🇻🇳 Vietnam · city school guide
International schools in Hanoi
Hanoi's leading international schools sit across Ciputra, Long Bien, Van Tri and the western edge of the city. That gives families credible IB, British and American choices, but it also makes transport and neighbourhood planning part of the school decision from the beginning.
Last verified 12 September 2026
The short answer
What should families know first?
Hanoi has well-established schools across several international pathways. For a new primary pupil, published first-year costs at the schools below run from roughly VND 713.5 million to more than $35,000, before optional transport or specialist support.
School comparison
Compare the curriculum, complete bill and location
We use current school-published fees where they are available and clearly label schools that require a personalised quotation. Every figure is for shortlisting, not a substitute for a written invoice for your child's exact year and support needs.
| School and area | Curriculum and ages | Published tuition | Joining costs | First-year benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations International School of HanoiCiputra, Tay Ho | Full International Baccalaureate continuumAges 3-18 | $17,460-$39,870 annual optionGrades 1-5: $33,330 | Application $600; enrolment $1,750; $1,750 tuition deposit is credited against tuition | About $35,680about £26,300 in your selected planning currency |
| British International School HanoiVinhomes Riverside, Long Bien | English curriculum; IGCSE and IB DiplomaAges 2-18 | VND 253.6m-970.2mYear 5: VND 734.6m | Application VND 4.5m; registration VND 70.8m; refundable security deposit VND 23.6m | About VND 833.5m payableabout £23,300 in your selected planning currency |
| Concordia International School HanoiVan Tri, north Hanoi | American curriculum; AP coursesAges 4-18 | VND 558.034m-1,038.822mGrades 1-5: VND 861.787m | Application and assessment VND 10.8m; ask for the complete current fee schedule for other charges | At least VND 872.587mabout £24,400 in your selected planning currency |
| St. Paul American School HanoiSplendora, west Hanoi | American curriculum; AP coursesAges 6-18 | VND 666m-855m annual optionGrades 1-5: VND 666m | Application and assessment VND 7.5m; enrolment VND 40m | About VND 713.5mabout £19,900 in your selected planning currency |
United Nations International School of Hanoi
Ciputra, Tay Ho
- Curriculum
- Full International Baccalaureate continuum · ages 3-18
- Published tuition
- $17,460-$39,870 annual optionGrades 1-5: $33,330
- Joining costs
- Application $600; enrolment $1,750; $1,750 tuition deposit is credited against tuition
- First-year benchmark
- About $35,680about £26,300 in your selected planning currency
British International School Hanoi
Vinhomes Riverside, Long Bien
- Curriculum
- English curriculum; IGCSE and IB Diploma · ages 2-18
- Published tuition
- VND 253.6m-970.2mYear 5: VND 734.6m
- Joining costs
- Application VND 4.5m; registration VND 70.8m; refundable security deposit VND 23.6m
- First-year benchmark
- About VND 833.5m payableabout £23,300 in your selected planning currency
Concordia International School Hanoi
Van Tri, north Hanoi
- Curriculum
- American curriculum; AP courses · ages 4-18
- Published tuition
- VND 558.034m-1,038.822mGrades 1-5: VND 861.787m
- Joining costs
- Application and assessment VND 10.8m; ask for the complete current fee schedule for other charges
- First-year benchmark
- At least VND 872.587mabout £24,400 in your selected planning currency
St. Paul American School Hanoi
Splendora, west Hanoi
- Curriculum
- American curriculum; AP courses · ages 6-18
- Published tuition
- VND 666m-855m annual optionGrades 1-5: VND 666m
- Joining costs
- Application and assessment VND 7.5m; enrolment VND 40m
- First-year benchmark
- About VND 713.5mabout £19,900 in your selected planning currency
How we calculated the first-year figure
We used a new nine-year-old entering the closest published Year 5 or Grade 4 equivalent in the latest verified schedule, chose the annual tuition option where available, and added identifiable compulsory joining and development charges. When a current total is not public, we say that a quote is needed. Refundable deposits are explained in each note; optional transport, meals, uniform, devices, trips and individual support are excluded unless stated.
What sits behind the total
Read the small print before comparing two prices
A lower tuition figure is not necessarily a lower first-year bill. Open the current schedule and mark each amount as one-off, refundable, recurring or child-specific.
United Nations International School of Hanoi
About $35,680
Excludes the credited tuition deposit and optional bus.
Open the school pageBritish International School Hanoi
About VND 833.5m payable
Includes the refundable deposit; excludes bus and overnight residential trips.
Open the school pageConcordia International School Hanoi
At least VND 872.587m
Tuition plus application only; obtain the full schedule for enrolment, bus, lunch and support.
Open the school pageSt. Paul American School Hanoi
About VND 713.5m
Excludes bus, lunch, uniform and any separately hired specialist support.
Open the school pageLocal-currency figures preserve the school's published billing basis. Selected-currency equivalents are rounded planning estimates, not transaction quotes.
Admissions and waiting lists
Start early, but ask about a real place before paying
“Applications open” and “places available” are not the same thing. Ask the admissions team to explain the position for the exact year group, start date and support profile.
Apply before the March rush
Concordia encourages families seeking the next August start to complete assessment before 1 March. UNIS also warns that places are limited. Early evidence gathering matters.
Ask what wait pool means
A qualified child may be wait-pooled because no seat is available. Ask about priority rules, whether the position carries forward and what payments are refundable.
Keep the route flexible
A place in Long Bien, Ciputra, Van Tri or Splendora can reshape the housing search. Avoid signing a long lease while school location remains uncertain.
- Ask whether the year is open, at capacity, using a wait pool or only accepting priority applicants.
- Confirm what assessment is required, whether it can be completed remotely and when a decision is normally made.
- Request the offer deadline, deposit treatment, deferral rules and refund position if employment or immigration changes.
- Ask whether siblings receive priority and whether each child is assessed independently for a place and support.
Accreditation checks
Verify the exact claim, campus and programme
“International”, “British”, “American”, “IB” and “Cambridge” do not all describe the same kind of approval. Check each claim with the body responsible for it.
United Nations International School of Hanoi
Verify PYP, MYP and DP authorisation separately and current CIS accreditation.
British International School Hanoi
Verify the IB Diploma authorisation, COBIS status and exam boards for the exact campus.
Concordia International School Hanoi
Verify WASC accreditation in the WASC directory and the current AP course offer.
St. Paul American School Hanoi
Verify WASC or other accreditation claims and the AP programme directly with the named bodies.
Useful distinction: IB candidacy is not authorisation; membership of an association is not always accreditation; and an exam-centre relationship does not prove that every year follows that provider's full curriculum.
Learning and language support
Questions to ask the support lead, not only admissions
A school can be a strong general choice and still be unable to meet one child's needs in one particular year. Ask for a conversation with the person responsible for provision.
- 1
Is the child's grade open and is specialist-support capacity available at the same time?
- 2
Which EAL, MTSS, counselling or learning-support services are included and which are separately invoiced?
- 3
Would the family need to employ a one-to-one professional, and who supervises that person?
- 4
How are access arrangements handled for AP, IGCSE or IB examinations?
- 5
Can support continue if the child moves campus, division or qualification pathway?
School transport and neighbourhoods
Let the confirmed campus shape the home search
Compare the door-to-door journey in school-week traffic, including rain, bus collection, sibling campuses and after-school pickup.
Tay Ho / Ciputra
UNIS and an established international community make the north-west attractive, but not every Hanoi school is nearby.
Long Bien
BIS Hanoi can support a coherent eastern routine. Bridge crossings affect access to central and western workplaces.
Van Tri / the north
Concordia's campus is outside the usual central expat districts, so the published bus and pickup time deserve early attention.
Splendora / the west
St. Paul creates a western school corridor. A central home can turn it into a long daily bus ride.
Ask the transport team: Is the route door-to-door or stop-based? Who supervises younger pupils? What is the earliest pickup, latest drop-off and after-activity option? Can routes change, and is a seat guaranteed for the intended address?
Printable school shortlisting sheet
Keep every answer in one place
Use the city-labelled worksheet to compare up to six schools, build the full first-year bill and record the accreditation, support and transport questions that still need an answer.
Download the Hanoi sheetContinue your research
Put the school inside the wider family move
Common questions
Questions about international schools in Hanoi
How early should we apply to international schools in Hanoi?
Start serious enquiries six to twelve months before the intended start, and earlier for a popular year group or specialist support. Many schools use rolling admissions, but that means applications are considered as places arise - not that every grade always has space.
Does paying an application fee guarantee a place?
No. Application and assessment fees are normally non-refundable and pay for the admissions process. Ask whether the school has a likely place in the correct year and can support your child before paying.
What does the first-year estimate include?
Our benchmark uses one new primary-age pupil and the school's published annual-payment tuition plus compulsory application, registration, entrance, capital or development charges that could be identified. We show refundable deposits separately or explain when they are included. Transport, meals, uniforms, devices, trips and individual support remain outside the total unless stated.
Can we rely on a school's accreditation logo?
Do not rely on the logo alone. Search the accreditor or programme provider's current directory, match the exact campus and programme, and check whether the status is membership, candidacy, authorisation or full accreditation.
How should we compare learning support?
Send recent reports and professional assessments before applying. Ask what is delivered in class, what requires extra staffing or fees, the current caseload, whether places are limited, and what would happen if your child's needs change.
Should we choose a home before choosing a school in Hanoi?
Usually no. Confirm a realistic school place first, then test the journey at the actual drop-off and collection times. A short map distance can still create a difficult weekday routine.
Are the schools in this guide ranked or sponsored?
No. This is an independent research comparison, not a league table. Schools are included because their curriculum, location and published information help families understand the Hanoi market. Sponsored directory visibility does not affect this guide.
Do international-school fees in Vietnam stay the same after the first year?
No. Fees are normally reviewed annually and often rise as a child moves through the school. Model at least three years, including a move into secondary or senior qualifications, and read withdrawal and refund rules before paying.
Which Hanoi neighbourhood is closest to international schools?
There is no single answer. Ciputra/Tay Ho suits UNIS and some northern routes; Long Bien suits BIS; Van Tri and Splendora sit farther from the traditional central expat areas. Choose after confirming the school, work location and bus route.