Kindergartens and Preschools in Vietnam

Preschool in Vietnam runs from around 18 months to age 5–6, when formal Year 1 begins. The market has three tiers: Vietnamese mầm non (200–500 USD/mo), bilingual (500–1,000), and international (800–1,500).

The three tiers

Vietnamese mầm non

State-funded or private Vietnamese-language preschools. Strong on routine, social skills, basic literacy and numeracy. Pros:

• Cheap
• Your child learns Vietnamese fast
• Real local integration

Cons:

• All-Vietnamese teachers, communication via Zalo group
• Lunch is rice-based (which may or may not bother your kid)
• Curriculum is rote-leaning
• Naptime culturally enforced; not a problem for most kids

Best for: long-term expats with Vietnamese spouse or genuine intent to stay.

Bilingual preschools (the expat sweet spot)

Most expat families end up here. Daily English + Daily Vietnamese, often Western-trained head teachers, Vietnamese assistants, kid-focused facilities.

HCMC popular options:

• Saigon Star International (D2 area) — Cambridge curriculum, primary-flow
• The American School Early Years (multiple branches)
• Vinschool kindergarten (VinGroup network, multiple HCMC locations)
• EMASI kindergarten (D7, Nam Long)
• Sakura Montessori (multiple HCMC + Hanoi locations) — Montessori bilingual
• KinderWorld / SIS (Singaporean-led, several branches)
• Lulla Day Care / Apple Tree / 5 Senses — mid-tier bilingual

Hanoi popular options:

• Sakura Montessori Hanoi (multiple branches)
• KinderWorld / SIS Hanoi
• Vinschool kindergarten (multiple)
• Wellspring Kindergarten (Tây Hồ, Hai Bà Trưng)
• Genesis Kindergarten (Tây Hồ)
• Maple Bear (Canadian curriculum bilingual)

Fees typically $500–900/month including lunch and snacks.

Full international preschools

Feeders to BIS/ISHCMC/SSIS/UNIS/Concordia. Strong English-only environment, IB PYP or English/American curriculum from age 3.

• BIS HCMC Early Years (An Phú)
• ISHCMC Early Years (An Phú)
• SSIS Early Years (D7)
• UNIS Hanoi Early Years (Tây Hồ)
• Concordia Early Childhood (Long Biên)

Fees: $12,000–22,000/year (i.e. $1,000–1,800/mo).

Useful if you intend to feed straight into the same school for primary. Slight premium for guaranteed primary place.

What to actually look for

Beyond curriculum brochures:

1. Indoor and outdoor play space — Vietnam's heat and air quality means real indoor space matters
2. Air filtration — particularly Hanoi. Ask to see filters and air quality monitors
3. Lunch quality — see the menu, taste the food
4. Teacher turnover — ask how long the head teacher and class teachers have been there
5. Class size and ratios — 1:5 to 1:8 reasonable for under-3s; 1:8 to 1:12 for 3–5s
6. Pick-up flexibility — full day vs half day vs extended day options
7. Sick-day policy — what counts as too-sick-to-attend?
8. Mandarin / 3rd language? — bonus for long-term families
9. Parent communication app — Class Dojo, Famly, etc.

Hours and meals

Typical bilingual full-day: 7:30am–4:30pm, including lunch and afternoon nap. Extended pickup to 5:30 or 6pm at small additional cost. Half-day option at most.

Lunch + snacks included. Bring milk for under-2s. Most kindergartens provide bottled water and fruit afternoon snack.

Vaccinations and health

Schools require:

• Up-to-date vaccination record (Vietnamese book or foreign equivalent)
• Health declaration form
• Often a recent paediatric checkup

The Vietnamese national vaccine programme covers tuberculosis, hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, rubella, etc. Many expat parents add private vaccines (varicella, hepatitis A, meningococcal, HPV later) at Vinmec, FV or Family Medical.

Waiting lists and admissions

• Bilingual tier: usually rolling admission, 1–3 months wait for popular branches
• International feeders (BIS, ISHCMC, UNIS, Concordia): 6–12+ months
• Vietnamese tier: easy to get in, but quality varies enormously branch to branch

Visit at least three before signing. Lunch service is when classes show their true character.

Honest take

For expat families staying 1–3 years, a bilingual at $500–900/mo gives the best mix of English-medium learning, social integration and budget. Full international Early Years makes sense only if your child is going to that group's primary school. The Vietnamese-only route is excellent for long-term families and produces kids with proper Vietnamese fluency — a real long-term asset.

Related

• Schools by age decision tree
• International schools in HCMC
• International schools in Hanoi
• Child healthcare and vaccines

Summary

Kindergarten and preschool in Vietnam spans ages 18 months to 5–6, with three distinct market tiers: Vietnamese-language state or private mầm non (USD 150–400/month), bilingual programs (USD 400–900/month), and full international feeders (USD 1,000–1,800/month). The choice has profound implications for language development, social integration, and family stability during expat tenure, making preschool selection one of the highest-leverage education decisions families make.

Process at a glance

1. Assess your tenure — Staying 1–3 years? Bilingual sweet spot. Staying 5+ years? Vietnamese full-immersion gains long-term fluency. Short-term (under 1 year) or guaranteeing international primary? Full international.
2. Visit 3+ schools — See lunch service, air quality, teacher tenure, class ratios, and outdoor/indoor facilities in person. Brochures lie; lunch service reveals truth.
3. Get on waiting lists early — Bilingual: 1–3 months typical. International feeders (BIS, ISHCMC, UNIS, Concordia): 6–12+ months.
4. Confirm health/vaccination requirements — Book paediatric checkup, ensure vaccination records (Vietnamese book or foreign equivalent), prepare health declaration form.
5. Negotiate hours and fees — Full-day vs half-day, extended pickup availability, lunch/snacks inclusion, and potential third-language add-ons (Mandarin).

Cost breakdown

Bilingual preschools dominate the expat market because they deliver English-medium learning, local language exposure, and reasonable fees in a single package. Full international makes sense only if feeding directly into that school's primary; the premium largely evaporates in K–12 total-cost-of-ownership if you switch systems later. Vietnamese-only tier is financially optimal but requires parental Vietnamese fluency or genuine long-term commitment; kids achieve native-level Vietnamese fluency within 12–18 months, a durable asset for future returnees.

Common pitfalls

• Ignoring air quality and filtration — Hanoi's winter AQI regularly exceeds 200; schools without visible HEPA systems or real-time monitors expose toddlers to harmful particulates. Ask to see filters and request air quality readings.
• Signing based on brochure curriculum alone — International accreditation and fancy PYP frameworks mean little if teacher turnover is high (under 1 year), class sizes exceed 1:12 under-5s, or lunch is poor-quality. Lunch service is your honesty window.
• Underestimating waiting lists for feeders — If your heart is set on BIS or ISHCMC primary, you must pre-enrol Early Years 6–12 months prior; "waitlist then apply to primary" rarely works; slots fill by December for the following September.
• Choosing Vietnamese-only without language preparation — If you don't speak Vietnamese and your child's school sends Zalo messages only in Vietnamese, communication breaks down. Hire a part-time translator or partner with a Vietnamese-fluent parent or nanny.
• Neglecting vaccination gaps — Vietnamese national programme covers basics (TB, Hep B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, rubella) but excludes varicella, Hep A, meningococcal, and HPV. Many international schools expect or recommend these; budget for top-ups at Vinmec or FV Hospital.

Official resources

• Vietnamese Ministry of Education & Training (Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo) — Preschool Standards — National curriculum, health & safety, and teacher qualification requirements.
• SEOYO (Southeast Asia Overseas Young Observers) — Expat Family Guide — Independent reviews and community-vetted school feedback.
• Vietnam Healthcare: Immunisation Schedule — Vinmec reference for mandatory and recommended vaccines.

Verify before acting. Rules change. Confirm with a qualified Vietnamese adviser before relying on any specific detail.