent

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SSIS is not-for-profit. That says so much. All decisions are based on what is best for students not how much will this cost.

E Davenpoer, 24/02/2020 @ 11:05:38
Relationship   Other

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Wonderful learning environment. Beautiful campus. Teachers are very caring. Supportive administration. A little more diversity in student population would be nice.

Reviews from Google

Recent reviews posted on Google.

Google logoRating: 

Louisa Soltobaeva, 2 months ago


I love how school develops my kids’ creativity, independence and critical thinking skills since early ages.

Google logoRating: 

Christophe Murphy, 2 months ago


This school is very good and it is not that expensive only 80 000$ per year Happy Halloween!!

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스포츠 팁TV 스팁TV, 3 months ago


It's fantastic learning at SSIS. It's so fantastic because Korean food gets served on every Tuesday, and com suon gets served on every Thursdays for 4th grade+. It includes really good services and kind teachers.

Google logoRating: 

Vi Nguyen, 7 months ago


Fulton is a great school. All the staff and teachers are really nice. It has fun electives. But PE can be really tiring when the weather is boiling hot.

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Sean nguyen, 2 months ago


Former student here from 3rd to 10th grade so let's start with the negative since that is what every one always ask for what is the flawed about a place then would ask what is good about this place. So for the negative things, this place has one of the highest tuition per year in Vietnam. Also Depending on where you lived, they charged extra to pick up your kids and also deliver them back home BUT if the kid ask to signed up for extra curriculum, like swimming, technology class, soccer team, they wont deliver your kid back home so you will probably have to pick them up when it is 1700 when it is rush hour. Prior students that want to come back here can't do it as freely like it used to be. They have a gate system that is pretty tightknit with guards on post almost 24/7 but u can get escorted in the school if you know some one there. Work is also alot depending what classes you take and that is about all I have to say about the negative. Now for the positive, this school is 300% better than most American curriculum in the states. Even though your subjected to about 8 course per school year, there are alot of subject to choose from. All of the subjects that are taught here is very in depth. Even in elementary school, this school is able to slowly preparing you for higher education like university, college, and other way to become successful. There is also a cafeteria that will serve you with a price of $2-$10 depending on what you want to eat. Over all not too bad of a school 7/10.

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