The American School vs The American School - Ho Chi Minh City
The American School and The American School - Ho Chi Minh City are both in Ho Chi Minh City, about 1 km apart. Both schools offer IB, Advanced Placement (AP) and American programmes. Published annual fees are ₫131,600,000 - 397,700,000 at The American School and ₫239,800,000 - 532,600,000 at The American School - Ho Chi Minh City, which puts The American School - Ho Chi Minh City roughly 46% higher. The American School takes pupils from 1.5 to 18, and The American School - Ho Chi Minh City from 1 to 18. The American School - Ho Chi Minh City is the larger school, with around 575 pupils to The American School's 400. Typical class sizes are 20 at The American School and 15 at The American School - Ho Chi Minh City.
IB (PYP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Curriculum
American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), IB (PYP), IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
400
Pupils
575
Typical class size
Typical class size
20
Typical class size
15
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2010
Opened
2010
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The school is located at 06 Song Hanh Road, An Phu Ward (Binh Trung Ward), Thu Duc City (District 2), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is conveniently placed beside the HCM–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway, offering straightforward access from central districts while being in a quieter residential-area of the city.
Location
06 Song Hanh Road, Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Freeway, Binh Trung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Stages
Stages
TAS educates students from 18 months to Grade 12, divided into four main divisions:
Early Childhood Center (Pre-Nursery to Kindergarten, ages 18 months–5 years) Elementary School (Grades 1–5) Middle School (Grades 6–8) High School (Grades 9–12, including Advanced Placement courses)
Stages
Pre-Nursery to Grade 12 (Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, High School)
School type
School type
TAS is a co-educational day school.
School type
International school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
TAS offers support for students with mild learning differences. Specialized teachers collaborate with classroom staff to adapt lessons and provide targeted help. Individualized Education Plans may be developed to meet specific student needs. The school advises families to discuss additional learning requirements during the admissions process to ensure appropriate support can be provided.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school follows an American-style curriculum and is affiliated with the U.S. model of education, but it is an independent international school in Vietnam.
Country affiliation
Vietnam
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school does not have any religious affiliations.
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The school day runs from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. for Early Childhood and Elementary students, and 7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Middle and High School students. Students have designated morning snack and lunch breaks, with meals served in the school cafeteria.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
TAS provides a bus service that covers several residential areas across Ho Chi Minh City. Each route is supervised by trained bus monitors to ensure student safety, and attendance is checked during pick-up and drop-off. Families can register for transportation on a term basis, with route information and fees communicated directly to parents.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fee An Application Fee of VND 18,000,000 is required when submitting an application form. This fee includes any mandatory assessments. It is deducted from the tuition payment if the student enrolls. It is refundable only if the student does not pass the placement test, but non-refundable if the student passes and chooses not to enroll.
Registration Fee A non-refundable Registration Fee is payable within five working days of acceptance. It is a one-time payment confirming the student’s place. The amount varies by division: VND 30,000,000 for Early Childhood, VND 40,000,000 for Elementary, and VND 55,000,000 for Middle and High School.
Tuition Fees (Annual / Semester)
* Early Childhood: From VND 239,800,000 (Pre-Nursery) to VND 295,100,000 (Pre-Kindergarten) per year. * Elementary: From VND 330,400,000 (Kindergarten) to VND 540,500,000 (Grade 5) per year. * Middle School:VND 602,400,000 (Grades 6–8) per year. * High School: From VND 668,200,000 (Grades 9–10) to VND 723,500,000 (Grades 11–12) per year. * English as an Additional Language (EAL):VND 37,600,000–47,800,000 per year depending on level.
Tuition is billed by semester or annually.
Other Costs
* Bus Service: Annual fees range from VND 13,900,000 (Thao Dien/An Phu route) to VND 53,100,000 (Binh Duong/Bien Hoa/Long Thanh route). A 40% sibling discount applies to the second child. * Lunch Fee: Annual meal plans range from VND 15,100,000 (Middle/High School) to VND 25,800,000 (Primary). * Uniforms and materials are additional costs, billed separately.
Refunds and Payment Terms Refunds apply only as stated under application conditions. Payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card. Families may choose annual or semester billing.
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.
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
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The American School (TAS) follows a U.S.-based curriculum aligned with American Education Reaches Out (AERO) and Common Core standards. The program spans from Early Childhood through Grade 12, emphasizing academic, creative, and personal development across all stages. In Elementary School, students study core subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies alongside Art, Music, Physical Education, and World Languages. Middle School builds on these foundations through an integrated approach that prepares students for advanced study. In High School, students work toward a U.S. High School Diploma and may take Advanced Placement (AP) courses in subjects such as English, Mathematics, Sciences, and World Languages. Instruction is delivered entirely in English, with additional support for English language learners and courses in French, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Studies.
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.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
95% college acceptance rate. 30 national awards won. 15 scholarships awarded. 1000+ standardized test scores.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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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 Families begin by scheduling a consultation with the Admissions Office to discuss available programs, grade placement, and the child’s suitability for TAS. This step helps determine whether the school’s curriculum and support services align with the student’s needs.
2. Required Application Documentation Parents must submit all completed application forms, previous school records, copies of the student’s passport or ID, and other requested documents. The application is only reviewed once all materials are received.
3. Placement Assessment (if applicable) Students may be required to complete an academic or English language assessment to determine the most suitable grade level and any additional learning support needs. This step ensures accurate placement within TAS programs.
4. Admission Decision Once documentation and assessments are reviewed, families receive a formal admission decision. If accepted, the school provides written confirmation and details about enrollment procedures and payment deadlines.
5. Enrollment Parents confirm their child’s place by completing the enrollment form and submitting the signed agreement. At this stage, families receive orientation and academic year information.
6. Registration Fee To finalize enrollment, families must pay the non-refundable Registration Fee, which confirms the student’s placement and allows for an official start date.
Admissions
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.
Scholarships
Scholarships
TAS does not list formal scholarship or financial aid programs on its official website. However, the school occasionally promotes scholarship or tuition discount opportunities through its official social media channels, typically tied to specific academic years or special initiatives. These offers vary by year and are announced directly through official communications rather than a standing scholarship program.
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.
Waitlist
Waitlist
TAS does not publicly state that it operates a waitlist or pool system.
