Choosing an International School in Hanoi

For most families relocating to Hanoi, the school decision comes first and drives everything after it, including which neighbourhood you end up living in. It is also the decision with the least margin for error: the academic year your child slots into, the curriculum continuity with wherever you came from, and the fee level you are committing to for years all hinge on it.

Rather than push one name, the aim here is to help you compare the international schools in Hanoi on the things that genuinely matter to your family, and then support you through the shortlist, the introductions and the applications so nothing gets lost in a process happening in a city you do not know yet.

Match the curriculum to where your child is coming from, and going next

The single most important fit question is curriculum, because changing systems mid-school can cost a child a year or leave gaps that are hard to close. Hanoi's international schools broadly run one of a handful of recognised curricula, and the right one depends on your child's current schooling and your likely next posting.

A British-style curriculum (often leading to IGCSEs and A-Levels) suits families moving within that system or aiming at UK universities. An American curriculum, frequently paired with Advanced Placement, fits those on a US track. The International Baccalaureate is the most portable across countries, which matters if you expect to move again. Some schools also offer bilingual or Vietnamese-international streams.

• British (IGCSE / A-Level): strong continuity for UK-system families
• American (with AP options): aligned to US college pathways
• International Baccalaureate (IB): the most globally portable, good for serial movers
• Bilingual / Vietnamese-international: for families wanting local-language exposure

Be realistic about fees, and what is on top of them

International school fees in Hanoi vary widely, and the headline tuition is rarely the full picture. As a broad guide, full-day international schooling typically runs from a few thousand US dollars a year at the lower end to well into the tens of thousands at the most established campuses, rising with each year group. Treat any single figure with caution and always ask the school for a current, itemised fee schedule.

The costs that catch families out are the ones outside tuition: one-off application and assessment fees, a refundable or non-refundable enrolment deposit, capital or development levies, uniforms, exam entry, and school bus fees that depend heavily on how far you live from campus. Building the all-in annual number, and checking whether your relocation package covers it, is the part worth getting right before you commit.

Location and commute are part of the decision, not an afterthought

A school that looks perfect on paper can become exhausting if it sits an hour of Hanoi traffic from your home and office. Because the school choice often dictates where you rent, it pays to look at both together: a slightly different campus or neighbourhood can turn a brutal daily run into a short one.

Worth checking early: whether the school runs a bus on your likely route and how long that ride actually takes, drop-off and pick-up timing against your work hours, and how the commute looks in the rainy season rather than just on a clear day.

Apply early: places, not just preferences, decide it

Popular year groups at the most sought-after schools fill up, and entry points are not always open every term. Many schools assess applicants and maintain waitlists, so the family that starts early has far more real choice than the one applying a few weeks before the move. Where it is possible, beginning the search before you arrive is the single biggest advantage you can give yourself.

A typical application involves an enquiry and campus tour, a formal application with school reports and references from the current school, sometimes an assessment or interview for the child, and then an offer with a deposit to secure the place. Knowing each school's assessment dates and intake windows lets you sequence applications so you are not forced into a rushed decision.

How we help

We start from your child and your logistics, not from a ranking. That means building a shortlist around your curriculum, budget, location and timeline, then arranging the introductions and tours, and helping you keep the applications, assessment dates and deposit deadlines on track across several schools at once.

We do not promise a place at any particular school. Admissions decisions rest with the schools themselves, but we make sure you are comparing the right options, asking the right questions, and applying in good time rather than scrambling.