Saigon South International School (SSIS) vs The Canadian International School
Saigon South International School (SSIS) and The Canadian International School are both in Ho Chi Minh City, about 2 km apart. Both schools offer IB and Advanced Placement (AP) programmes. Saigon South International School (SSIS) also offers American and Bespoke, and The Canadian International School also offers Canadian. Published annual fees are close, at ₫479,212,000 - 882,200,000 for Saigon South International School (SSIS) and ₫531,600,000 - 804,000,000 for The Canadian International School. Saigon South International School (SSIS) takes pupils from 3 to 18, and The Canadian International School from 6 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 1,500 and 1,700 pupils. Typical class sizes are 14 at Saigon South International School (SSIS) and 21 at The Canadian International School.
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Curriculum
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), Canadian Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
1,500
Pupils
1,700
Typical class size
Typical class size
14
Typical class size
21
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1997
Opened
2009
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
SSIS is located at 78 Nguyen Duc Canh, Tân Hưng Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The campus is in the Phú Mỹ Hưng residential zone, a well-planned neighbourhood with lakes, green spaces and local amenities, and is approximately 20 minutes by car from the city centre.
Location
CIS is located at No 7, Road 23, Tân Mỹ Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The school’s site is in the Phú Mỹ Hưng residential and business area, with access via several major bus routes serving District 7 and linking to central parts of the city. Public transit stops within a short walk of the school.
Stages
Stages
The school serves Early Childhood (starting at age 3) through to Grade 12. It is organised into divisions encompassing Early Years/Kindergarten, Elementary (Grades 1–5), Middle School (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–12).
Stages
The school provides education from elementary through to high school.
School type
School type
SSIS is a co-educational day school.
School type
CIS is co-educational (boys and girls attend). It presents itself as a day school. They do mention boarding in their fee schedule, but there is no other information available.
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 Learning Support services for students with mild to moderate learning differences, working with parents and teachers to develop individual learning plans. It also offers English as an Additional Language (EAL) support for multilingual learners.
Additional learning support
CIS has a “Student Support Services” section which mentions learning support and counselling to assist students with their academic and personal development.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
There is no formal affiliation to a particular national government. SSIS operates as a not-for-profit international school based in Vietnam, following an American standards-based curriculum.
Country affiliation
The school follows a Canadian curriculum model but it is not affiliated with any country.
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 published times are not detailed on the school's website.
School day structure
The website indicates there is a full daily programme including academic classes, co-curricular activities, breaks and lunch, but specific start and end times for the school day are not publicly published.
Bus service details
Bus service details
SSIS provides a bus service for students. Each bus has an assigned monitor to ensure students board and alight safely. For after-school activities (ASAs), special bus departures are scheduled (for example at 4:10 pm and 4:40 pm) with an extra charge for ASA-only riders.
Bus service details
The Canadian International School offers a daily bus service for students across Ho Chi Minh City. Families can register for the service through the school office, and routes are organized to cover major residential areas, particularly within and around District 7. Details about pickup locations and fees are provided in the school’s transportation guidelines and annual fee schedule.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
* Application Fee: VND 10,000,000 (one-time, non-refundable, per new student). * Registration Fee: VND 60,000,000 (one-time, non-refundable, per new student, also applies to returning students re-enrolling after one or more years).
Enrollment Deposit
* Deposit: VND 45,000,000. * Payable upon signing the Letter of Acceptance (new students). * Deducted from the tuition invoice (from full payment or Q4 installment). * Refundable if a Departure Notice is given at least 60 days before leaving.
* Quarterly Installments: All installments are non-refundable. * Late enrollment: Tuition charged pro-rata (100%, 85%, 60%, 35% depending on entry quarter). * Refunds: Departure > 60 days = partial refund based on quarter (60% in Q1 → 0% in Q4). * Sibling Discount: 20% for third and subsequent children in the same family.
Other Costs Families cover uniforms, lunches, personal supplies, AP & IB exam fees, extracurriculars (athletics, VEX Robotics, debate, performing arts), and bus transport. Students in Grades 4–12 must bring a MacBook.
Payment Options Payments can be made via Vietcombank (Nam Sai Gon Branch) or Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) in VND or USD. All bank charges are borne by the payer, and an exchange rate applies to foreign currency transfers.
* Grades 1–3: VND 531,600,000 per year * Grades 4–5: VND 559,600,000 per year * Grades 6–8: VND 611,000,000 per year * Grade 9: VND 677,700,000 per year * Grade 10: VND 679,300,000 per year * Grade 11: VND 720,000,000 per year * Grade 12: VND 804,000,000 per year Students enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12) pay an additional VND 20,000,000 per year. The annual tuition includes access to textbooks (except IB), accident insurance, and clubs but excludes uniforms and excursions.
Billing and Payment Terms
* Discounts for early payment: 10% , 7%, or 5% depending on the date. * Tuition may also be adjusted for mid-year entry; later entry months pay between 20–100 % of annual fees, depending on the start date.
Boarding Fees (not much information available).
* VND 180,000,000 per year
Other Fees
* Vietnamese after-school class: VND 19,000,000 per year. * English Language Support (ELL): VND 50,000,000 per year. * Meal fees: To be announced. * Bus fees: Calculated by optimized routes.
Refund Policy Refunds depend on withdrawal date and advance notice. Up to 100 % of tuition (minus the reservation fee) is refunded before the school year starts with 60 days’ notice, decreasing to 15 % for withdrawals before a certain date.
Payment Options Payments are accepted via bank transfer. Families are advised to pay before stated deadlines to qualify for discounts and maintain enrollment.
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
Teaching and learning at SSIS follow an American-standards based framework across Early Childhood through Grade 12, emphasising inquiry, student engagement and critical thinking. In the Elementary School, a written curriculum provides integrated “Super Units” that connect subjects such as English, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Arts and Vietnamese, while specialist teachers support subjects like Visual Art, Drama, Music and Physical Education. In Middle School, students move into discipline-based classes, expanding their study of modern world languages, mathematics, science and humanities. In High School (Grades 9-12), students can pursue the high school diploma pathway with a choice of Advanced Placement (AP) courses or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) alongside the SSIS Diploma. The program of studies shows that students earn credits by subject area and can select pathways that match their future study plans.
Curriculum details
CIS offers the Ontario Curriculum from Kindergarten through to Grade 12, ensuring consistency through the elementary and lower secondary years. In Grades 9-10 the Ontario programme continues, with optional Advanced Placement (AP) courses available. In Grades 11-12 students may choose the full IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) or IB Course Certificates, and also complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) pathway. The curriculum integrates key elements such as inquiry-based learning, metacognition and student voice across all years. This blended model provides students with recognized qualifications and multiple pathways to higher education.
1. Inquiry and Application Submission Families begin by completing the online application form and uploading all required documents. An application fee of VND 10,000,000 is payable at this stage. Applicants in Early Childhood to Kindergarten complete a developmental observation, while Grades 1–12 complete written assessments in English and mathematics.
2. Assessment and Interview Following the initial review, students may be invited for additional testing or an interview to determine English proficiency and overall readiness. The Admissions Office evaluates prior school records, assessment results, and whether the school can meet the student’s learning needs.
3. Decision and Offer After review, applicants may receive an offer of admission, be placed on the waiting list, or be declined. Accepted families receive a formal Letter of Acceptance, which must be signed and returned along with a completed health form.
4. Payment and Enrollment To secure a place, families must pay the required enrollment deposit and tuition (or first installment) by the due dates listed in the fee schedule. All payments must be completed before the student’s first day of class.
5. Orientation and Start New students and parents are invited to attend orientation sessions before the start of the academic year in August. Middle and High School students also meet with a counselor to confirm course selections and discuss academic planning.
6. Rolling Admissions Applications are accepted year-round, although placement is based on space availability. Families seeking entry in August are encouraged to begin the process by January of the same calendar year.
Admissions
1. Enquiry and Consultation Parents begin by contacting the school’s Admissions Office or completing the online enquiry form. The admissions team provides an overview of the curriculum, school facilities, and entry requirements, and arranges a campus tour or virtual consultation for interested families.
2. Application Submission Families submit the completed application form along with required documents, including previous school reports, copies of the student’s passport or birth certificate, health information, and any additional records requested. An application and assessment fee must be paid at this stage.
3. Assessment and Interview Applicants complete an age-appropriate entrance assessment to evaluate academic readiness and English proficiency. Depending on the grade level, an interview may also be conducted with the student and parents to understand their educational goals and background.
4. Offer of Placement Successful applicants receive a formal Letter of Offer confirming grade placement, tuition fees, and enrolment terms. Parents are required to review and confirm acceptance within the stated time frame.
5. Registration and Payment Families confirm enrolment by signing the school’s enrolment agreement and paying the registration and reservation fees along with the first tuition installment. The school then finalises class placement and provides joining instructions.
6. Orientation and Start of School Before the academic year begins, students and parents attend an orientation session to meet teachers and learn about the school’s routines and expectations. The student then joins their class on the official start date of the term.
Scholarships
Scholarships
SSIS offers the annual Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship for one Vietnamese student entering Grade 10 who has only attended local Vietnamese schools. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years, is awarded on the basis of academic excellence, English proficiency, interest in global/international affairs and service to others. The application timeline begins in December and features a written test, group discussion and interview rounds, with winners announced in May.
Scholarships
CIS offers a “Talent Scholarship” programme (grades 6 to 11) and other transition-based scholarships covering a portion of tuition fees. The Talent Scholarship is valued at up to VND 33 billion for the 2025-2026 cycle and is open to students who demonstrate academic, artistic or sports excellence. Applicants must submit evidence of previous achievement, sit any required tests and apply by the stated deadline. Scholarship awards are applied to the tuition fee (percentage discount) and are subject to renewal conditions and school policy.
Waitlist
Waitlist
SSIS operates a wait-pool (waiting list) system. Qualified applicants whose grade level is full are placed on the waiting list until space becomes available. Admission thereafter depends on space and on the candidate meeting requirements.
Waitlist
CIS does not publicly specify an official wait-list or “pool” system in its admissions documentation.
