Best International Schools in Ho Chi Minh City

Reviewed 2026-10-31. General independent information; check current official immigration, financial and medical guidance before acting.

Expert take — Cost of Asia editorial team At the top Ho Chi Minh City schools, the tuition line is not the full bill: Tuoi Tre's 2026-27 review found ISHCMC adds a yearly development fee of about $2,600 and bills IB exam fees separately. SSIS and the European International School discount full-year prepayment. Ask each school for an all-in figure for your child's grade, with and without the prepayment discount, before you compare.

Ho Chi Minh City has the deepest international school market in Vietnam, and the most expensive. Tuoi Tre News reported that tuition at the top schools now passes $38,000 a year in the final grades for 2026-27. This page gives relocating families a short list based on curriculum and location.

Most established schools cluster in Thao Dien (District 2) or Phu My Hung (District 7), on opposite sides of the center, so choose the school before your home. Official ward and district names changed in Vietnam's 2025 administrative reform, but schools and landlords still use the old names, and so do we.

At a glance

How we chose

• Recognized accreditation or authorization (CIS, WASC, IB, AEFE), confirmed by the school or a reference source.
• Published 2026-27 fees, from school documents or Vietnamese press reviews of fee schedules.
• Curriculum spread: IB, American, British and French.
• Location in the two main expat areas.

Fees are set in VND; USD figures are press conversions. Checked on 31 October 2026.

1. ISHCMC — best for a full IB pathway

ISHCMC calls itself the city's first international school. It opened in 1993, was approved for the IB Diploma in 1998, and is accredited by CIS (since 1999, then as ECIS) and NEASC. Both campuses are in Thao Dien, and the school runs the IB from primary to Diploma.

Tuoi Tre puts 2026-27 tuition at about $26,900 for Grade 1 and $37,900 for Grade 12, roughly 3% higher than last year. Add the yearly development fee (about $2,600), an admission fee (about $1,900) and IB exam fees.

2. Saigon South International School — best for American curriculum

SSIS, in Phu My Hung (District 7), teaches an American curriculum with AP courses and offers the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12. An independent schools guide lists WASC and CIS accreditation and describes it as the city's only not-for-profit international school; confirm accreditation with the school.

For 2026-27, Tuoi Tre reports about $28,000 for Grades 1 to 5 and $35,400 for Grades 11 and 12. Full prepayment cuts those to about $26,300 and $33,300. New students pay an application fee (about $380) and a registration fee (about $2,300).

3. British International School HCMC — best for a British curriculum

BIS teaches the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and offers the IB Diploma in the final years. It belongs to Nord Anglia Education, with campuses around Thao Dien. It is the most expensive school in Tuoi Tre's review: about $28,400 for Year 2 and $38,300 for Years 12 and 13. New students pay a registration fee of about $2,800 and a deposit.

4. European International School HCMC — best for bilingual IB

EIS teaches the IB for ages 2 to 18, and most students take a bilingual IB Diploma. The school lists IBO, CIS and ACS WASC accreditation, with a single campus on Le Van Mien Street in Thao Dien. Tuoi Tre reports 2026-27 tuition of about $22,800 for Grade 1 and $31,200 for Grade 12. Paying the year in full costs about 6% less than paying in four installments.

5. Lycée Français International Marguerite Duras — best for French families

LFI Duras is part of the AEFE network and follows the French national curriculum through to the Baccalauréat. Its 2026-27 fee rules set tuition by nationality, in euros. High school costs €6,003 for French students and €9,256 for most other nationalities, plus a one-time registration fee of €700 to €1,200. In June 2026, Le Petit Journal reported staff and parent protests over AEFE budget cuts and larger primary classes, so ask about class sizes for your child's year.

What to check before you decide

• All-in yearly cost including development, exam, meal and bus fees.
• Prepayment discounts versus refund terms.
• The commute. Thao Dien to District 7 means crossing the river at rush hour; time the school run.
• The fee currency. Most schools bill in VND, so your cost moves with exchange rates.

FAQ

How much are international schools in Ho Chi Minh City?

Among the schools above, 2026-27 tuition runs from about $22,800 (EIS Grade 1) to about $38,300 (BIS final years), before one-time fees. LFI Duras is lower, at €5,004 to €9,256 depending on level and nationality.

Which international schools are in District 2 and District 7?

ISHCMC, BIS and EIS are in Thao Dien (District 2). SSIS is in Phu My Hung (District 7).

Related guides

• Ho Chi Minh City guide
• Best areas for families in Ho Chi Minh City
• Ho Chi Minh City cost of living
• Vietnam family cost of living
• Budget calculator