Last updated: November 2026 · By Jay, a Korean dad who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for about 10 years
We have been raising two kids in Ho Chi Minh City for most of the last decade, and the question friends ask us most is simple: how much do international schools here actually cost? For the 2026-27 school year, tuition at the four schools below runs from about VND 246.5 million (around $9,400) for the youngest classes to VND 999.3 million (about $38,000) for the final years, and most schools raised fees by 3-6% compared with last year.
This guide compares BIS, ISHCMC, SSIS and AIS using the fee schedules the schools published for 2026-27, as reported by VnExpress International and Tuoi Tre News. We do not say which school our own kids attend, and nobody paid us to write this.
Quick answer
- Most expensive: British International School (BIS), up to VND 999.3 million a year for Years 12-13.
- Close second: International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC), up to VND 987.8 million for Grade 12.
- Lower primary fees of the four: Australian International School (AIS), from about VND 597 million in primary.
- Not included in tuition at most schools: application and registration fees, deposits, lunch, school bus and exam fees.
2026-27 tuition at a glance (VND million per year)
| School | Early years | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIS HCMC (British) | 246.5 – 521 | 679.9 – 759.6 | 875.6 – 999.3 |
| ISHCMC (IB continuum) | 287.4 – 702.4 | 702.4 – 769.6 | 874.9 – 987.8 |
| SSIS (American, with AP and IB) | 530 – 603.2 | 730.8 | 782.6 – 924.5 |
| AIS | 311.9 – 322.2 | 597.1 – 689.8 | 749.6 – 908 |
Source: school fee schedules for 2026-27 as compiled by VnExpress International (June 20, 2026). Figures are the annual amount when you pay the full year up front.
What that means in US dollars
At roughly 26,300 dong to the dollar, the top of the range is about $38,000 a year. Tuoi Tre News (August 26, 2026) gives a few useful reference points:
- BIS: Year 2 (the age of Grade 1 in Vietnam) is VND 739.8 million, about $28,400. Years 12 and 13 are VND 999.3 million, about $38,000.
- ISHCMC: Grade 1 is VND 702.4 million (about $26,900) and Grade 12 is VND 987.8 million (about $37,900).
- SSIS: Grades 1-5 are VND 730.8 million and Grades 11-12 are VND 924.5 million. Paying in full before the discount deadline takes about 6% off.
- AIS: primary runs about VND 597-690 million and secondary about VND 750-908 million.
The one-time costs parents forget
Tuition is only part of the first-year bill. New students usually pay three extra items on top, and they add up fast:
- BIS: application fee VND 4.7 million, registration fee VND 73.3 million and a deposit of VND 24.5 million for primary and secondary.
- SSIS: application fee VND 10 million, registration fee VND 60 million and a VND 45 million deposit that is later deducted from tuition.
- ISHCMC: the school says more items are bundled into its fee than at most peers, so compare its total cost, not just the tuition line.
- Everywhere: lunch, school bus, after-school activities, uniforms and IB or A-Level exam fees are usually extra.
One more detail that catches newcomers: the published numbers assume you pay the whole year at once. Paying by term or in installments usually costs 3-6% more, so ask for both figures before you compare schools.
Which school fits which family?
Price is rarely the deciding factor on its own. In our experience, families here choose first by curriculum and university plans, then by commute, because traffic in Saigon turns a 6 km school run into a long morning very quickly.
- Planning on UK universities or A-Levels: look at BIS first.
- Want the full IB from early years to diploma: ISHCMC is the city’s longest-running IB school.
- Thinking about US universities: SSIS offers an American program with both AP and IB options.
- Want lower primary fees among these four: compare AIS, and also look at the many mid-priced schools outside this list, which start from around VND 156 million a year according to VnExpress.
A budgeting checklist before you apply
- Ask for the official 2026-27 (or next year’s) fee schedule in writing, including the installment price.
- Add application, registration and deposit fees to year one.
- Add lunch and bus for 10 months. They are priced separately at most schools.
- Assume 3-6% tuition increases every year when you plan for more than one year.
- Check sibling discounts and early-payment discounts. Rules differ by school.
- Map the commute from where you plan to live, then visit at drop-off time.
FAQ
How much are international schools in Ho Chi Minh City per year?
For 2026-27, published tuition across the city ranges from about VND 155.8 million to nearly VND 1 billion a year (about $5,900 to $38,000), depending on the school and grade. The four schools in this guide sit at the top of that range.
Do the fees include lunch and the school bus?
Usually not. Except for schools that bundle more into their fee, such as ISHCMC, meals, transport and registration are charged separately.
Do international school fees go up every year?
Almost always. Most schools in the city raised tuition by 3-6% for 2026-27, and a few froze fees. Budget for an increase every year.
When should we start looking?
A year ahead is safer. Popular year groups fill up, and fee schedules for the next school year are usually published in spring.
Our take
If you are moving to Saigon with kids, build your housing plan around the school, not the other way around, and compare first-year totals rather than tuition alone. The gap between two schools can shrink or grow by thousands of dollars once deposits, buses and lunches are added.
Sources: VnExpress International (June 20, 2026); Tuoi Tre News (August 26 and 25, 2026), as cited above. Fees change every year, so always confirm on each school’s official fee page before you decide.
About the author: Jay is a Korean dad who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for about 10 years with his wife and two kids. He writes KWaveDaily from his family’s own trips and everyday life in Vietnam.