International Education in Vietnam

Five years ago I wrote English Teaching in Saigon: The Jungle.  In it I mentioned the international schools in the city.

To the vast majority of the foreigners I meet, the cost of sending a child to international school is one of the major headaches of having children here. BIS for example, the biggest and most 'prestigious' (not meaning 'the best') international school, charges a $3000 'registration' fee alone, and is $22,000 for students in Year 12 and Year 13. That's right, TWENTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS. That's not including field trips, buses, meals, musical lessons, etc.

Here's a quick comparison of the top international schools and their fees:

School	Registration Fee	Grade One	Grade 12
BIS	$3000	$17000	$22000
ISHCMC	$1000	$15500	$22500
SSIS	$400	$17345	$21355
AIS	$3000	$14500	$18600
RISS	$2000	$12000	$20000
ACG	$3000	$14000	$18000
ISSP	$2000	$12500	$16000
TAS	$1000	$10400	$13000

As you can see, in Vietnam, the costs are fairly similar for all the 'top tier' international and some of the smaller up and coming schools. Is this value for money or market rigging? You might be surprised if I compare these costs with private education elsewhere in the region and even in Europe. 

Singapore: Two of the best private schools in the world

Singapore American School: Fees totaling $15000 before you even get to tuition (for new students). Grade One tuition is  $19500, and Grade 12 $22,000, the same price as both BIS and ISHCMC in Ho Chi Minh City. 

United World College South East Asia: Around $3000 in application fees, a 'development fee' of $5000 for the first year, tuition in Grade One is $20000, Grade 12 $25000. 

Thailand

New International School Bangkok (NIST) - registration/application and other fees up to $10000, tuition in G1 $15000 and G12 $22000.

International School Bangkok (ISB) - registration/application and other fees of $8500, Grade 1 $20,700, Grade 12: $24,500

Malaysia

International School KL (ISKL) - fees around $15000, tuition Grade 1: $18000, Grade 12 $23000.

Even in England, private schools are comparative for the price. For example a private girls school in my home town, Talbot Heath, costs $8000 a year for Year One, and $16500 in senior school. So, cheaper than the international schools in Asia. 

As the article in the new edition of The Word points out, not so many expat families are around at the moment and schools are focusing more and more on the Vietnamese community. BIS has opened BVIS, and CIS is opening BCIS, right across the street from me. The campus is part of the new development called 'Chateau' in Phu My Hung.

These new bilingual schools are mirroring what the pseudo-international schools have been doing for years, but with much better facilities and properly trained staff. 

Many foreigners I know who come here, get married, and then have kids, are often stuck with a stark reality - put your kids in the Vietnamese school system or take them back home for their education.

There is of course the homeschooling option - and thanks to Tyler for pointing out that I had omitted it from my original post (strange because its something I've done a lot of research on too!)  Homeschooling comes with its own obvious challenges but there are people out there doing it here in Vietnam.

Unless you have the qualifications and experience to 'move' into a corporate job that pays for the school fees...or feel comfortable with your child being educated in a Vietnamese school...then its sayonara Vietnam.