British International School Hanoi vs Horizon International Bilingual School - Hanoi Campus
British International School Hanoi and Horizon International Bilingual School - Hanoi Campus are both in Hanoi, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE programmes. British International School Hanoi also offers IB, British and EYFS, and Horizon International Bilingual School - Hanoi Campus also offers Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels. Published annual fees are ₫218,000,000 - 810,000,000 at British International School Hanoi and ₫278,277,000 - 606,956,000 at Horizon International Bilingual School - Hanoi Campus, which puts British International School Hanoi roughly 16% higher. Both take pupils from 2 to 18. British International School Hanoi is the larger school, with around 1,100 pupils to Horizon International Bilingual School - Hanoi Campus's 500. Typical class sizes are 24 at British International School Hanoi and 16 at Horizon International Bilingual School - Hanoi Campus.
IB (DP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Curriculum
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils
Pupils
1,100
Pupils
500
Typical class size
Typical class size
24
Typical class size
16
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English, Vietnamese
Opened
Opened
2012
Opened
2007
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
BIS Hanoi is situated in a residential area on the eastern side of the city. The campus is easily accessible by car and school bus, with routes serving multiple districts. Its setting offers a calm environment while remaining convenient for families living in different parts of Hanoi.
Location
Horizon International Bilingual School – Hanoi Campus is located at 98 Tô Ngọc Vân Street, Villa 1 & 2, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi, Vietnam on the north-western side of central Hanoi. The campus sits in a residential neighbourhood near parks, cafes, and apartments popular with both local and international families. It is reachable by city roads connecting to Hanoi’s main districts and is served by typical urban transport routes.
Stages
Stages
The school educates students from Early Years (ages 2–5) through Primary (5–11), Secondary (11–16, IGCSE), and Sixth Form (16–18, IB Diploma).
Stages
The school provides a Kindergarten/early learning programme and continues through Primary, Lower Secondary, Middle School, IGCSE and A-Level phases. Students range from around Kindergarten age through to the end of secondary school, with structured progression through the Cambridge curriculum and the bilingual pathway.
School type
School type
A co-educational international day school serving ages 2–18; no boarding facilities are offered.
School type
Horizon International Bilingual School – Hanoi Campus operates as a co-educational day school, enrolling both girls and boys across all levels. The official information does not describe any boarding facilities, indicating that students attend during the standard school day and return home afterwards.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
BIS Hanoi provides English as an Additional Language (EAL) programmes and individual pastoral guidance. Specific SEN facilities are not detailed publicly.
Additional learning support
The school does not publicly disclose information on additional learning support.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Delivers a British-style curriculum and international qualifications but has no formal national affiliation.
Country affiliation
The school does not have any country affiliations.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school is non-religious.
Religious affiliation
The school does not have any religious affiliations.
School day structure
School day structure
The website lists normal and late-bus times around 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. for after-school clubs; full-day timings are not specified publicly.
School day structure
The school does not publicly disclose information on their day structure.
Bus service details
Bus service details
A private bus network serves most Hanoi districts, with published routes, fees, and late-bus options for CCA activities.
Bus service details
The school operates a bus service for the Hanoi Campus, with information provided on its official Hanoi Admissions pages about routes and safety protocols for buses. Parents can arrange this service when enrolling their child, and it follows standard safety practices for daily pick-up and drop-off.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fees A one-time Application Fee of VND 3,500,000 is required for all new applicants. Upon acceptance, families pay a Registration Fee of VND 30,000,000, which is non-refundable and confirms the student’s place at the school. No refundable deposit is listed.
Year 1 – Year 6: VND 522,000,000 – VND 600,000,000
Secondary School (Years 7–13)
Year 7 – Year 9: VND 705,000,000 Year 10 – Year 11 (IGCSE): VND 765,000,000 Year 12 – Year 13 (IB Diploma): VND 810,000,000
Fees are billed by term or annually according to the school’s payment schedule.
Additional Fees Uniforms, transport services, and examination fees (Cambridge IGCSE and IB Diploma) are charged separately. Optional extracurricular and after-school activities may carry additional costs.
Transportation Fees BIS Hanoi operates a private bus service covering multiple city districts. Routes and pricing vary by distance, and buses are supervised by trained attendants.
Refund Policy Application and registration fees are non-refundable. Tuition refund conditions follow the school’s enrolment and withdrawal policies as outlined in official documents.
Payment Options Payments can be made by bank transfer in Vietnamese Dong (VND) according to the published billing schedule.
Fee details
Application Fee A non-refundable Admission Fee of VND 25,000,000 applies to all new students.
Tuition Fees Tuition varies by programme (Bilingual or International) and year group.
KINDERGARTEN (International Programme) Yearly Tuition Fee:VND 314,530,000
HIGH SCHOOL – INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME (Grades 10–12) * Grade 9: VND 591,482,000 * Grade 10: VND 596,671,000 * Grade 11: VND 601,813,000 * Grade 12: VND 606,956,000
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
—
Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Students aged 2–5 follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. From ages 5–11 (Primary), they study a blend of the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). In Lower Secondary (ages around 11–16) they progress through a British-style Key Stage curriculum and then sit the Cambridge IGCSE in Years 10–11. Finally, in Years 12–13 (ages 16–18), students transition into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) and choose from standard- and higher-level subjects, along with core components such as Theory of Knowledge and CAS. The school emphasises preparing students for global university pathways, supported by collaborations with institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and The Juilliard School.
Curriculum details
Horizon offers two distinct academic pathways for learners from Kindergarten through to the end of secondary school.
The Bilingual Programme blends the Vietnamese National Curriculum (Ministry of Education and Training) with the Cambridge International Curriculum, delivering core subjects in English and preparing students for Cambridge Primary Checkpoints, Cambridge Lower-Secondary Checkpoints, and Cambridge IGCSE examinations, alongside Vietnamese national qualifications at key stages.
In the International Programme, students follow the Cambridge International Curriculum from Grade 1 through to Grade 12.
1. Initial Enquiry and Visit Families begin the admissions process by contacting the school’s Admissions Office or submitting an online enquiry form. Parents are invited to arrange a school tour or attend an open day to learn more about the curriculum, facilities, and available year-group placements.
2. Application Submission After the initial enquiry, parents complete the online application form and submit the required documents, which typically include previous school reports, a copy of the child’s passport, and a recent photograph. An application fee is required to process the submission.
3. Assessment and Review Once the application is received, the admissions team reviews all documentation. Depending on the child’s age and year level, the school may request an academic assessment or an English language evaluation to determine readiness for the programme.
4. Offer of Placement If a place is available and the entry requirements are met, the school issues an official offer. Parents confirm acceptance by paying the non-refundable registration fee to secure the child’s place.
5. Enrolment and Orientation Following confirmation, families receive orientation materials and joining instructions. The school provides details about uniforms, transport options, and start dates to ensure a smooth transition into the BIS Hanoi community.
Admissions
1. Begin the admissions process by submitting a completed Application Form to the school’s Admissions Office. Along with the form, you must provide recent school reports or transcripts, a copy of the student’s passport or ID, health and vaccination records and any supporting documents such as standardized test results or certificates.
2. After receiving your application, the admissions team will arrange a detailed introduction to the school’s curriculum, vision, and programmes. A campus tour is conducted so you can become familiar with the facilities and daily routines before assessments begin.
3. Students undergo a series of assessments to ensure appropriate placement and support.
4. Once assessments are complete, the school will notify parents of the admission decision. If the student is accepted, the admissions team will guide families through the registration process and share details of the tuition and fee structure along with the payment agreement plan.
5. After registration and payment are finalised, the school issues an Official Letter of Acceptance.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
Horizon International Bilingual School operates a scholarship programme that rewards students for high performance in external and internal examinations, with awards paid either as tuition-fee waivers for the following semester or, in the case of graduating students, as cash payments in VND.
Waitlist
Waitlist
BIS Hanoi operates a waitlist for year groups that are at capacity. When no places are available, qualified applicants are placed on the waitlist and contacted as soon as an opening arises. Priority is typically given to siblings of current students and to families relocating from other Nord Anglia schools.
Waitlist
The school does not publicly describe information on waitlist or applicant pool system.
