Cities / Saigon / The Canadian International School Vietnam
The Canadian International School Vietnam
Cognia-accredited school in District 7's Phu My Hung area offering IB Diploma and AP courses on a 39,000 sqm campus built with a US$46 million investment. Tuition for 2026-2027 runs from 367 million VND in pre-school to 865 million VND…
In brief
CIS is the only school in Vietnam delivering the Ontario curriculum from kindergarten through Grade 12, with a 39,000 square metre Phu My Hung campus and a dual-track Ontario or IB Diploma at the senior end.
Established in March 2009 by Khoi Nguyen Education with advisory support from the District School Board of Niagara, CIS opened with 165 students in a temporary Phu My Hung site. The current 46 million dollar campus on a five-hectare District 7 plot has been in use since 2014. Around 1,500 students. CIS, COGNIA, and WASC accredited, with the IB Diploma added alongside Ontario.
Parents praise the facilities, the safety culture, and the academic preparation, and the school reports 100 percent IB graduation with average scores comfortably above the world figure. Families pick CIS for the Canadian university pipeline or for IB taught alongside Ontario, with a District 7 location that suits Phu My Hung residents better than the Thao Dien options.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| SK (Kindergarten) | 5 | Annual | ₫366,870,000 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | Annual | ₫558,180,000 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | Annual | ₫558,180,000 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | Annual | ₫558,180,000 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | Annual | ₫587,580,000 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | Annual | ₫587,580,000 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | Annual | ₫641,550,000 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | Annual | ₫641,550,000 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | Annual | ₫641,550,000 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | Annual | ₫711,585,000 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | Annual | ₫713,265,000 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | Annual | ₫777,000,000 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | Annual | ₫865,200,000 |
| Assessment Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | ₫3,500,000 | |
| Reservation Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | ₫20,000,000 | |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | ₫35,000,000 |
Reviews
- Teachers consistently rank CIS Vietnam below the District 7 top tier in Ho Chi Minh City, placing it with second-tier schools rather than UNIS Hanoi or the established British / American options.
- A 2024 r/Internationalteachers post by a current staff member said morale was hit by the appointment of a new high-school principal coming from AISVN, citing alleged unpaid teachers and stripped benefits at the previous school.
- A 2023 thread asks why the school posts so many vacancies and whether high turnover is a red flag, with multiple responders telling the poster to look elsewhere.
- An ISR thread going back to 2013 reported that an earlier 2010 review was "not that great" and that little had improved by then; that historic reputation still shows up in current Reddit comments.
- The school's own counter-points centre on the Ontario curriculum delivered Kindergarten to Grade 12, the partnership with the Toronto District School Board since 2014, and the substantial Phu My Hung campus; parent voices in those channels are positive but largely promotional.
Head of school
Dr. Chandra McGowan
Dr. Chandra McGowan is the Head of School at the Canadian International School (CIS). With extensive experience in international education, she is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment that encourages academic excellence and personal growth among students.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- Cognia 02
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 03
Academic results
- Accreditation Cognia accredited
- Programmes IB Diploma and AP courses, plus Ontario-based curriculum through secondary
Location
No. 7, Road 23, Zone A, Phu My Hung City Centre, Tan My Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City