Cities / Hanoi / Hanoi International School
Hanoi International School
The original IB World School in Hanoi, founded in 1996 on Lieu Giai Street in Ba Dinh, central and walkable from much of the inner city expat residential ring.
In brief
The original IB World School in Hanoi, founded in 1996 on Lieu Giai Street in Ba Dinh, central and walkable from much of the inner-city expat residential ring.
Around 300 students from PreK to Grade 12, with all three IB programmes authorised: PYP in primary, MYP in Grades 6 to 10 and the Diploma in Grades 11 and 12. CIS and NEASC accredited since 2013. Sport runs through the Mekong River International Schools Association circuit.
The community feel is the genuine differentiator. Small classes, teachers who know every family by name, and a central location that means parents can actually walk children to school rather than putting them on a forty-minute bus. Sixth Form subject choices are limited and cohorts in upper years are smaller than at UNIS or BIS, so families with very specific subject combinations or competitive sport ambitions often look elsewhere by Grade 9.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten 2 | 4 | ₫418,400,000 |
| Kindergarten 3 | 5 | ₫418,400,000 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | ₫590,000,000 |
| Grade 2 | 7 | ₫590,000,000 |
| Grade 3 | 8 | ₫590,000,000 |
| Grade 4 | 9 | ₫600,000,000 |
| Grade 5 | 10 | ₫600,000,000 |
| Grade 6 | 11 | ₫649,000,000 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | ₫649,000,000 |
| Grade 8 | 13 | ₫649,000,000 |
| Grade 9 | 14 | ₫705,000,000 |
| Grade 10 | 15 | ₫705,000,000 |
| Grade 11 | 16 | ₫767,000,000 |
| Grade 12 | 17 | ₫767,000,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance Test Fee (non-refundable) | ₫5,000,000 | |
| Enrolment Fee (non-refundable) | ₫26,000,000 | |
| Security Deposit (refundable) | ₫50,000,000 |
Reviews
- Hanoi International School is repeatedly placed in Hanoi's tier two by teacher and expat commenters, behind UNIS and Concordia. The cohort is mixed and the IB continuum is the draw.
- Teacher-side commentary is split. One described the school as "chill, free, breezy" while also calling it "a bit of a dumpster fire in many ways." The school is small and not seen as a major employer in the city.
- Parent reviews on aggregator pages and the school's own community describe a tight-knit, family-style environment with a long-serving principal and an active PTA.
- Recurring concern is breadth and scale. Reviewers note small facilities, limited specialist provision compared with larger international schools, and a hiring season in early 2024 with significant secondary openings and leadership change in middle and high school.
- Public parent-voice signal is thin in English. Most online discussion comes from the teacher recruitment circuit rather than families.
Positives
- community feel. Long-serving principal, active PTA and a family-style atmosphere are recurring positives in directory and aggregator reviews.
Considerations
- tier and positioning. Consistently grouped in Hanoi's tier two behind UNIS and Concordia; small school within an IB continuum.
- scale and facilities. Reviewers note the school is small with fewer facilities than larger Hanoi competitors.
- secondary staffing. A hiring season with notable middle and high school openings and leadership change drew teacher-forum attention in early 2024.
Leadership
Bradley Ringrose
Bradley Ringrose has been involved in education for twenty years, with thirteen years in an IB school and six years at HIS. He emphasizes community, inclusivity, and excellence in education, fostering a supportive environment for students to reach their full potential.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02