European International School Ho Chi Minh City vs International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus
European International School Ho Chi Minh City and International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus are both in Ho Chi Minh City, about 1 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus also offers Bespoke and Reggio Emilia. Published annual fees are close, at ₫274,700,000 - 817,900,000 for European International School Ho Chi Minh City and ₫279,000,000 - 747,100,000 for International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus. European International School Ho Chi Minh City takes pupils from 2 to 18, and International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus from 2 to 10. International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus is the larger school, with around 1,400 pupils to European International School Ho Chi Minh City's 570. Typical class sizes are 7 at European International School Ho Chi Minh City and 23 at International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus.
IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum, Reggio Emilia Approach
Pupils
Pupils
570
Pupils
1,400
Typical class size
Typical class size
7
Typical class size
23
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2009
Opened
1993
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
EIS is situated at 730 F-730 G-730 K Lê Văn Miến Street, An Khanh Ward, Thảo Điền, Thu Đức City (District 2) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It lies in a residential, expatriate-friendly neighbourhood with access by local roads and serves families living in the city’s eastern suburbs.
Location
The Primary Campus is located at 28 Vo Truong Toan, An Khanh, Thu Duc City (formerly District 2), Ho Chi Minh City. The campus sits in a residential area with good access to major districts, and the school has its own bus service covering many parts of the city.
Stages
Stages
The school welcomes children aged 2 to 18 years. It is organised into early years (approx ages 2–5), primary (around ages 6–11), middle school (around ages 11–15) and high school (ages 16–18).
Stages
The school serves children from Early Years (from age 2) through Primary up to around age 10–11 (Grade 5). It is part of a wider 2–18 years school but this campus focuses on the early to primary years.
School type
School type
EIS is a co-educational day school.
School type
It is a co-educational, day-school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school indicates that it provides “mainstream with SEN support” for students with additional learning needs, meaning that while specialised separate units may not be emphasised, support is offered within the regular classes.
Additional learning support
The school offers Student Support and Enrichment services including tailored programmes for English as an Additional Language (EAL), Learning Support, differentiation and inclusive practices to support individual needs.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is not formally affiliated with a particular national curriculum of one country; it is a private international school in Vietnam offering the IB curriculum.
Country affiliation
The school is international with no formal affiliation to a specific national system.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
School day structure
School day structure
Specific start and end times for each day are not publicly detailed.
School day structure
While the exact daily times are not detailed on publicly available pages, the school operates a regular day schedule with morning advisory, class blocks, a lunch break and co-curricular activities after lessons.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school offers a dedicated bus service for students, with routes covering nearby neighbourhoods and suburbs, providing supervised transport to and from the campus each day.
Bus service details
The school operates a bus transportation service for students aged 4 years and above, covering many districts of Ho Chi Minh City. For families with children at both campuses, a complimentary shuttle connects Secondary students for single-drop convenience. Buses are operated to school standards with staff trained in child-safeguarding.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and Admission Fees
* Application Fee: VND 3,500,000 per student (one-time, non-refundable, payable on application). * Acceptance Fee (Admission Fee): • Early Years (Toddler – Kindergarten 1 & 2): VND 20,000,000 per student • Preschool: VND 40,000,000 per student • Grades 1–10: VND 40,000,000 per student • Grades 11–12: VND 32,000,000 per student
Note: The amounts listed above represent Plan A (Annual Payment). Under Plan B (2-instalment) or Plan C (4-instalment) options, fees are slightly higher to reflect the payment schedule. Discounts apply for early payments and siblings.
Security Deposit / Re-enrolment Deposit VND 30,000,000 per student, payable annually to secure placement. The deposit is deducted from tuition fees once enrolment is confirmed and refunded only with a 60-day written withdrawal notice.
Bus Fees (2025–2026) The annual bus service fee ranges from VND 27,948,000 to 50,140,000 for a round trip and VND 17,085,000 to 30,150,000 for a one-way journey, depending on distance. A 10 % discount applies for additional siblings using the service.
Other Services and Costs
* Canteen: Early Years – VND 19,400,000 per year; Grades 1–12 – VND 21,500,000 per year. * Uniforms: Available for purchase at the School Shop three days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). * Family Discounts: Second child – 50 % waiver of the Acceptance Fee + 5 % tuition discount; third and subsequent children – full waiver + 10 % tuition discount (maximum 12 % total).
Refund and Withdrawal Policy Refunds are available based on the withdrawal date with a 60-day notice:
* Before school starts – 95 % refund * Term 1 – 65 % * Term 2 – 40 % * Term 3 – 15 % * Term 4 – 0 %
Students enrolling mid-year pay a pro-rated percentage based on their entry date.
Payment Methods and Terms Payments can be made via bank transfer (preferred) or credit card in VND, USD or EUR, based on Vietcombank’s buying rate on the transfer date. Late payments are subject to a 12 % annualised interest penalty.
Fee details
Admissions Fee The Admissions Fee is required when a student receives an offer of placement and is non-refundable.
* Early Explorer to Kindergarten: VND 25,000,000 * Grade 1 to Grade 12: VND 50,000,000 For families with more than one child enrolling, a 50% sibling discount applies to the second and subsequent children. If two or more siblings join at the same time, the youngest child receives the discount.
Annual Tuition Fees ISHCMC operates an all-inclusive tuition model that covers the cost of instruction, uniforms, field trips, student devices, and core learning activities. The following are the annual payment option fees:
Other payment plans are available by semester or term, though the total amount payable is higher than the annual plan.
Additional Fees and Inclusions An Annual Development Fee (ADF) of VND 67,500,000 applies to Grades 1–12. Families may instead purchase a one-time Certificate of Entitlement (COE) at VND 337,500,000, which covers one child’s ADF for the duration of their enrollment.
The annual tuition includes all required textbooks, stationery, local excursions, after-school activities, sports programs, English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, wellbeing and counselling services, annual uniform set, and morning fruit snacks. Optional elective activities, overseas trips, and some extended sports programs may incur additional charges.
Billing and Payment Terms Invoices are issued annually with the main due date on 1 July 2025. Payments can be made by bank transfer or through company sponsorship arrangements. Families can choose between annual, semester, or term payment plans.
Refund Policy The Admissions Fee is non-refundable. Tuition refunds, if applicable, are governed by ISHCMC’s withdrawal and refund policy, which is outlined in the school’s admissions documentation.
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
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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
European International School Ho Chi Minh City (EIS) offers the full continuum of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum for students aged 2 to 18 years. The school follows the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Early Years and Primary School, focusing on inquiry-based learning across key subjects. In Middle School, students progress into the Middle Years Programme (MYP), which builds academic depth and interdisciplinary understanding. The Diploma Programme (DP) is offered in Grades 11 and 12, providing internationally recognised qualifications for university entry worldwide. Core subjects include English, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities, Languages, and the Arts, alongside physical education and community engagement. Students also take part in language acquisition (such as French, German, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Korean) and creative or service-oriented projects aligned with IB principles.
Curriculum details
The International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) Primary Campus delivers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 2 to 10 (Early Explorer to Grade 5). The Early Years (ages 2–5) programme is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, encouraging exploration, creativity, and collaboration through play-based, inquiry-led learning. From Grade 1 onward, students continue within the IB PYP framework, developing conceptual understanding across core subjects such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. Instruction is in English, with Vietnamese taught as a language subject to promote cultural and linguistic connection. The curriculum also integrates music, visual arts, design technology, and physical education, supported by access to facilities like the Makerspace, Fab Lab, and Primary Library. This foundation prepares students for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) at ISHCMC’s secondary campus.
1. Submit Online Application Form Families begin the process by completing the online application form on the school website and uploading the required documents, such as recent school reports and identification.
2. Entrance Assessment and Interview Applicants take an entrance assessment and attend an interview with the Principal or Deputy Principal. This step allows the school to understand each student’s academic level and learning needs.
3. Offer of Place Successful applicants receive a formal Letter of Offer confirming a place at the school.
4. Acceptance of Offer Parents confirm acceptance by paying the required Acceptance Fee, securing the student’s place.
5. Tuition Fee Payment Tuition fees are then paid in accordance with the Debit Note issued by the school, following the chosen payment plan.
Admissions
1. Online Application Parents begin by completing the online application form on the ISHCMC website. This form collects details about the student, their previous education, and family background. No payment is required at this stage.
2. Document Submission Applicants must provide supporting documents including a copy of the student’s passport or birth certificate, passport-sized photo, and the last two years of school reports. A recommendation form is required for Grades 1–12, while Early Years applicants submit a teacher reference. Incomplete applications cannot proceed.
3. Assessment Once the application and documents are received, the student is invited for an age-appropriate assessment. This may include English language evaluations, cognitive tasks, and a review of learning readiness. For Primary students, the assessment also determines the need for EAL or Learning Support.
4. Admission Decision and Offer Applications are reviewed by the relevant section principal. If successful, the school issues a formal offer letter. Parents confirm acceptance by signing the Parent Agreement and paying the non-refundable Admissions Fee.
5. Enrolment and Orientation After acceptance, families complete medical and health forms and submit vaccination records. The school then schedules an orientation to introduce new students and parents to campus routines, teachers, and school life.
Scholarships
Scholarships
EIS offers a Merit Scholarship Programme for selected students. Scholarships can cover from 15% up to 100% of tuition fees (excluding field trips, exam fees and other direct costs). Eligibility is based on academic achievement, leadership, critical thinking and community engagement; students apply by submitting reports, certificates and an English placement test, followed by an interview. The scholarship is awarded after evaluation by a committee and is reviewed annually.
Scholarships
The school does not publicly disclose any scholarship or bursary programme on its website. All students are subject to the standard admissions and tuition fee policies.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school states that demand for places is very high and “most year groups have a waiting list.” In other words, once offered and accepted places are filled, additional applicants may be placed on a wait-list until spaces become available. The school accepts applications year-round but advises early registration to avoid disappointment.
Waitlist
The school does not publicly state that it operates a waitlist or pool system.
