The Guide
Sat, 16 May 2026

Cities / Hanoi / St Paul American School Hanoi

St Paul American School Hanoi

American AP-curriculum school opened in 2011 in Splendora, Hoai Duc, set on 15 acres 10km west of the city centre. Accredited by Cognia and EARCOS, with a university placement record including Cornell, Yale, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, and KAIST. Fees…


Curriculum
American, AP
Fees, annual
VND 666000–778000k
Ages
6 to 18
Pupils
~300
Founded
2011

A Grade 1-12 American-curriculum school founded in 2011 and now on a Splendora campus in Hoai Duc, west of central Hanoi. Around 530 students from over 20 countries, Cognia and MOET accredited.

Started in the VEAM Building in Tay Ho with 50 students before moving to the An Khanh Splendora community in 2015. Dr Myong Hwan Eiselstein leads. AP courses run through the high school. The cohort skews international with strong Korean representation and a steady mix of expat and local families.

Parent voice splits more sharply here than at most Hanoi schools. Families who like it praise the diversity, the support for non-native English speakers and the academic outcomes for stronger students. Critical voices cluster around administration and the parent-teacher relationship, with some teacher-side commentary about pay and the constraints of the site. The Hoai Duc location is a notable factor: a useful fit for families on the western corridor, more of a haul from Tay Ho or the Old Quarter.


Fee Age Type Amount
Elementary Grades 1-5 6 Annual ₫666,000,000
Middle School Grades 6-8 11 Annual ₫778,000,000
High School Grades 9-12 14 Annual ₫777,130,000
Application / Assessment Fee (non-refundable) One-time ₫4,220,000
Enrollment Fee (paid with first tuition) One-time ₫22,100,000

  • Teachers and ex-teachers describe the school as a credible licensed-teacher employer in Hanoi, often grouped with UNIS and Hanoi International School in expat threads.
  • One former teacher recounted heavy turnover early on, including a principal fired during the Christmas holiday, and noted the school began as Vietnam American International School in 2011 before rebranding.
  • Parent feedback splits: positive reviews mention a bright west-Hanoi campus, supportive teachers, strong AP and college placements; one parent flags discrimination concerns, alleging preferential treatment of Vietnamese and Korean students and unequal handling of single-parent and mixed-race families.
  • Korean expat families report the school works for them, citing diversity exposure alongside heritage-language maintenance.
  • One ex-teacher said early leadership 'clashed with how to run a proper school,' a recurring theme in older posts.

Head of school

Dr. Myong Hwan ‘Moo’ Eiselstein

Dr. Myong Hwan “Moo” Eiselstein is the Executive Director for St. Paul American School Hanoi. Originally from Virginia, USA, he has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Education in Elementary Literacy, an Education Specialist in Leadership, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership. Dr. Moo's professional background includes serving as an elementary teacher before transitioning into administrative leadership as an Elementary Principal, High School Principal, and Executive Director.

Accreditations

  • Cognia 01
  • VN_MOET 02

  • Average AP Score 2025 4.15

New Urban Splendora, Km10+600 Thang Long Highway, Son Dong, Hoai Duc District, Hanoi

School website