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.
Related
Summary
Hanoi's nine major international schools (UNIS, BIS, Concordia, HIS, SIS and others) serve expat families with IB, American, British, and French curricula. Annual fees range from $7,000 (Lycée Français, bilingual) to $40,000 (UNIS), with all-in costs hitting $35,000–55,000/yr once extras (bus, lunch, activities) are factored in. Most families cluster in Tây Hồ (UNIS, HIS proximity) or Long Biên (BIS, Concordia via Vinhomes Riverside), because distance and waiting lists (12–24 months for UNIS; 3–12 for tier-two schools) shape residential choice.
Process at a glance
- Identify your curriculum preference — IB (global, rigorous: UNIS, HIS), British (UK uni track: BIS), American (US college: Concordia, St Paul), French/German (heritage: Lycée Français, Deutsche Schule), or bilingual/Vietnamese-strong (Vinschool, Wellspring).
- Check waiting lists and timelines — apply 6–12 months ahead if aiming for UNIS or BIS; smaller schools (SIS, HIS, St Paul) often have rolling admissions.
- Tour three schools, talk to parents — visit during school hours, ask about air-quality protocols (critical Nov–Mar), sports facilities, and grade-progression pathways.
- Budget the full cost — calculate headline fee + enrolment ($2–5k), bus ($1.5–3k), lunch ($1.5–2.5k), uniforms, activities, and devices; factor $35–55k/yr for top-tier by secondary.
- Lock in your neighbourhood — if Tây Hồ (UNIS hub) or Long Biên (BIS/Concordia), secure housing early; both have strong expat infrastructure but can feel crowded.
Cost breakdown
| Line | Indicative cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Annual tuition (mid-tier schools) | $15,000–32,000 |
| Enrolment, capital levy, uniforms | $4,000–9,000 (one-off + annual) |
| Bus, lunch, activities, devices | $5,000–9,000 |
| All-in annual (per child) | $24,000–50,000 |
Top-tier schools (UNIS, BIS, Concordia) cluster at $35–55k/yr for Year 7+. Mid-tier (HIS, SIS, St Paul, Wellspring) range $18–28k. Budget differently if staying 1–2 years (skip activities, smaller tuition sacrifice) versus 5+ (invest in curriculum continuity, bilingual advantage). Enrolment fees are non-refundable; many schools require advance term payment.
Common pitfalls
- Underestimating waiting lists — UNIS families report 18–24 month waits; locking a place by application fee ($500–1,500) within 6 months of move date is essential.
- Ignoring air quality when choosing a school — Hanoi's PM2.5 peaks Nov–Mar; schools without indoor sports halls or robust AQI cancellation policies leave families stranded during winter smog; ask explicitly.
- Picking prestige over fit — UNIS is gold-standard but overtly international/UN-heavy; Concordia newer and equally rigorous; BIS corporate-polished; visiting current classrooms and speaking to parents matters more than rankings.
- Not budgeting transport costs — bus fees ($1.5–3k/yr) plus taxis to extra activities pile fast; Tây Hồ/Long Biên location choice cuts commute time by 30–45 min/day.
- Switching schools mid-year — Year 7 and Year 12 have the fewest vacancies; mid-year moves in Years 2–6 or 8–11 easier; curriculum misalignment (IB to American) costs re-sits.
Official resources
- Ministry of Education & Training, Hanoi branch — Vietnamese regulations on international school operations and exemptions.
- UNIS Hanoi official — admissions calendar, curriculum overview, and prospective-family contact.
- BIS Hanoi official — Nord Anglia network, IGCSE/IB pathways, enrolment fees.
Verify before acting. Rules change. Confirm with a qualified Vietnamese adviser before relying on any specific detail.
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