Booking a School Tour: Questions Parents Should Prepare Before Visiting Before you book a tour of an international school for your child, do you know what you need to ask? Are 75–90 minutes at the school enough to assess the fees and your child’s learning environment? Every parent wants to avoid missing important information. This article brings together the essential questions, from the curriculum to the application process, to help you make the most of your visit and make a well-informed decision about your child’s learning journey. Why parents should visit Westlink before deciding Choosing an international school is an investment of anywhere from 500 million to over 1 billion dong a year. That decision shouldn’t rest on a website, brochure or phone consultation alone. An in-person visit helps parents verify three things that printed materials can’t replace. Experience the real environment your child will learn in. You’ll see the light in the classrooms, the 2.5-hectare grounds and how students interact between lessons. This impression matters for how a new student settles in, especially if your child is changing schools mid-year. Parents experience the campus and learning spaces at Westlink first-hand Meet the team in person. Parents have the opportunity to talk with an admissions adviser about the programme at each stage. Through this, families can gauge the professional background of the teachers, the school’s teaching philosophy and how well the school understands each family’s individual needs. Ask specific questions about the learning pathway. Every family has its own priorities: US universities, UK universities or keeping strong Vietnamese roots. The visit is the time to clarify the pathway – IB PYP → IB MYP → IB Diploma, or the Bilingual stream – rather than reading general descriptions. Westlink is an IB World School authorised for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and is a candidate school for the Diploma Programme (DP). The school is also a member of the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global learning community of 121 schools in more than 26 markets with around 118,000 students (as at October 2026) [DYNAMIC — RECHECK]. This is information parents should verify during the visit, especially if the family is interested in the IB pathway, international transferability and the level of long-term student support. The tour is completely free and carries no obligation to enrol afterwards. You can come to explore, compare and decide once you have enough information. What you’ll experience on a Westlink tour A tour of Westlink lasts around 75–90 minutes and is designed in 5 stages. Each stage has a clear purpose, helping parents gather enough information before considering enrolment. The tour is led by admissions advisers and programme leaders rather than reception staff. Welcome and 1:1 consultation with an admissions adviser (15 minutes) The tour begins with a private conversation with an admissions adviser. You share your child’s age, current level and long-term goals – university in the US, UK, Australia or Asia. Based on this, the adviser outlines a suitable pathway: Early Years → IB PYP → IB MYP → IB Diploma, or the Bilingual MYP stream for families who want to maintain Vietnamese and the Ministry of Education and Training curriculum. Tour of the 2.5-hectare campus (30 minutes) This is the longest part of the visit. You’ll pass through the main areas: classrooms for each stage, the library, science lab, art studio, Makerspace, sports facilities, indoor swimming pool and 600-seat auditorium. If you visit during school hours, you’ll see students in real activities. Outdoor areas and green spaces are also on the route. According to the school, the Westlink campus holds LOTUS Green Building certification. You can explore the campus in advance through the official photo gallery. Observing a real class (15 minutes) You’ll stand in the corridor or an observation area outside a class at your child’s level. The aim is to see how teachers apply the IB framework in practice, not on a PowerPoint slide. You’ll immediately notice the difference between “a school that says it follows the IB” and “a school that really teaches the IB”. Students learning, interacting and exploring through hands-on activities Q&A with the operations manager (15–20 minutes) You’ll have 15–20 minutes to talk directly with the operations manager for the relevant stage. This is the time for deeper questions: how students are assessed, EAL support for children who aren’t yet confident in English, university guidance, class sizes and the teacher-to-student ratio. Next steps and the application process (10 minutes) In the final stage, you’ll receive a printed information handbook and clear guidance on the steps to take if your family decides to apply. This also covers the admissions policy for new students, the entrance assessment schedule and application processing times. A 5-step timeline helping parents picture the whole Westlink tour What should parents ask when visiting Westlink? A school tour usually lasts only 75–90 minutes. Parents should therefore prepare their key questions in advance so they don’t miss anything when meeting the admissions team and programme leaders. Topic Question to ask Why it matters Curriculum Which pathway will suit my child: IB, Bilingual or another route? Helps the family understand the right pathway rather than just hearing a general introduction. Language support If my child isn’t yet strong in English, how does the school provide EAL support? Reduces the risk of your child falling behind when moving to an international environment. Fees Apart from tuition, what other costs should the family budget for? Gives parents a clear view of the total cost before deciding. Changing schools How are new students or returning families supported to settle in? Important for children changing learning environments or moving back from overseas. Outcomes How does the school advise on progression between stages and university pathways? Helps the family judge long-term fit, not just the current school year. If you already have specific questions about fees, the IB programme, English support or your child’s learning pathway, you can note them in advance in the registration form. This helps the admissions team tailor the tour to each family’s needs. Book a school tour – in 60 seconds Now that you can picture how the tour works, the next step will take you less than a minute. The form below has been kept to the minimum information an admissions adviser needs to prepare a tour that suits your family. The Westlink team is committed to responding within 24 working hours of receiving your form. You’ll receive confirmation of your appointment, directions to the Tay Ho Tay campus and suggestions for questions to prepare before your visit. Information required: Parent’s full name Phone number or Zalo Contact email Stage of interest: Early Years / IB PYP / IB MYP / Bilingual MYP / IB Diploma Preferred tour date (at least 2 working days ahead) Optional: “I would like to bring my child” Questions you’d like to send to the admissions adviser in advance (optional) The form doesn’t ask for school reports, documents or international school enrolment information at this stage. These are only needed if the family decides to submit a formal application after the tour. Alternatively, contact us directly on our hotline: (+84) 865 777 900. Tour experiences by stage There’s no single “standard” tour for every family. A 3-year-old and a 17-year-old need to see very different things when visiting a school. That’s why Westlink adjusts the tour route according to the stage you choose in the tour registration form. The table below summarises the focus of the tour for each programme. Stage Age Tour experience Early Years 2–5 Observe an inquiry-based lesson, meet Early Years teachers, visit the sensory development area and outdoor playground. IB PYP – Primary 6–11 Observe a unit of inquiry in progress, visit the library and art room, and meet the primary programme leader. Parents can find out more about the Primary Years Programme (PYP) before the tour. IB MYP – Lower Secondary 11–14 Meet the lower secondary programme leader, visit the science laboratory, design workshop and Makerspace, and find out about students’ Personal Projects. Bilingual MYP 11–14 Observe a bilingual lesson with 50% English and 50% Vietnamese teaching time, and learn about the Ministry of Education and Training curriculum and how it is combined with the US core curriculum. IB Diploma (candidate programme) 16–18 University pathway advice with the programme coordinator, a visit to the area for senior students, and discussion of the DP core components (Creativity, Activity, Service – CAS; the Extended Essay – EE; and Theory of Knowledge – TOK). When applying to an international school, each stage raises different questions. Parents of kindergarten children are usually concerned with safety and the transition between stages. Parents of older students want to know the rate of admission to top universities. If your family has recently returned to Vietnam after a period of study overseas, the tour should include 3 additional elements: An IB programme review. The adviser discusses your child’s previous IB school, the units they have studied and the point they have reached in the school year. The aim is to make sure the new student’s enrolment goes smoothly, without disrupting an IB journey already under way. A quick assessment of your child’s Vietnamese. This step is especially important if the family chooses the Bilingual Middle Years Programme. Students need a solid language foundation to follow the Ministry of Education and Training curriculum, including core subject knowledge taught entirely in Vietnamese to Ministry standards. EAL or language support advice. Some students returning after many years of learning only in English may need support with Vietnamese; conversely, students moving from a local school into the IB may need EAL support for English. The adviser will assess your child’s needs and recommend a pathway. A diagram of the learning pathway at Westlink by stage and programme When to visit – regular tours and Open Days Westlink offers three different ways to visit, matching three levels of readiness among parents. Choosing the right one saves you time and gives you the information most relevant to where your family is in its decision. Regular tours This is the most common option: a personalised tour for one family per booking. Tours take place every week and can be booked at least 2 working days in advance. If office hours don’t suit you, you can suggest a different time slot when filling in the form. An adviser will arrange a time around your schedule, which is especially convenient for parents who travel for work or live in other provinces. Open Days and special events The Admissions Open Day is a large-scale event for many families at once. Unlike individual tours, Open Days usually also include themed workshops for parents, hands-on taster classes for students and the chance to meet the Principal and the full leadership team. On the other hand, because of the number of attendees, there is less time for in-depth 1:1 advice. The event is especially suitable for parents at the early research stage who haven’t yet put Westlink on their shortlist but still want a comprehensive view of the school. Many families enjoy attending admissions open days to learn about the learning environment Visiting after submitting an application Once a family has submitted an application, parents can book a Trial Day. Rather than just observing from the outside, your child joins a real class and takes part in a full session. This is a very effective way for your child to experience the learning environment for themselves before the family makes a final decision and begins the formal process of welcoming a new student. Parents can refer to the detailed admissions process to see where the Trial Day sits within Westlink’s 7-step international school admissions process. What parents should verify when visiting Westlink After a tour, what convinces parents isn’t an attractive lobby or impressive slides. It’s evidence that can be checked. There are 4 things families usually verify about Westlink before enrolling. Authorised for the IB PYP and MYP, candidate for the DP Westlink is an authorised IB World School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP), since 1 May 2024, and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), since 3 December 2025. For the Diploma Programme (DP), Westlink is currently a candidate school and is not yet authorised. Parents can find out more about the DP implementation timeline during the visit, to help choose the right long-term learning direction for their child. This is information parents should verify during the visit if the family is interested in a long-term IB pathway. Part of the global ISP network Westlink is part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global learning community of 121 schools in more than 26 markets with around 118,000 students (as at October 2026) [DYNAMIC — RECHECK] and more than 17,000 staff . This membership connects Westlink with an international professional network, enables the sharing of educational practice and expands learning opportunities for students within the ISP network. A 2.5-hectare campus with LOTUS green certification According to the school, Westlink’s campus in Tay Ho Tay holds LOTUS Green Building certification. For parents who value a healthy learning environment, this is worth observing first-hand during the tour, from green spaces to lighting, ventilation and how students use the campus day to day. A student community of more than 30 nationalities Westlink is a genuinely multicultural environment, not one that is “multicultural only on posters”. Students of more than 30 nationalities from different continents give your child the experience of communicating across borders right in the classroom. The admissions process for new students is also designed to suit this diverse range of backgrounds. Westlink’s campus is designed with spaces for learning, sport and community life Book a Westlink tour today Book a tour of Westlink now for a free 75–90-minute experience: receive 1:1 advice from an admissions adviser, meet the school’s IB specialists and explore the 2.5-hectare campus. Three quick ways to get in touch: Book online: Fill in the form earlier in this article. Hotline: (+84) 865 777 900. Zalo / Westlink Fanpage: Send us a direct message. Parents can also contact the Admissions team for in-depth advice on the admissions pathway into an international environment for their child. The Westlink team is committed to responding within 24 working hours. Booking a school tour of Westlink is the most direct way for parents to see the learning environment, meet the admissions team and ask questions about their child’s learning pathway. In 75–90 minutes, families can learn about the IB programme, fees, EAL support and the admissions process. Parents can book a tour through the form in this article or send a message via the Westlink fanpage. The admissions team will reply to confirm a suitable tour time.
