The Best International Schools in Nam Tu Liem for Parents in 2026 Choosing an international school in Nam Tu Liem shouldn't come down to tuition fees or a familiar name alone. Every school differs widely in curriculum, accreditation, cost and outcomes. With tuition ranging from 200 to 600 million VND a year, this decision deserves careful thought from the very start. This Westlink guide helps parents tell school types apart, compare the standout options, know what to check on a tour, and avoid deciding on gut feeling alone. Understanding What "International School" Really Means What Makes a School Genuinely "International"? A school genuinely earns the label "international" when it meets three conditions: it runs a curriculum designed by an international education body, it holds formal accreditation from that body, and its qualification is recognised across borders. The four most common accrediting bodies in Vietnam: IB (International Baccalaureate): a school is recognised as an IB World School separately for each level — PYP (primary), MYP (lower secondary) and DP (upper secondary). Parents can check status directly on ibo.org. Cambridge International: the Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and A-Level curricula from the University of Cambridge, UK. CIS (Council of International Schools): a non-profit international school accreditor with more than 1,300 member schools worldwide. NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges): a US education accreditor. On a school tour, parents should ask the right question: is the school authorised, or still a candidate? These two statuses are miles apart. Authorised means the school has been formally recognised for that programme. Candidate means the school is still going through the application process and hasn't completed accreditation yet. Four school types in Hanoi that parents often confuse when researching. International vs Bilingual Schools: Telling Them Apart In Hanoi, International schools and Bilingual schools are two models parents often mix up, since both use "international" elements in their curriculum and environment. But the real difference lies in the curriculum itself, the language of instruction and the qualification a student ends up with. International schools typically run curricula such as the IB, Cambridge or AP, teach most subjects in English, and award a qualification recognised widely across many countries. Bilingual schools, by contrast, typically combine the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) curriculum with academic English or an international framework. The proportion of teaching in English can range from around 40% to 60%, depending on the school. Students still follow the Vietnamese qualification pathway, while also being able to earn international certificates such as Cambridge Checkpoint or IGCSE, depending on the programme. Overall, the difference between an International school and a Bilingual school isn't just about how much English is used — it also shows up in the curriculum, the final qualification and the long-term academic direction. Parents should weigh all of these together to understand each school's real model, and choose the environment that best fits their child's learning plan and development. Why Does Accreditation Matter for a Study-Abroad Pathway? The IB Diploma and A-Level are accepted for direct admission by more than 5,000 universities worldwide. A Vietnamese transcript, by comparison, usually needs an extra step — IELTS, the SAT, or a one-year foundation programme. If the long-term plan is study abroad, choosing a school with the right accreditation can save 1 to 2 years of preparation. If the plan is university in Vietnam, a strong bilingual school is already enough. Getting this classification right from the start means parents aren't paying for something their child will never use. It's the foundation to lay before shortlisting international schools in Nam Tu Liem against the more specific criteria further down. Comparing Schools in Nam Tu Liem and Nearby Areas, 2026 The table below rounds up the schools that regularly appear on the shortlists of parents in Nam Tu Liem and nearby areas. Following the 2025 administrative reorganisation, the former Nam Tu Liem district was restructured into new wards including Từ Liêm, Xuân Phương, Tây Mỗ and Đại Mỗ. The table uses "former Nam Tu Liem" and "nearby West Hanoi" so parents can more easily match locations to the real map. Tuition figures are taken from each school's official published rates and rounded for easier comparison. Accreditation status is recorded as of May 2026, and authorised and candidate statuses are never combined. School Type Curriculum Levels 2026–2027 Tuition Accreditation Area The Olympia Schools Combined international Bilingual + International Integrated + IB DP Early Years to Grade 12 238–911.4 million VND/year IB DP for upper secondary; PYP/MYP not published Trung Văn, former Nam Tu Liem VAS Hanoi Cambridge Cambridge + MOET Early Years to Grade 12 ~179 million VND/year; check latest fees Cambridge International School Mỹ Đình I, former Nam Tu Liem Đoàn Thị Điểm Bilingual + Cambridge English-Enhanced / French / Cambridge tracks Primary to Grade 12 66–111 million VND/year; Cambridge priced separately Cambridge Pathway (some tracks) Mỹ Đình 2, former Nam Tu Liem Vinschool Smart City Premium bilingual Standard track + Cambridge-Enhanced track Early Years to Grade 12 45.1–136.4 million VND/year (Primary) Cambridge Pathway Tây Mỗ, former Nam Tu Liem SenTia School Bilingual + Dual IGCSE/A-Level Bilingual + Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level Early Years to Grade 12 172–359 million VND/year Cambridge International School Phùng Khoang, nearby West Hanoi Marie Curie Private, English-enhanced MOET + Enhanced Cambridge Primary to Grade 12 ~70 million VND/year and up; check latest fees Partial Cambridge Pathway Mỹ Đình – Mễ Trì, former Nam Tu Liem Westlink International International IB + Bilingual IB PYP + MYP + Bilingual (MOET Replacement) Early Years to Grade 12 260–603 million VND/year IB PYP authorised May 2024; MYP candidate Tây Hồ Tây, nearby West Hanoi UNIS Hanoi International IB IB PYP + MYP + DP Early Years to Grade 12 457 million–1.04 billion VND/year IB World School — PYP, MYP and DP all authorised Ciputra, nearby West Hanoi The Dewey School Tây Hồ Tây US-style bilingual, all levels Discover / Adventure / Journey + IB Primary to Grade 12 189–667 million VND/year US-oriented + IB; check current status Tây Hồ Tây Starlake, nearby West Hanoi Tuition and programme status can change year to year. Parents should confirm directly with the school before paying a deposit. How to read this table: parents prioritising an international qualification for study abroad should read the Accreditation column first. Parents prioritising budget should read the Tuition column. Parents prioritising an easy commute should read the Area column alongside the distance table further down. The Best International Schools in Nam Tu Liem This section focuses on international schools in Nam Tu Liem with an official address within the boundaries of the former district. Images compiled from each school's official website, updated May 2026. Each school is presented in the same structure: an overview, curriculum, tuition, levels offered, strengths, and things to check on a tour. The Olympia Schools (Trung Văn) The Olympia Schools sits in the new Trung Văn urban area, in the former Nam Tu Liem district. It's one of the notable international schools in Nam Tu Liem for parents interested in an international pathway at secondary level. According to the school's own information, Olympia offers the IB Diploma Programme for upper secondary students. Parents need to understand exactly which level the IB applies to at Olympia — don't assume the whole school follows the IB. The school's education philosophy is student-centred. Olympia uses a constructivist approach, learning through experience and cross-subject integration, with activities usually tied to real-world situations so students can connect knowledge more easily. On tuition, the published 2026–2027 rate for the bilingual upper-secondary programme is 238 million VND/year. For the international integrated programme, tuition for Grades 9–12 ranges from 332.9 to 681.7 million VND/year depending on the track. Grade 12 studying in the US specifically is listed at 911.4 million VND/year. The school covers every level, from Early Years to Grade 12 — convenient for parents who want their child to stay in the same environment throughout. On the tour: ask exactly which level the IB currently applies to — PYP, MYP, or DP only. Also ask about the final qualification, which subjects are taught in English, and the study-abroad pathway after Grade 12. VAS Hanoi (Mỹ Đình) VAS Hanoi is based in the Mỹ Đình I urban area, in the former Nam Tu Liem district. It's a familiar option for parents looking for a Cambridge-track international school in Nam Tu Liem. The school runs the Cambridge curriculum alongside the MOET curriculum. This pathway suits parents who want their child in an environment with international elements, while the school still keeps a Vietnamese curriculum foundation. The Cambridge curriculum tends to draw interest at levels such as Primary, Lower Secondary or IGCSE. How fully it's implemented can vary by level, so parents should ask in detail. Primary tuition is around 179 million VND/year according to the most recent figures. Parents should confirm the 2026–2027 fee schedule directly with the admissions office — a safer approach than relying on older figures from previous years. The school covers every level from Early Years to Grade 12 — an advantage for parents who want their child on one continuous pathway, without switching environments repeatedly. On the tour: ask what proportion of hours are taught in English at each level. The Cambridge Pathway is implemented to varying degrees, so check carefully which parts follow Cambridge and which follow the Vietnamese curriculum. Đoan Thi Điem (Mỹ Đình 2) Đoàn Thị Điểm was founded in 1997 and is based in the Mỹ Đình 2 urban area, in the former Nam Tu Liem district. It's one of the longer-established private schools in the area. The school runs several tracks in parallel — an English-Enhanced track, a French track and a Cambridge International track — giving parents a range of options based on their child's ability and direction. Tuition for the English-Enhanced track at primary level ranges from 66 to 111 million VND/year depending on grade. The Cambridge and French tracks have their own separate fee schedules, so parents should ask directly before choosing a track. The school stands out for project-based learning and its network of extracurricular clubs. Its environment also places real emphasis on independence and discipline from Grade 1. When looking for a long-established international school in Nam Tu Liem, Đoàn Thị Điểm is often the first name Mỹ Đình parents consider. On the tour: the three tracks differ quite widely in quality, outcomes and tuition. Parents need to be clear on exactly which track their child will join, to avoid picking the wrong segment. Vinschool Vinschool has several campuses in and around the former Nam Tu Liem district — Smart City (Tây Mỗ), Gardenia (Cầu Diễn) and Green Bay (Đại lộ Thăng Long). Smart City is the campus that draws the most interest from parents in West Hanoi. Vinschool's education model combines the Vietnamese Ministry of Education framework with the Cambridge curriculum, depending on the track. For parents prioritising a premium bilingual option when looking for an international school in Nam Tu Liem, Vinschool is usually on the shortlist. According to primary admissions information, tuition ranges from around 45.1 to 136.4 million VND/year. This varies by campus and track, and doesn't include other costs such as uniforms, the school bus, meals or extracurricular activities. The school focuses on global-citizenship skills, experiential learning and personal development. Parents can choose the Standard track or the Cambridge-Enhanced track depending on their child's direction. On the tour: the campuses differ in scale and student community. Smart City is a large campus in a new urban area, while Gardenia and Green Bay are smaller but closer to different residential areas. Ask specifically about the ratio of native-speaking teachers on the Enhanced track. SenTia (Phùng Khoang) SenTia School is based in the Phùng Khoang urban area on Tố Hữu street, on the border between Nam Tu Liem and Thanh Xuân. It runs an all-through model with a bilingual and dual international qualification track. According to the fee schedule on SenTia's website, the bilingual track costs between 172 and 230 million VND/year: Grades 1–3 are 172 million VND/year, Grades 4–5 are 180 million VND/year, Grades 6–9 are 194 million VND/year, and Grades 10–12 are 230 million VND/year. The dual international IGCSE and A-Level track runs from Grade 9 to Grade 12. Published tuition is 270 million VND/year for Grades 9 and 10, and 359 million VND/year for Grades 11 and 12. These figures are tuition only, not the full package cost. Parents still need to add mandatory costs such as a development fee, meals, learning materials, textbooks and insurance. The school invests in facilities, its English programme and well-rounded development. When comparing it with other international schools in Nam Tu Liem, parents should also ask about graduate outcomes. On the tour: SenTia is relatively new compared with Đoàn Thị Điểm or Marie Curie. Parents should ask specifically about native-teacher retention, the A-Level pathway, and university outcomes over the past 3 years. Marie Curie (Mỹ Đình – Mễ Trì) Marie Curie has a campus in the Mỹ Đình – Mễ Trì urban area, in the former Nam Tu Liem district. It was rebuilt from 2012 on a site of around 9,000 square metres. Its curriculum follows the Ministry of Education framework, with enhanced core subjects and quality Cambridge-based English. Students build academic foundations, discipline and skills in a private-school environment. Primary tuition is around 70 million VND/year and up, according to the most recent public figures. This isn't a full package cost — parents should ask for the complete picture: tuition, meals, uniforms, books and other fees. The school covers all three levels, has a long tradition, and places real weight on character education — a good fit for parents who prioritise discipline and academic foundations. On the tour: Marie Curie isn't an international school in the IB or full-Cambridge sense. The final qualification is a Vietnamese one with supplementary Cambridge certificates. If the plan is to study abroad directly after Grade 12, ask specifically about the pathway. International Schools Near Nam Tu Liem When searching for an international school in Nam Tu Liem, parents living in Mỹ Đình, Trung Văn or Vinhomes Smart City often widen their shortlist to the Tây Hồ Tây and Ciputra areas. Real-world distance sometimes matters more than administrative boundaries. Most schools in nearby West Hanoi are only 10 to 15 minutes' drive from Mỹ Đình with no traffic. The four schools below are all international or premium bilingual options worth considering for parents in the former Nam Tu Liem district. Westlink International School (Tây Hồ Tây) Westlink International School is located at Plot O2, Tây Hồ Tây, spanning Xuân Tảo and Xuân Đỉnh wards, Bắc Từ Liêm district. The campus covers 2.5 hectares. Westlink is part of International Schools Partnership, a network of more than 80 schools across more than 20 countries. Westlink officially became an IB World School for the PYP on 1 May 2024. The MYP was subsequently authorised on 3 December 2025, meaning both the PYP and MYP are now officially authorised IB programmes at Westlink. The Diploma Programme (DP) is currently at the candidate stage and is pursuing IB authorisation. Parents can verify the school’s current programme status directly through the official IB World Schools Directory. An IB PYP classroom at Westlink, illustrating its project-based learning environment. The school runs two programmes in parallel on the same campus — something few schools in Hanoi are able to offer. The IB programme at Westlink is taught entirely in English. According to Westlink’s tuition fee information for the 2025–2026 academic year, fees vary by programme and grade level: Programme Grade Level Tuition Fee 2025–2026 Early Years Early Years VND 383 million/year IB PYP – Primary Years Programme Grades 1–3 VND 498 million/year IB PYP – Primary Years Programme Grades 4–5 VND 518 million/year IB MYP – Middle Years Programme Grades 6–7 VND 549 million/year IB MYP – Middle Years Programme Grade 8 VND 582 million/year IB DP – Diploma Programme High School VND 603 million/year Overall, annual tuition fees for Westlink’s international programme range from VND 383 million to VND 603 million, depending on the programme and grade level. The Bilingual Programme splits 50-50 between English and Vietnamese under the MOET Replacement Curriculum framework. Bilingual MYP tuition is 260 million VND/year for Grades 6 and 7, and 275 million VND/year for Grades 8 and 9. Facilities include a 600-seat auditorium, an indoor pool, a STEAM Lab, a Maker Space, an ICT hub, an art studio and a performing arts space. The campus holds LOTUS certification from the Vietnam Green Building Council, with energy savings of 37.9% against baseline. The Westlink campus, illustrating the scale of its facilities in Tây Hồ Tây. Parents interested in the primary IB pathway can look into the IB PYP programme at Westlink and its 2.5-hectare campus in Tây Hồ Tây. The Westlink Scholarship 2026 offers up to 70% off tuition — see Westlink's scholarship page for details. Best suited to: parents in Nam Tu Liem or West Hanoi looking for an all-through, authorised IB programme, or families wanting a premium bilingual pathway that keeps Vietnamese alive for a repatriating Vietnamese-heritage child. UNIS Hanoi (Ciputra) UNIS Hanoi is based in the Ciputra area, Tây Hồ district. Its full name is the United Nations International School of Hanoi. It teaches in English, from Early Years to Grade 12. UNIS is an IB World School, authorised for all three levels — PYP, MYP and DP. It has a multinational student community and is a familiar name among Hanoi's premium international schools. UNIS Hanoi's fee page lists charges in USD: a tuition deposit of $1,500, an enrollment fee of $1,750, and an application fee of $600. The bus fee is $1,100/year for two-way service, or $660/year for one-way. Tuition varies by school year and grade level — parents should check the school's admissions page for the latest fee schedule. Best suited to: families with a higher budget who prioritise a long-established international community and a continuous IB pathway from Early Years through Grade 12. BIS Hanoi (Long Biên) BIS Hanoi belongs to Nord Anglia Education, an international education group operating in many countries. It's one of the British international school brands well known to parents in Hanoi. A note on location: BIS Hanoi is in the Vinhomes Riverside area, Long Biên — east Hanoi, across the Red River. This isn't West Hanoi like the other schools in this section, so parents in Nam Tu Liem need to weigh the commute carefully. It typically takes 30 to 45 minutes to drive there at peak times. The school teaches the British Curriculum combined with Cambridge from Early Years to Grade 12, with the option of the IB Diploma alongside A-Level at upper secondary. According to BIS Hanoi's fee page, the registration fee ranges from 23.6 to 70.8 million VND. Tuition is published in VND by grade level, from Early Years to Grade 12. Beyond tuition, parents need to check the application fee, registration fee and deposit — these often add up to a significant share of the first year's total cost. Best suited to: families who prioritise a traditional British system and are willing to accept a longer commute in exchange for a British-style international environment and an A-Level/IB pathway towards UK or Australian universities. The Dewey School Tây Hồ Tây The Dewey School's Tây Hồ Tây campus is in the Starlake urban area, Bắc Từ Liêm district. It's an all-through school with a US-bilingual orientation, suiting parents in West Hanoi. According to Dewey's fee page, the Tây Hồ Tây campus offers the Discover Integrated track. Tuition is 189 million VND/year at primary level, 211 million VND/year at lower secondary, and 249 million VND/year at upper secondary. The Adventure International track at Tây Hồ Tây costs 294 million VND/year for Grades 6–8, 343 million VND/year for Grade 9, and 368 million VND/year for Grade 10. Parents should check the latest fee table directly for higher grades. The Journey International track costs more than Discover or Adventure — a pathway suited to families prioritising a more intensive international environment. Beyond tuition, parents need to budget for the school development fee, meals and the bus. At the Tây Hồ Tây campus, the development fee is listed at 20 million VND/year. Best suited to: West Hanoi parents who want a US-bilingual curriculum and an academic English environment. If a family prioritises an international qualification such as the IB or A-Level, ask specifically about the exit curriculum, accreditation status and student university outcomes. Commute Times in Nam Tu Liem The daily commute affects a child more than most parents realise. A 45-minute drive each way means 90 minutes a day — the equivalent of 7.5 hours a week spent just travelling. A diagram to help parents estimate daily travel time. Across the international and bilingual school options in and around Nam Tu Liem, commute distance deserves to be treated as a primary criterion. A school with the right tuition and curriculum can still create real strain if a child has to travel too long every day. The table below is a rough estimate for reference. Before a tour, parents should double-check using Google Maps during the morning peak, 7:00–8:00am. School Mỹ Đình Trung Văn Mễ Trì Vinhomes Smart City The Manor Central Park The Olympia Schools 8–12 min 3–5 min 8–12 min 18–25 min 12–18 min VAS Hanoi (Mỹ Đình) 3–5 min 8–12 min 5–8 min 15–22 min 15–20 min Vinschool Smart City 18–25 min 22–28 min 20–25 min 5 min 25–32 min Marie Curie (Mỹ Đình) 5–8 min 10–15 min 5–8 min 18–25 min 15–20 min Westlink (Tây Hồ Tây) 12–18 min 18–25 min 15–22 min 22–30 min 25–35 min UNIS (Ciputra) 15–22 min 22–28 min 18–25 min 25–32 min 28–35 min The Dewey Tây Hồ Tây 12–18 min 18–25 min 15–22 min 22–30 min 25–35 min BIS Hanoi (Long Biên) 30–45 min 32–48 min 30–45 min 35–50 min 28–42 min These figures are for reference only and can change with real traffic conditions. Check Google Maps at the specific time you need. Most international and premium bilingual schools offer a school bus service with fixed routes by residential area. Westlink runs a bus network serving parents in West Hanoi — see Westlink's school bus page for details. A rule of thumb on distance: for primary students, total two-way travel time shouldn't exceed 60 minutes a day. For secondary students, up to 90 minutes is more acceptable. 6 Questions to Answer Before Choosing a School Once you've shortlisted 2 to 3 international schools in Nam Tu Liem, here are 6 questions to answer before paying a deposit. If a school can't give a clear answer to any of these, it's worth reconsidering. What's the school's current accreditation, at each level? Is it authorised or a candidate at each IB or Cambridge level? Can you verify this on the accrediting body's own official website? What's the full package cost for the 2026–2027 school year? Add up tuition, registration fee, deposit, bus, uniforms, lunch, textbooks and any other fees. The real total is usually 15 to 30% higher than the published tuition figure. Does the school run a full all-through pathway, from Early Years to Grade 12, on one campus? If it only covers some levels, your child will need to change schools partway through — and switching schools during IB MYP or Cambridge IGCSE tends to carry more risk. What's the real ratio of native-speaking teachers, and the real proportion of international students? This matters especially for the IB and Cambridge, since it directly shapes the academic English environment for students. Where have graduates from the last 3 years gone? Can the school provide a list of destination universities? Have any students gone on to top-200 world universities? Do some students stay on for university in Vietnam? What does the application and entrance assessment process look like? Is it fair, transparent and based on ability rather than financial capacity? Does the school have any scholarship policy? A checklist to help parents verify criteria before paying a deposit. Choosing an international school in Nam Tu Liem isn't just about comparing tuition or commute distance. Parents should look closely at the curriculum, accreditation, full package cost and their child's eventual outcomes. If Westlink is on your family's list, Book a tour at Westlink to learn about the IB programme, the Bilingual Programme, and get advice on the right learning pathway for your child.
