Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus vs The ABC International School (ABCIS)
Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus and The ABC International School (ABCIS) are both in Ho Chi Minh City, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels and Cambridge A Levels programmes. Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus also offers Cambridge (Primary) and Cambridge (Secondary), and The ABC International School (ABCIS) also offers British, Australian, American and IB. Published annual fees are ₫225,770,000 - 315,890,000 at Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus and ₫68,500,000 - 290,000,000 at The ABC International School (ABCIS), which puts Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus roughly 51% higher. Both take pupils from 2 to 18. The ABC International School (ABCIS) is the larger school, with around 790 pupils to Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus's 500. Typical class sizes are 5 at Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus and 14 at The ABC International School (ABCIS).
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Australian Curriculum, American Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils
Pupils
500
Pupils
790
Typical class size
Typical class size
5
Typical class size
14
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Vietnamese
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2005
Opened
1995
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Horizon International Bilingual School – Ho Chi Minh Campus is located at 6–6A–8 Street No. 44, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. The school sits in Thao Dien, a residential area known for its access to international services, apartments, and community facilities. Its location places it close to major roads connecting Thu Duc City with central districts of Ho Chi Minh City, making travel convenient for families.
Location
The ABC International School (ABCIS) operates in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with two campuses: Trung Son Campus in Binh Hung Commune, Binh Chanh District, and Nha Be Campus in Nha Be Commune. The Trung Son Campus is located at 152-158 No.1 Street, KDC Trung Son, Binh Hung, Binh Chanh District. The Nha Be Campus is located at No. 2, Street No. 9, KDC Tan An Huy, Nha Be Commune. The campuses are in southern Ho Chi Minh City and provide English-medium instruction within the British curriculum framework.
Stages
Stages
The school operates as a K–12 programme, offering education from Kindergarten through High School, including Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE, and A-Level pathways. Curriculum pages describe separate Primary, Secondary, and High School phases aligned with the Cambridge framework and bilingual requirements.
Stages
ABCIS serves learners aged 3 to 18, encompassing Early Years, Primary, and Secondary. The Trung Son Campus serves 2–7 years old (Early Years/KS1) and the Nha Be Campus serves 8–18 years old, with the overall school range noted as three to 18 years in the broader overview.
School type
School type
Horizon is a co-educational day school, with boys and girls learning together across all grade levels.
School type
The ABCIS is an international day school and is non-denominational. There are no boarding facilities published for any year groups.
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 does not publicly disclose information on additional learning support.
Additional learning support
The school does not provide formal Special Educational Needs (SEN) support; students with learning difficulties are considered on an individual basis and admission decisions are final based on the school's capacity to support the student.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school does not have any country affiliations.
Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation; the school is a Vietnam-based international school that delivers the English National Curriculum.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school does not have any religious affiliations.
Religious affiliation
Non-denominational; the school has no religious affiliation.
School day structure
School day structure
The school does not publicly disclose information on their day structure.
School day structure
The 2025–2026 academic calendar shows term start dates and indicates that some term ends finish at 12:00 noon. For example, End of Term 2 and End of Term 5 finish at 12:00 noon, and Term 1 begins on August 8, 2025.
Bus service details
Bus service details
Horizon International Bilingual School - Hochiminh Campus offers student transportation services, which include bus arrangements for families who need them.
Bus service details
ABCIS offers a school bus service; admission materials include a School Bus Liability Form (optional) and a Code of Transportation Form (Secondary Only). Buses are supervised by an adult bus monitor and safety rules apply on transport.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fees * Admission fee for new students: VND 25,000,000 (non-refundable).
- Registration Fee (one-off, non-refundable): amount varies by year group. Parents pay the registration fee when an offer of a place is made; the fee is paid once but is upgraded as the student moves to higher year groups (the difference must be paid on move-up). Example: moving from Nursery to Reception requires an additional VND 9,500,000 to make up the difference.
Refundable Deposit
- Refundable Deposit: a refundable deposit applies for Primary and Secondary year groups (VND 22,000,000 for most Primary and VND 22,000,000 for Secondary), while for several Early Years categories the deposit is listed as not payable. Exact refundable-deposit amounts or 'not payable' status are listed per year group below.
Tuition fees by year group (School Year 2025–2026) — annual and per-instalment amounts
Early Years - Pre-Nursery (Half day) - Registration Fee: VND 14,500,000 - Refundable Deposit: Not payable - Annual Tuition Fee: VND 187,000,000 - Instalment (one of 3): VND 68,500,000
All the numeric fee figures above and the per-instalment amounts are those published for the School Year 2025–2026.
What the tuition covers and what it excludes
- Tuition fee inclusions: uniforms, lunch, and insurance are included within the tuition fee; specific uniform items provided vary by year group (e.g., Pre-Nursery/Nursery receive five sets of uniform—three sets for half-day—plus cap, cardigan, house T-shirt and folder; older year groups receive the list appropriate to their phase).
- Tuition fee exclusions: residential school trips and visits, instrumental (private) music lessons, and school buses are charged separately. Examination fees for public Cambridge examinations are charged in addition to tuition (IGCSE: VND 4,800,000 per subject; AS/A2: VND 5,500,000 per subject). Exam fees are non-refundable.
Uniform and other additional costs
- Where extra uniform pieces or replacements are required, items are available for purchase with published prices (examples): ABCIS Girls T-Shirt VND 170,000–200,000 depending on size, PE T-shirt VND 140,000, cardigan VND 330,000–370,000, school cap VND 100,000, swimsuits from VND 290,000–350,000, and other items listed with individual prices. Students in Nursery–Year 2 require a school bag available from the school for VND 100,000. These uniform-item prices are charged separately when purchased.
Discounts and reductions
- Sibling Discount: 15% off tuition fees for the second, third or fourth child enrolled from the same family. - Loyalty Discount: 5% off tuition fees for students enrolled for at least three consecutive full academic years (applies where sibling discount does not). - Maximum discount cap: no individual pupil may receive more than 15% discount except scholarship winners.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment cadence: Fees can be paid either annually in one lump sum or by three instalments. - Annual-payment reduction: Annual lump-sum payment is approximately 10% cheaper than paying by instalments; to qualify the annual payment must be received on or before 1 August 2025 for the 2025–2026 year. - Instalment due dates for 2025–2026 are: - First instalment: on or before 1 August 2025 - Second instalment: on or before 5 November 2025 - Third instalment: on or before 4 March 2026 - Late payment: any late payment after 15 working days will attract a penalty surcharge of 5% added to the outstanding balance. - Non-payment: the school reserves the right to refuse admission or continued attendance for non-payment of tuition fees.
Refunds and deposit returns
- Tuition fee refund on withdrawal: a parent/guardian must submit notice of withdrawal by the published deadline to be eligible for a partial refund. For the 2025–2026 academic year the published refund rules are: - Departure date November 5, 2025 — notice on or before September 4, 2025: refund = Annual Fee minus 1 instalment - Departure date March 4, 2026 — notice on or before November 21, 2025: refund = Annual Fee minus 2 instalments - Any time after March 4, 2026: no refund - There is no refund for any part of a single paid fee term instalment.
- Refundable deposit return: deposit refunds follow set notice-and-refund dates; for 2025–2026 the published schedule links the departure day, the latest date to give notice and the date the deposit will be refunded (example: for a November 5, 2025 departure, notice must be given on or before September 4, 2025 and the deposit refund date is November 5, 2025).
Examination and specialist charges
- IGCSE examination charge: VND 4,800,000 per subject. - AS and A2 examination charge: VND 5,500,000 per subject. - The school may apply additional charges for specialist materials in practical subjects where such materials are outside the normal curriculum (charges are applied in addition to exam fees and tuition). Exam fees are non-refundable.
Boarding
- Boarding is not offered; The ABC International School operates as a day school and does not publish boarding provisions or boarding fees. Parents should treat all fee items above as day-school fees.
Fee payment channels and contact for payments
- The published fee information specifies payment frequency (annual or three instalments) and due dates but does not list detailed payment channels (e.g., bank-account details or card payment options) in the public fee schedule. Parents arrange fee payment with the school office using the school's admissions/contact channels (office@theabcis.com, +84 (0)28 7308 1828).
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
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Horizon Ho Chi Minh Campus follows the school’s Bilingual Programme, which combines the Vietnamese National Curriculum mandated by the Ministry of Education and Training with the Cambridge International Curriculum framework. Students learn core subjects such as mathematics, science, chemistry, physics, and biology in English alongside Vietnamese national subjects, with instruction delivered by both Vietnamese and international educators. As they progress, students prepare for Cambridge Primary Checkpoint assessments in the early years and Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint before moving to Cambridge IGCSE examinations at the end of secondary school. The programme supports smooth transitions between stages and is arranged according to Vietnam’s legal requirements for bilingual and international curricula.
Curriculum details
The ABC International School follows the English National Curriculum and delivers all instruction in English. Early Years covers Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception, followed by Primary (Key Stages 1–2) and Secondary (Key Stage 3) leading to IGCSEs in Key Stage 4. In the Senior Phase, students study International AS and A Levels (Cambridge) with AQA options, and the College Board's AP programme is available. Language provision includes Vietnamese in Primary, with options to study French and Chinese in Secondary. The curriculum is complemented by an ECA Programme, and ABCIS is accredited by Cambridge International Examinations to deliver IGCSEs and AS/A Levels and is a FOBISIA member.
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.
Admissions
1. Schedule a visit to the school. To begin, you should complete the inquiry form so a member of the Admissions Team can contact you, and you may also call the school to arrange a visit. The school provides a form online to request a visit, and staff will follow up to set up a time that fits your schedule. This initial contact is the first step toward arranging the entrance assessments and interview.
2. Prepare for and undergo entrance assessments and an interview. A decision on admission is made after the candidate completes entrance assessments and an interview with a member of the Senior Management Team. Interviews must be arranged in advance through the office administration. The interview evaluates educational ability, English language proficiency, and experience across curriculum areas; if a class is full, your child's name may be placed on a waiting list and you will be informed if a place becomes available.
3. Submit required documents and complete the admission form. If you secure an interview, you are expected to answer questions and complete an admission form during the process, including signing a declaration accepting school rules, regulations, and policies. To request an admission interview, you must provide a completed application form, the most recent school report, a copy of the student's passport or birth certificate (Vietnamese nationals), and one photograph. After a placement offer is made, additional documents are required (see Step 4).
4. Accept an offer and finalize placement. When a placement offer is made, parents/guardians have one week to complete all necessary documentation and pay the required fees to secure the place. Late responses or payments may result in the place being offered to another student. Following a placement offer, the school requires documents such as the Home School Agreement, Internet and Mobile Usage Agreement, Vaccination Record, and other forms (IGCSE/A Level Option Form for Year 10+, Code of Transportation for Secondary).
5. Understand placement criteria and policy requirements. Students are placed primarily by age, but other factors such as previous educational experience, maturity, and English language ability are also considered. The school does not provide Special Educational Needs (SEN) support for students with learning difficulties; such cases are considered individually if the school can provide appropriate support, with the management's decision being final. Parents are expected to commit to annual school trips and to accept all school rules, regulations, and policies to safeguard welfare and safety; the school reserves the right to cancel a registration if rules are not followed.
Scholarships
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.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available through The ABC International School. There are up to three Sixth Form scholarships for tuition fee remission during Years 12 and 13, awarded to the top performing students based on IGCSE results (minimum eight subjects). Award 1 provides 50% of Year 12-13 tuition fees, Award 2 provides 33.33% of tuition fees, and Award 3 provides 16.66%. Eligibility requires two consecutive years of study at ABCIS, with performance criteria maintained throughout Years 12 and 13. The school also reserves the right to determine award allocation if multiple students have identical scores. In addition, there are Sixth Form Graduation Grants for travel and equipment expenses, with awards of up to US$5,000 (Grant 1) or US$3,000 (Grant 2), subject to meeting the stated conditions. Recipients must be full-time in the Sixth Form and have secured entry to a leading university, with documentation endorsed by their tutor.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school does not publicly describe information on waitlist or applicant pool system.
Waitlist
Yes. If a particular class is full, a student's name may be entered onto a waiting list, and parents will be informed accordingly if places become available.
