The American School - Ho Chi Minh City vs The Canadian International School
The American School - Ho Chi Minh City and The Canadian International School are both in Ho Chi Minh City, about 10 km apart. Both schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) and IB programmes. The American School - Ho Chi Minh City also offers American, and The Canadian International School also offers Canadian. Published annual fees are ₫239,800,000 - 532,600,000 at The American School - Ho Chi Minh City and ₫531,600,000 - 804,000,000 at The Canadian International School, which puts The Canadian International School roughly 73% higher. The American School - Ho Chi Minh City takes pupils from 1 to 18, and The Canadian International School from 6 to 18. The Canadian International School is the larger school, with around 1,700 pupils to The American School - Ho Chi Minh City's 575. Typical class sizes are 15 at The American School - Ho Chi Minh City and 21 at The Canadian International School.
American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), IB (PYP), IB (DP)
Curriculum
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), Canadian Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
575
Pupils
1,700
Typical class size
Typical class size
15
Typical class size
21
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2010
Opened
2009
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
06 Song Hanh Road, Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Freeway, Binh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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
Pre-Nursery to Grade 12 (Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, High School)
Stages
The school provides education from elementary through to high school.
School type
School type
International 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
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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
Vietnam
Country affiliation
The school follows a Canadian curriculum model but it is not affiliated with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
School day structure
School day structure
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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
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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* - A non-refundable application fee of VND 5,800,000 is required at the time the application is submitted.
*Registration fee (one-time, non-refundable on acceptance)* - Pre‑Nursery, Nursery, Pre‑Kindergarten: VND 30,000,000. - Kindergarten and Grades 1–5: VND 40,000,000. - Grades 6–12: VND 55,000,000. - The Registration Fee must be paid within five working days of acceptance to guarantee a place.
*English as an Additional Language (EAL) support fees* - Primary EAL: VND 37,600,000 (Annual) / VND 21,600,000 (Semester). - Middle/High School EAL: VND 47,800,000 (Annual) / VND 23,900,000 (Semester).
*Other service fees — Bus (transport) (annual / semester / day and per-route registration fees listed)* - Route 01 (Thao Dien, An Phu, Binh An, Binh Khanh, Binh Trung Tay & Thu Thiem): Registration VND 13,900,000; Annual VND 8,200,000; Day VND 255,000. - Route 02 (District 2 other areas; District 9 Phuoc Long B, Binh Trung Dong): Registration VND 24,400,000; Annual VND 15,100,000; Day VND 355,000. - Route 03 (District 9 other areas; Binh Thanh; Thu Duc): Registration VND 33,600,000; Annual VND 18,600,000; Day VND 397,000. - Route 04 (Districts 1,3,4,5,7,8,10,11, Phu Nhuan, Tan Binh): Registration VND 37,100,000; Annual VND 20,900,000; Day VND 414,000. - Route 05 (Districts 6,12, Tan Phu, Binh Tan, Go Vap): Registration VND 41,700,000; Annual VND 23,200,000; Day VND 422,000. - Route 06 (Binh Duong, Bien Hoa, Long Thanh): Registration VND 53,100,000; Annual VND 31,900,000; Day VND 422,000. - Notes: 40% discount on annual bus service for second and subsequent children on the same family; one‑way service charged at 70% of the fee. New registrations or changes require notice to Admissions in advance.
*Lunch service fees (annual / day / registration where shown)* - Early Childhood (Pre‑Nursery, Nursery, Pre‑K): Registration VND 23,900,000; Annual VND 13,200,000; Day VND 145,000. ECC students receive 3 meals per day (1 lunch + 2 snacks). - Primary School (Kindergarten–Grade 5): Registration VND 25,800,000; Annual VND 15,400,000; Day VND 170,000. Primary students receive 3 meals per day. - Middle and High School: Registration VND 15,100,000; Annual VND 8,200,000; Day VND 95,000. Middle/High students receive 1 meal per day. TOP‑UP options are available. - Notice for Bus/Lunch: to terminate Bus or Lunch service, submit written notice at least 5 working days before the last day of use.
*Textbook deposit and other incidental fees* - Refundable Textbook Deposit: VND 21,000,000 per student (applies to Grades 1–12). The deposit is payable with tuition and will be refunded on withdrawal after deduction of any outstanding charges (lost/damaged textbooks, library fines, lunch/bus fees). - Additional charges not included in tuition: lunch, bus, AP exam fees, SAT exam fees, some special after‑school activities, and Week Without Walls program fees. - Additional administrative charges: extra copies of reports/transcripts/diplomas carry small fees (e.g., VND 150,000 for additional report copies; VND 250,000 for transcripts; VND 500,000 per additional diploma).
*What the tuition covers (items included in the tuition fee)* - Tuition fees include uniform (two school uniforms + one PE uniform), hat, backpack, laptop, yearbook, general school supplies, online application services, national health insurance, and accident insurance for on‑campus incidents or school‑organized trips.
*Billing schedule, payment terms and penalties* - Payment options: Annual payment or Semester payment. Annual payment is settled in advance; Semester payments are paid in advance each semester. All fees are invoiced in VND; payments originating from outside Vietnam may be accepted in USD by bank transfer at prevailing bank exchange rates. Bank transfer is the preferred method; cash or credit card payments must be pre‑arranged with the Accounting Department. Documentary proof of bank transfer must be provided. Bank account details (VND and USD accounts) are provided for fee payment. - Semester payment deposit: when choosing Semester payment, a deposit of VND 30,000,000 is required to secure placement for Semester 2; this deposit is deducted from Semester 2 fees if the student continues and is not refundable if the student does not re‑enroll for Semester 2. - Typical semester deadlines (example schedule): Semester 1 payments are due ahead of the start of Semester 1 and Semester 2 payments are due ahead of Semester 2; example dates used previously were mid‑July for Semester 1 and mid‑December for Semester 2. Late payment policy: 10 business‑day grace period; after that, interest at 0.2% per day is applied. Academic records may be withheld and the school may suspend enrolment if fees remain unpaid 20 days after the published deadline.
*Refund and withdrawal procedure* - A written Withdrawal Notification must be submitted to Admissions at least 60 working days before the student's last day. Refunds of tuition apply only to families who paid under the Annual Tuition Payment option; refunds are calculated as a percentage of the Annual Tuition Fee based on the withdrawal date and the school's published refund schedule. The Textbook Deposit refund is handled separately after deduction of any outstanding charges.
*Boarding (residential) provision* - Boarding is not provided. The school operates as a day school and offers bus transportation and lunch services rather than boarding facilities.
*Accepted payment methods and bank details (summary)* - Preferred method: bank transfer (VND accounts are standard; USD accepted for payments originating outside Vietnam). Cash and credit card payments are accepted only if pre‑arranged with the Accounting Department. Parents are responsible for any bank charges and must provide proof of transfer with the payment reference: “Tuition, student name, grade, academic year.” Bank account names, account numbers and SWIFT codes are provided for both VND and USD transfers.
*Notes on discounts and sibling policy* - Sibling discounts: 10% off the annual tuition for the second (younger) child in the same family; 25% off the annual tuition for the third (youngest) child and subsequent children. This applies to both Annual and Semester payment options.
* 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
American Curriculum with an international perspective. English is the teaching medium; EAL support is provided for students whose English is not yet strong, though EAL is not offered for Grades 10-12. For English Language Arts and Math, TAS follows Common Core Standards and Benchmarks; Science uses Next Generation Standards (Common Core Linked); Social Studies uses AERO Standards. The Early Childhood Center follows GELDS. The curriculum is organized into Early Childhood, Elementary (grades 1-5), Middle School (grades 6-8), and High School (grades 9-12). TAS is a Candidate School for the IB Primary Years Programme and is pursuing authorization for the IB Diploma Programme; annual Curriculum Guides describe course descriptions.
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.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
95% college acceptance rate. 30 national awards won. 15 scholarships awarded. 1000+ standardized test scores.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Graduates go on to universities worldwide, including Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, the University of Southern California, New York University, Harvard University, the University of Melbourne, the University of British Columbia, and UC Irvine.
1. Consultation. Schedule a meeting to discuss programs and suitability for prospective students. The consultation may include a campus visit to learn about the program options and admission requirements, helping determine fit with TAS offerings and your child's needs.
2. Required Application Documentation. Submit all necessary forms and records for the application. The required documents include the application form, the application fee, a scan of the child's passport or birth certificate or ID, a recent digital passport photo, two years of previous school records and transcripts with notarized English translations where applicable, the TAS Recommendation Form, and a completed TAS Medical Report.
3. Placement Assessment (If Applicable). A placement assessment may be required to determine the appropriate academic level based on the application materials. If living in Ho Chi Minh City, it will be conducted on campus; if living overseas, it can be arranged as a remote assessment. Assessments may include the WIDA English Language assessment and the MAP for language and math, as applicable.
4. Admission Decision. The Head of Section will provide an admissions decision based on all submitted documentation and any necessary assessments, within 3 working days provided the application fee has been submitted.
5. Enrollment. The Admissions Team will issue an official Acceptance Letter with information and links for Fee Options, Meal Plans, and Bus Registration.
6. Registration Fee. After acceptance, parents must deposit the registration fee within one week (5 working days) from receipt of the invoice to secure the place; the registration fee is non-refundable.
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
TAS provides scholarship counseling through dedicated teachers who guide students in portfolio development and application preparation. TAS students have earned over USD 200,000 in scholarships from top universities worldwide. AP courses and a U.S.-standard curriculum support scholarship applications and real-world experiences are integrated to strengthen university scholarship opportunities. Graduates have been accepted to leading universities including UC Berkeley, NYU, University of Toronto, Penn State, and the University of Sydney.
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
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Waitlist
CIS does not publicly specify an official wait-list or “pool” system in its admissions documentation.
