International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus vs Vietnam Finland International School
International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus and Vietnam Finland International School are both in Ho Chi Minh City, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer IB and Bespoke programmes. International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus also offers Reggio Emilia, and Vietnam Finland International School also offers Finnish. Published annual fees are close, at ₫279,000,000 - 747,100,000 for International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus and ₫457,590,000 - 639,240,000 for Vietnam Finland International School. International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus takes pupils from 2 to 10, and Vietnam Finland International School from 6 to 18. International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus is the larger school, with around 1,400 pupils to Vietnam Finland International School's 400. Typical class sizes are 23 at International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus and 22 at Vietnam Finland International School.
IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum, Reggio Emilia Approach
Curriculum
IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum, Finnish Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
1,400
Pupils
400
Typical class size
Typical class size
23
Typical class size
22
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English, Finnish, Vietnamese
Opened
Opened
1993
Opened
2019
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
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.
Location
VFIS is located at Gate 9, Ton Duc Thang University, 19 Nguyen Huu Tho Street, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It sits within the university campus in a planned urban district, with accessible transport links and a calm, campus-conducive environment for families relocating.
Stages
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.
Stages
The school offers programmes from Grade 1 through to Grade 12, covering primary, lower secondary and upper secondary levels. It delivers both an International Programme (Grades 1–12) and a Bilingual Programme (Grades 1–12).
School type
School type
It is a co-educational, day-school.
School type
VFIS 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 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.
Additional learning support
VFIS provides English Language Support (EAL) for students whose first language is not English, including foundation courses and grouped support classes. Additionally, the welfare services include a multi-professional team with special education teacher involvement to support student well-being.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is international with no formal affiliation to a specific national system.
Country affiliation
The school is affiliated with Vietnam in that it is located in Vietnam and is part of a Vietnamese public university; additionally it draws on the Finnish education ethos and curriculum standards but is not a Finnish “branch school” in the sense of being governed from Finland.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
Religious affiliation
VFIS does not specify any religious affiliation; it is a secular international school.
School day structure
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.
School day structure
On a typical day, the school opens from 7:30 am Monday to Friday, with formal lessons starting at 8:00 am and the main school day ending at 3:15 pm. Lunch and recess together last approximately 45 minutes (at different times depending on grade). After-school extra-curricular and additional classes may continue until about 4:00 pm.
Bus service details
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.
Bus service details
VFIS offers a dedicated school bus service operated by the school. The service is owned and run by VFIS, uses experienced drivers and monitors, and covers routes within approximately 10 km of the campus. Parents can register via the school’s transport office for pick-up and drop-off.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
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.
Fee details
Application Fees Primary applicants (Grades 1–5) pay an application fee of 2,250,000 VND. Secondary and High School applicants (Grades 6–12) pay 4,500,000 VND. This fee covers the entrance assessment and administration and is non-refundable.
*Term Tuition (per term):* • Grades 1–5: Term 1 – 230,620,000 VND; Term 2 – 263,570,000 VND • Grades 6–7: Term 1 – 251,610,000 VND; Term 2 – 287,560,000 VND • Grades 8–10: Term 1 – 264,950,000 VND; Term 2 – 302,800,000 VND • Grades 11–12: Term 1 – 322,180,000 VND; Term 2 – 368,200,000 VND
Billing Schedule & Payment Terms All annual tuition or Term 1 fees must be paid before the school year begins; Term 2 tuition must be paid before Term 2 starts. Early full-year payment made before 27 May receives a 10% reduction; payments between 28 May and 16 July receive a 5% reduction.
Sibling & Long-Term Reductions Sibling reductions range from 10% (second child) to 20% (fourth child onward). A 3% reduction applies for students enrolled for five or more consecutive years.
Other Costs Security deposit: 25,000,000 VND (International Programme). Meals: Primary includes lunch and snack; Secondary and High School include lunch only. Bus service fees vary by distance (5–15 km and Phu My Hung) and by public or private pick-up points.
Refund Policies Refunds depend on withdrawal timing, with up to 100% refunded before the school year begins and partial refunds after the year has started.
Fee Payment Options Fees may be paid annually or by term through the school’s accepted payment channels (e.g., bank transfer).
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
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.
Curriculum details
Vietnam–Finland International School (VFIS) offers two pathways from Grade 1 to Grade 12: an International Programme and a Bilingual Programme. The International Programme follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum, with Vietnamese language, History, Geography and Ethics added for Vietnamese citizens as required by national regulations. The Bilingual Programme combines Finnish curriculum principles with subjects taught in Vietnamese in alignment with Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training. From Grade 10, students begin a preparatory year leading toward the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), which is formally offered in Grades 11 and 12. Across all years, students learn English with a structured progression based on Cambridge Assessment English, supported by additional English Language Support where needed. Specialist subjects include arts, crafts, home economics, physical education, and science, reflecting the broad subject areas in the Finnish framework.
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.
Admissions
1. Submit Application & Required Documents Parents begin by completing the application form and submitting the required documents to the Admissions Office. These documents typically include school records, identification documents, and the application fee. The school reviews the documents to determine the child’s eligibility to move to the next step. Parents are informed if any additional paperwork is needed.
2. Entrance Assessment & Interview VFIS requires an entrance assessment for all applicants. The assessment may include academic testing and an interview, depending on the year group and programme. Assessment scheduling is arranged by the Admissions Office after the application is processed. Families receive instructions on preparation, location, and required materials.
3. Review of Results & Placement Decision The school evaluates the entrance assessment results, academic history, and programme suitability. Based on this review, VFIS determines whether the applicant is eligible for placement. Parents are notified of the decision by the Admissions Office. Applicants who meet requirements may proceed to enrollment if space is available.
4. Offer Letter & Acceptance If the student is accepted, VFIS issues an official Offer Letter. Parents must confirm acceptance within the timeframe described by the school. The offer outlines the programme, grade placement, and next administrative steps. Failure to respond on time may result in the offer being withdrawn.
5. Payment of Security Deposit & Fees To secure the place, parents must pay the required security deposit and tuition fee according to the school’s payment schedule. Payment confirms the student’s seat for the upcoming academic year. The security deposit policies differ for returning and new students, as stated on the fees page. Parents receive confirmation once payment is completed.
6. Enrollment Completion & Orientation After payment, families complete remaining administrative steps such as uniform purchase, student card registration, and health-related requirements. The school informs parents of orientation dates and the start of term procedures. Enrollment is considered complete once all steps are fulfilled. Students then join their assigned class at the beginning of the school year.
Scholarships
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.
Scholarships
VFIS offers scholarships to students based on academic performance, assessment results, and other eligibility criteria defined by the school. Applicants may be required to sit scholarship-specific assessments, and results determine scholarship levels. Scholarships can cover a percentage of tuition fees, and conditions include maintaining academic performance and school conduct. Scholarship policies also clarify that tuition refunds for scholarship recipients are calculated after applying scholarship reductions. Detailed criteria, required documents, and application timelines are provided on the school’s scholarship page.
Waitlist
Waitlist
The school does not publicly state that it operates a waitlist or pool system.
Waitlist
The school does not publicly disclose the use of a waitlist or pool system.
