Top 14+ Best International Preschools in Hanoi for Your Child in 2026 Choosing an international preschool in Hanoi isn't just about tuition or facilities it also comes down to curriculum, language, teaching staff, and how well the environment suits your child's personality. This article rounds up more than 14 standout schools for 2026, along with the key criteria that help parents compare, evaluate and choose a safe, happy environment for their child to start their learning journey. 5 Criteria That Define a Genuine International Preschool in Hanoi Accreditation from an Independent International Body When choosing an international preschool in Hanoi, parents should prioritise schools with accreditation, authorisation or programme certification from reputable bodies such as the IB, Cambridge International, CIS, NEASC, or a recognised Montessori accrediting body. An easy way to verify this is to check official directories such as Find an IB World School, Find a Cambridge School, the CIS Membership Directory or the NEASC School Directory, and search for the school's name directly. Main Language of Instruction and the Ratio of Native-Speaking Teachers A genuine international school teaches mainly in English — at least 80% of instructional time. Ask this directly on a school tour: "Does the Early Years class have a full-time native-speaking lead teacher all day?" Top-tier schools typically staff at least one native-speaking teacher plus one teaching assistant per class. If the native-speaking teacher only "drops in" for 30 minutes, that's a bilingual school, not an international one. Five criteria to help parents identify a genuine international school A Standardised Curriculum A genuinely standardised curriculum has three signs: a clear, named framework, regular external audits, and publicly available documentation. Common frameworks for preschools in Hanoi include IB PYP, Cambridge Early Years, AMI Montessori, IPC and the UK's EYFS. Be cautious of phrases like "an internationally referenced curriculum" or "built in-house to international standards" — this usually means an in-house, unaccredited programme. The Parent Organisation or Network A school that belongs to a large international network benefits from established operating standards, staff who rotate globally, and quality control from the parent group. Notable networks in Hanoi include ISP (around 80 schools across 20+ countries, including Westlink), Nord Anglia (BIS), EtonHouse Group and Maple Bear Global. An easy way to check: scroll to the school's website footer, which usually reads "a member of [network]". An international network helps a school maintain consistent standards and quality Facilities and a Genuinely Multicultural Environment Good Early Years facilities include naturally lit classrooms, a safe playground with at least 3 m² per child, and genuine green space. A truly multicultural environment can be measured by the share of foreign students a genuinely international school typically has 20% or more foreign students. Five criteria to help parents identify a genuine international school An Overview of International Preschool Teaching Methods in Hanoi The Montessori Method Children explore independently in a carefully prepared environment, with teachers guiding rather than directing. Genuine Montessori materials are imported, not homemade. This suits independent children who can concentrate on one task for extended periods. Notable schools: Sakura Montessori, Shining Star. The Reggio Emilia Approach Children are seen as having "100 languages" to express themselves. Learning happens through projects, art and dialogue, with the classroom itself acting as "the third teacher". This suits imaginative, creatively-minded children. Notable schools: O'Hana, EtonHouse. The IB PYP (Primary Years Programme) Learning happens through enquiry, built around six transdisciplinary themes. The IB Learner Profile defines ten qualities of a globally-minded citizen. The PYP officially applies from Grade 1 to Grade 5; Early Years is usually a "pre-PYP" stage that builds the foundations. This suits families aiming for a full IB pathway through to Grade 12. Schools offering the PYP in Hanoi include UNIS, BIS Hanoi, Concordia, and Westlink (authorised since 1 May 2024). The IB PYP helps children build enquiring minds and global citizenship qualities Cambridge Early Years A UK-standard academic framework, with a clear report card and measurable progress at each stage. This suits parents who want a clear British pathway. Notable schools: BVIS Royal City, JIS (which combines Cambridge with a Japanese programme). The Japanese Approach Discipline, conduct, values and community living. Children learn independence from a very young age — even clearing their own place after meals. This suits parents who value discipline, or families with ties to Japan. Notable school: JIS – Japanese International School. IPC (International Preschool Curriculum) A US-originated international curriculum framework covering five areas of development: language, cognition, physical, emotional and aesthetic. IPC is flexible and integrates easily with local culture. Notable schools: Vinschool Preschool, Hanoi Academy. Top 14 International Preschools in Hanoi, by Group Group A – IB World Schools 5 core differentiators: The Learning.First™ approach applies a continuous-improvement learning process, tracking and measuring student progress clearly rather than focusing only on the final result. A full IB pathway combined with a bilingual programme — a standout feature, since few schools in Hanoi run both models. A new 2.5-hectare campus in Tay Ho Tay, with an indoor pool, a STEAM Lab, a Maker Space and a 600-seat auditorium. A LOTUS-certified green campus under the Vietnam Green Building Council, with a 37.9% reduction in energy consumption. A multilingual learning environment that builds well-rounded language ability, helping students communicate confidently in an international setting while staying connected to their own cultural identity. The IB programme runs as a single continuum, from Early Years through to the IB Diploma. Westlink is currently authorised by the IBO for both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP); the Diploma Programme (DP) at upper secondary level remains a candidate programme, with authorisation still in progress. Scholarship: the Westlink Scholarship 2026 offers up to 70% off tuition for eligible applicants. Contact details Location: Nguyen Huu Lieu, Tay Ho Tay Urban Area, Xuan Dinh Ward, Hanoi Phone: (+84) 865 777 900 Email: info@westlink.edu.vn Westlink stands out for its full IB pathway and modern campus in Tay Ho Tay UNIS Hanoi United Nations International School Hanoi is the longest-established IB school in Hanoi, running since 1988. UNIS offers the full IB continuum across all three programmes — PYP, MYP and DP. Most students are children of diplomatic and international organisation staff. Area: Phu Thuong, Tay Ho. Preschool tuition typically exceeds VND 600 million per year. Contact details Address: G9 Ciputra, Phu Thuong, Hanoi, Vietnam Phone: (+84 24) 7300 4508 Email: info@unishanoi.org BIS Hanoi (British International School) Part of the Nord Anglia Education group, with a network of over 80 schools worldwide. BIS Hanoi combines the English National Curriculum with the IB Diploma at upper secondary level, and follows the British EYFS framework at preschool level. Area: Vinhomes Riverside, Long Bien, Hanoi. This suits parents who want a clear British pathway with a direct route to the IB DP at the same school. Contact details Address: Hoa Lan Road, Vinhomes Riverside, Phuc Loi Ward, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam Phone: +84 24 3946 0435 Email: bishanoi@bishanoi.com Concordia International School Hanoi Part of the US-based Concordia organisation. Combines the American curriculum with the IB Diploma at upper secondary level, with Early Years taught to a US framework by native-speaking teachers. Area: Vinhomes Riverside, Long Bien. This suits American expat families, or parents wanting a US college pathway starting from preschool. Contact details Address: Van Tri Golf Course, Tho Da, Thien Loc, Hanoi, Vietnam Phone: +84 24 3795 8878 Email: communications@concordiahanoi.org Group B – Single-Level Preschools with a Distinct Teaching Method Group B schools focus mainly on preschool level and follow one distinct teaching method. Tuition ranges from VND 200–350 million per year. This suits families who want to invest selectively in the early, formative years, and are comfortable switching schools at primary level. Sakura Montessori – An AMI/IAPM-accredited Montessori system with a trilingual Vietnamese–Japanese–English curriculum. 7 campuses across Hanoi (Tay Ho Tay Starlake, Cau Giay, Ha Dong, Nam Tu Liem, etc.). Suits parents wanting a rigorous Montessori approach with multiple campus options. Shining Star – A student-centred, English–Vietnamese bilingual Montessori school. Campuses: Tay Ho (Quang An), Dong Da. Modest in size, making it easy to connect directly with teachers. O'Hana – One of the few Reggio Emilia schools in Hanoi. Teachers act as "listeners" rather than delivering set lessons. Campus: Tower C, Viet Duc Complex, Khuat Duy Tien, Thanh Xuan. EtonHouse – Part of Singapore's EtonHouse Group, following an authentic Reggio Emilia approach. Campus: Floor 3, Tower A, Keangnam Landmark, Me Tri. Suits parents wanting Reggio Emilia alongside a genuinely multinational community. Maple Bear – A branch of Maple Bear Global Schools (Canada), offering 3 programme tracks: Global, Integrated and Affiliated. Main campus: Floor 3, HDI Tower, 55 Le Dai Hanh, Hai Ba Trung. Suits families planning to settle in or study in Canada. JIS – Japanese International School – Combines Japanese educational philosophy with the Cambridge framework. Campus: 84A Nguyen Thanh Binh, Van Phuc, Ha Dong. Suits parents who prioritise Japanese-style discipline. Group B suits parents who want to invest deeply in the preschool years Group C – Bilingual Preschools with International Elements These are bilingual preschools in Hanoi that reference an international curriculum. Tuition is typically under VND 200 million per year. Under the definition used earlier, this group doesn't qualify as a genuinely international school. That said, it's still a solid option if your budget is limited and you want your child to keep a strong grounding in Vietnamese. Vinschool Preschool – Part of Vingroup, running the licensed US IPC curriculum combined with local content. Multiple campuses across Vinhomes developments (Times City, Royal City, Smart City, Ocean Park, etc.). Suits parents wanting a through-school pathway to upper secondary. Hanoi Academy – A licensed UK IPC curriculum, taught bilingually in English and Vietnamese. Campus: D45–D46, Ciputra Urban Area, Phu Thuong, Tay Ho. Continues through to primary and lower secondary. Hanoi Center Kids – A bilingual school combining an English and a Vietnamese curriculum. Campus: 187 Nguyen Tuan, Nhan Chinh, Thanh Xuan. Global – Integrates an English and a Vietnamese curriculum, continuing through to lower secondary. Campus: Lot C1-D34, Yen Hoa Urban Area, Cau Giay. IQ – Combines an English and a Vietnamese curriculum with elements of Japanese early-years education. Campus: 55 Le Lai, Ha Dong. Kindergarten KIK – Part of Singapore's KinderWorld Group, following an Australian–Singaporean curriculum. Campus: Floor 3, Somerset Grand Hanoi, Hai Ba Trung. DCA – A pioneer of the Multiple Intelligences approach in Hanoi. Campus: BT5 Nguyen Do Cung, Dich Vong, Cau Giay. Through-Schools from Preschool to Secondary: Why They're Worth Considering Practical benefits of a through-school: Primary teachers already know the child from Early Years, including their strengths and weaknesses. A consistent teaching approach — for example, the IB PYP flows directly into the IB MYP and DP. The parent community stays connected — children keep seeing familiar classmates at higher levels. At Westlink, this through-school advantage shows up in a genuinely continuous learning pathway. The Early Years programme is built on an enquiry-based approach that lays the foundation for the IB PYP. As students move up through the school, they continue building independent thinking, the ability to ask good questions, problem-solving skills, and the confidence to communicate academically in English. This makes Westlink not just a preschool choice, but a launchpad for a child's entire international school journey. A through-school helps children keep their learning rhythm, friendships and familiar environment Quick Comparison Table: 14+ International Preschools in Hanoi The table below is a condensed version to bring along on school tours, organised by Group A → B → C. School Group Method Area Fee band Through-school Main accreditation Westlink A IB PYP + Bilingual Tay Ho Tay High Yes ($\rightarrow$ IB DP pathway) IBO, ISP, LOTUS UNIS A IB PYP–MYP–DP Phu Thuong, Tay Ho Very high Yes IBO, CIS BIS Hanoi A EYFS + Cambridge + IB Vinhomes Riverside Very high Yes Nord Anglia, IBO Concordia A American + IB Vinhomes Riverside Very high Yes NEASC, IBO Sakura Montessori B AMI Montessori Multiple campuses Mid-high No IAPM Shining Star B Montessori Tay Ho, Dong Da Mid No – O'Hana B Reggio Emilia Thanh Xuan Mid-high No – EtonHouse B Reggio Emilia Nam Tu Liem High Yes (EtonHouse network) EtonHouse Group Maple Bear B Canadian Hai Ba Trung Mid-high Yes ($\rightarrow$ upper secondary) Maple Bear Global JIS B Japanese + Cambridge Ha Dong Mid No Cambridge Vinschool C IPC Multiple campuses Mid Yes ($\rightarrow$ upper secondary) IPC Hanoi Academy C IPC Tay Ho Mid-high Yes ($\rightarrow$ lower secondary) IPC Center Kids C English–Vietnamese bilingual Thanh Xuan Mid No – Global C Bilingual + English Cau Giay Mid Yes ($\rightarrow$ lower secondary) – IQ C Bilingual + English + Japanese Ha Dong Mid No – KIK C Australian–Singaporean Hai Ba Trung Mid No KinderWorld DCA C Multiple Intelligences Cau Giay Mid No – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What's the difference between an international preschool and a bilingual preschool? A genuinely international preschool typically meets at least 4 of the 5 criteria above. A bilingual school usually meets only 1–2, making up the difference with a loosely referenced curriculum. Having the word "international" in the name doesn't guarantee that a school actually is one. Should I start my child at an international preschool from age 4? Ages 4–6 are a golden window for language development. Early exposure to an English-speaking environment is genuinely beneficial, as long as the school has a proper full-time native-speaking teacher. A 4-year-old still needs plenty of time bonding with parents. If starting your child from age 2, prioritise a school with a low teacher-to-child ratio (1:5 or 1:6) and one that allows parents to observe classes during the first few weeks. How much does an international preschool in Hanoi cost per year? Tuition falls into three bands: Mid (under VND 200 million), Mid-high (VND 200–350 million), and High to Very high (VND 350 million and above). Note: published tuition figures usually exclude enrolment fees, deposits, uniforms, transport and meals. The real total cost can end up 15–25% higher. Choosing the right international preschool in Hanoi is an important first step toward a safe, enriching environment suited to your child's individual development. Parents should weigh up the curriculum, tuition, international accreditation, teaching staff and how closely the school partners with families. If you're considering a preschool for your child, get in touch with Westlink on 0865 777 900 for guidance and to book a school tour.
