International Schools in Hanoi
UNIS, BIS Hanoi, Concordia, HIS, Singapore International — locations, fees, curricula and admissions reality.
Hanoi's international-school sector is smaller than HCMC's but stable. Most foreign families cluster in Tây Hồ or Long Biên, which is largely a function of where the schools are.
The schools that matter
| School | Curriculum | Location | Annual fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNIS Hanoi (United Nations International School) | IB (PYP, MYP, DP) | Phú Thượng, Tây Hồ | $25,000–40,000 |
| BIS Hanoi (British International School) | English National + IGCSE + IB DP | Vinhomes Riverside, Long Biên | $19,000–36,000 |
| Concordia International School | American + AP | Vinhomes Riverside, Long Biên | $22,000–38,000 |
| HIS (Hanoi International School) | IB PYP/MYP, IGCSE, IB DP | Tây Hồ (Liễu Giai) | $18,000–32,000 |
| St Paul American School | American | Mỹ Đình | $14,000–25,000 |
| Singapore International (SIS) | Singapore + Cambridge | Vạn Phúc, Ciputra | $13,000–22,000 |
| Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin | French | Long Biên | $8,000–18,000 |
| Deutsche Schule Hanoi | German | Long Biên | $10,000–20,000 |
| Wellspring International | Bilingual, Cambridge | Tây Hồ, Long Biên | $7,000–13,000 |
| Vinschool (multiple) | Vietnamese + strong English | Many | $5,000–10,000 |
The Top Three for expat families
- UNIS Hanoi — the most established (since 1988), IB throughout, diverse student body, premium fee, deepest UN-and-NGO family network.
- BIS Hanoi — Nord Anglia, large campus, strong sports facilities, high academic standards.
- Concordia — newer (opened 2011), Lutheran (but not overtly religious), American AP track, big campus.
For non-anglophone families:
- Lycée Français for francophone families
- Deutsche Schule for German families
- SIS for Singaporean/British curriculum families on a budget
Where families live by school
| School | Practical neighbourhoods |
|---|---|
| UNIS, HIS | Tây Hồ, Ciputra (Tây Hồ outer) |
| BIS, Concordia, Lycée Français | Long Biên (Vinhomes Riverside), Tây Hồ with bus |
| St Paul | Mỹ Đình, Cầu Giấy |
UNIS is the school that anchors most western expat life in Tây Hồ. BIS / Concordia have built up Long Biên as a serious expat enclave with shorter commutes via the Long Biên / Chương Dương bridges.
Curriculum reality
- IB (UNIS, HIS upper years): rigorous, demands homework-doing parents, opens doors to global universities
- English National + IB DP (BIS): hybrid path that suits UK university trajectory
- American + AP (Concordia, St Paul): straightforward for US college applications
Fees and extras
Headline fees are the start. Budget annually per child:
| Extra | Typical |
|---|---|
| Enrolment fee (one-off) | $2,000–5,000 |
| Capital / building levy | $1,000–3,000 |
| Uniform | $400–700 |
| Lunch | $1,500–2,500 |
| Bus | $1,500–3,000 |
| Activities | $500–2,500 |
| Devices | $500–1,500 |
All-in: $35,000–55,000/yr per child at upper-tier schools by Year 10+.
Waiting lists
UNIS has the longest waiting list — 12–24 months for high-demand year groups (early primary). BIS and Concordia rolling waits of 3–12 months. HIS and SIS often have immediate places. Mid-year transfers in lower-demand years (7, 12) usually find a spot.
Pay the application fee to hold a place as soon as you know your move dates.
Air quality factor
Hanoi has serious winter air-quality issues (PM2.5 often 150–250). Schools manage this differently:
- UNIS, BIS, Concordia have indoor sports halls and air-purified classrooms
- Smaller schools may not
- During worst weeks (Nov–Mar) outdoor sport gets cancelled
Ask any school you visit about their AQI policy and indoor facilities.
Mid-tier and bilingual options
- Vinschool — VinGroup's Vietnamese-led English-strong network; high quality, $5–10k/yr, several Hanoi locations
- Wellspring International — Cambridge curriculum, Hanoi-headquartered, $7–13k/yr
- Olympia Schools — bilingual, Ba Đình area
- Genesis School — bilingual, Tây Hồ
These are sensible for families staying 5+ years where Vietnamese fluency is an asset rather than a temporary inconvenience.
Honest take
UNIS is the gold standard and feels like a small UN. BIS is the corporate British education product, very polished and reliable. Concordia is the rising challenger with great facilities. For francophone or germanophone families, the dedicated schools are obvious choices. Don't over-pay for prestige; visit three, talk to current parents, then decide.
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