5 International Secondary Schools in Hanoi for Parents to Compare Choosing among international secondary schools in Hanoi involves more than comparing campuses or tuition fees. Curriculum, language support, secondary qualifications and university pathways can all shape a student’s experience from the early secondary years through graduation. This guide compares five international secondary schools in Hanoi based on curriculum, upper secondary pathways and published 2026 to 2027 tuition. It is designed to help parents create a practical shortlist before visiting schools in person. What Should Parents Look for in International Secondary Schools International secondary education usually begins around age 11 and may continue through age 18, depending on the school system. At this stage, students increasingly learn with subject specialists, take greater responsibility for their studies and begin making academic choices that may influence later qualifications and university options. However, not all international secondary schools follow the same structure. Some use the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, while others follow British pathways through Key Stage 3 and IGCSE or American curricula based on credits, electives and Advanced Placement courses. Bilingual pathways are also available for families who want to maintain stronger connections with the Vietnamese curriculum. For this reason, parents should compare the complete secondary journey rather than focusing only on a school’s name, facilities or current year group. Students in the IB Middle Years Programme at Westlink How to Compare International Secondary Schools in Hanoi Curriculum and Accreditation Start by identifying the curriculum your child will actually follow at secondary level. Some schools use different frameworks across primary, middle and upper secondary education, so the programme offered at one stage may not automatically continue into the next. For IB schools, authorisation should also be checked programme by programme. PYP, MYP and DP are authorised separately. A school may therefore be authorised for one IB programme while another remains at candidate stage. Secondary and University Pathways Parents should look beyond the current grade and understand what students progress to at ages 14, 16 and 18. Common pathways in Hanoi include IB MYP followed by the IB Diploma Programme, Key Stage 3 followed by IGCSE and then A Levels or IBDP, and American high school programmes supported by AP or Dual Credit courses. This is particularly important for families planning to remain at the same school for several years. Changing curriculum systems during the later secondary years may require students to adapt to different subjects, assessment methods or graduation requirements. Learning and Assessment Curriculum influences not only what students study but also how they learn. IB MYP places strong emphasis on conceptual understanding, enquiry and interdisciplinary connections. British pathways become increasingly subject focused as students progress towards IGCSE and upper secondary qualifications, while American programmes tend to offer greater flexibility through credits, electives and advanced courses. No approach is automatically suitable for every student. Parents should consider academic strengths, preferred learning style, language level and possible university destinations when comparing schools. Language and Transition Support Moving into an English medium secondary environment can be challenging for students arriving from another curriculum. Parents should ask about English as an Additional Language support, admissions assessment, transition arrangements and how students joining during the academic year are supported. Vietnamese families may also want to consider how much Vietnamese language and curriculum continuity they want to maintain. This can make bilingual pathways relevant for students whose future education may continue either in Vietnam or overseas. Tuition and Additional Costs Tuition at international secondary schools in Hanoi varies considerably by school, curriculum and year group. Some bilingual pathways remain below VND 300 million per year, while several full international programmes approach or exceed VND 1 billion annually. Parents should also check application fees, deposits, transport, meals, examinations, residential trips, learning support and other charges. Looking only at headline tuition may therefore give an incomplete picture of the actual annual cost. Five key criteria for comparing international secondary schools in Hanoi 5 International Secondary Schools in Hanoi to Consider The schools below represent several international secondary pathways currently available in Hanoi. The list is intended to support comparison rather than provide a universal ranking. Westlink International School Hanoi (WIS) Westlink International School offers both international and bilingual secondary pathways. Students in the international stream follow the IB Middle Years Programme at Westlink, which focuses on conceptual understanding, interdisciplinary learning and transferable learning skills. Westlink’s MYP was officially authorised by the International Baccalaureate in December 2025, following its earlier PYP authorisation. Families who prefer stronger continuity with Vietnamese education can instead consider the Bilingual Middle Years Programme, which combines Vietnamese curriculum requirements with international learning components. The school’s planned IB Diploma Programme remains at candidate stage. Families considering a long term IB pathway should therefore distinguish between Westlink’s currently authorised programmes and its planned upper secondary development. For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, published full payment tuition is VND 274 million for Bilingual Grades 6 and 7 and VND 290 million for Grades 8 and 9. Published IB MYP tuition is VND 579 million for Grades 6 and 7 and VND 614 million for Grade 8. Other international secondary grades may follow different published fee levels, so families should confirm the applicable amount on the Westlink tuition fees page. Practical sessions and exchange activities for international students Westlink is also part of International Schools Partnership. For families comparing the school, the main decision is whether the IB or bilingual secondary pathway better matches the child’s language needs, academic goals and longer term education plans. United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi) United Nations International School of Hanoi, commonly known as UNIS Hanoi, follows the International Baccalaureate framework across its secondary years. Students in Grades 6 to 10 study the IB Middle Years Programme before progressing to the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. This provides continuity for families seeking an IB pathway through both middle and upper secondary education. The school also integrates service learning, co curricular activities, technology and university preparation into the wider secondary experience. For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, published annual tuition is USD 35,210 for Grades 6 to 8, USD 37,530 for Grades 9 and 10 and USD 39,870 for Grades 11 and 12. Because UNIS publishes tuition in US dollars, families should also review its payment policy and other applicable charges. A spacious, modern school with a thriving learning environment. British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi) British International School Hanoi follows a British oriented pathway during the secondary years. Students study through Key Stage 3 before progressing to IGCSE courses in Years 10 and 11. In Years 12 and 13, students can choose between the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the BIS Hanoi Diploma. These pathways provide different levels of structure and flexibility depending on the student’s academic strengths and future university plans. For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, published annual tuition is VND 846.8 million for Years 7 to 9, VND 893.2 million for Years 10 and 11 and VND 970.2 million for Years 12 and 13. Families should also check what is included in tuition and which additional costs may apply. British International School Hanoi, featuring an international-standard curriculum British Vietnamese International School Hanoi (BVIS Hanoi) British Vietnamese International School Hanoi is a separate school from BIS Hanoi despite the similar names. BVIS follows a British based academic pathway while maintaining a bilingual and bicultural approach across the wider school experience. At secondary level, students progress towards IGCSE qualifications in Years 10 and 11. In Years 12 and 13, they can continue with Cambridge International A Levels or the school’s High School Diploma pathway, depending on their academic goals and intended progression. Published tuition for 2026 to 2027 starts at VND 582.6 million for Year 7, rises to VND 606.8 million for Years 10 and 11 and reaches VND 661.5 million for Years 12 and 13. For families comparing BIS and BVIS, the key distinction is not simply the school name. The two schools differ in language environment, curriculum positioning and upper secondary pathways. British Vietnamese International School Hanoi's modern campus Concordia International School Hanoi (CISH) Concordia International School Hanoi offers an American style secondary pathway. Middle School covers Grades 6 to 8, while High School spans Grades 9 to 12 and follows a credit based structure. High School students can combine core subjects with electives, Advanced Placement courses and selected Dual Credit options. Some Dual Credit mathematics courses allow eligible students to earn both high school and university credit through Concordia University Nebraska. Concordia states that it is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Lutheran School Accreditation Commission. For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, published tuition is approximately VND 912.2 million for Grades 6 to 8, VND 1.002 billion for Grades 9 and 10 and VND 1.039 billion for Grades 11 and 12. An overview of Concordia International School Hanoi International Secondary Schools in Hanoi Comparison School Secondary Curriculum Upper Secondary Pathway Published 2026 to 2027 Tuition Westlink International School IB MYP or Bilingual Middle Years Planned IB DP currently at candidate stage Bilingual VND 274 to 290M and published IB MYP grades VND 579 to 614M UNIS Hanoi IB MYP IB Diploma Programme USD 35,210 – 39,870 BIS Hanoi Key Stage 3 and IGCSE IBDP or BIS Hanoi Diploma VND 846.8 to 970.2M BVIS Hanoi British based curriculum and IGCSE International A Levels or High School Diploma VND 582.6 to 661.5M Concordia International School Hanoi American curriculum High School Diploma with AP and Dual Credit options VND 912.2M to 1.039B The figures above represent published tuition rather than the complete cost of attendance. Additional costs and services included within tuition differ between schools, so families should confirm the latest fee schedule before making a financial comparison. Which International Secondary School Pathway May Suit Your Child For Students Who Prefer Inquiry and Interdisciplinary Learning An IB MYP environment may suit students who enjoy asking questions, exploring connections between subjects and applying knowledge through projects and real world contexts. Westlink and UNIS Hanoi both offer authorised MYP programmes, although their wider secondary pathways differ. Families considering this route should also look carefully at what follows MYP. UNIS currently continues into an authorised IB Diploma Programme, while Westlink’s planned Diploma Programme remains at candidate stage. For Students Who Prefer a Structured Subject Pathway BIS Hanoi and BVIS Hanoi both lead students towards IGCSE during the secondary years. Their upper secondary pathways then differ, with BIS offering the IB Diploma Programme or BIS Hanoi Diploma, while BVIS offers International A Levels or its High School Diploma pathway. This structure may suit students who prefer clearly defined academic subjects and want to specialise progressively as they move towards university. For Students Who Want More Course Flexibility Concordia provides a different model through an American credit based high school curriculum. Students can combine compulsory subjects with electives, AP courses and selected Dual Credit opportunities. This can suit students who want more flexibility to explore different academic interests before narrowing their university direction. For Families Wanting Vietnamese Curriculum Continuity Families should distinguish between a fully international secondary pathway and a bilingual pathway. Westlink’s Bilingual Middle Years Programme maintains Vietnamese curriculum components alongside international learning, while its international stream follows the IB MYP. A bilingual route may be appropriate for families who want to preserve greater continuity with Vietnamese education while still developing academic English and international learning skills. Questions to Ask During an International Secondary School Visit A school tour should help parents understand how the programme operates in practice rather than simply provide a view of the campus. Ask which curriculum applies to your child’s exact grade, how students are assessed, what happens at the next transition point and what support is available for students entering from another school system. It is also useful to discuss class size, English language support, subject choices, pastoral care, extracurricular activities, university counselling and the full annual fee structure. For older students, parents should ask specifically about MYP, IGCSE, AP, A Level or IB Diploma subject options. Frequently Asked Questions About International Secondary Schools What Age Do International Secondary Schools Usually Start International secondary education generally begins around age 11. Depending on the school system, this may correspond to Grade 6 in an American or IB structure or Year 7 in a British curriculum. Secondary education usually continues until ages 17 or 18 through programmes such as the IB Diploma, International A Levels or an American High School Diploma. Which Curricula Do International Secondary Schools in Hanoi Offer International secondary schools in Hanoi offer several major pathways, including IB MYP and DP, British Key Stage 3 and IGCSE, International A Levels, American curricula with AP courses and bilingual programmes. The exact pathway depends on the school and year group, so parents should compare the curriculum offered at the specific stage their child is entering. What Is the Difference Between IB MYP and IGCSE IB MYP is a curriculum framework generally designed for students aged 11 to 16. It emphasises conceptual understanding, interdisciplinary learning, enquiry and transferable skills. IGCSEs are subject based qualifications usually studied during Years 10 and 11. Students select individual subjects and complete assessments that may include formal examinations and coursework. How Much Do International Secondary Schools in Hanoi Cost Published 2026 to 2027 tuition varies widely. Some bilingual secondary pathways cost below VND 300 million per year, while several full international programmes range from around VND 600 million to more than VND 1 billion annually. The final cost may also include application fees, deposits, transport, meals, trips, examinations and additional learning support. Is an IB Candidate School the Same as an Authorised IB World School No. Candidate status means a school is working towards authorisation for a particular IB programme but has not yet received it. Parents should therefore check each IB programme separately. A school may already be authorised for PYP or MYP while another programme, such as DP, is still at candidate stage. Shortlist International Secondary Schools Before You Decide Choosing between international secondary schools requires families to consider more than reputation or tuition. Curriculum continuity, learning style, language support, future qualifications and university plans can all influence whether a school remains suitable throughout the secondary years. Once you have narrowed the options to two or three schools, visiting the campuses can help you compare how each curriculum works in practice. Families considering Westlink can book a school tour to explore its IB MYP and bilingual secondary pathways and discuss the most suitable route for their child.
