One of Vietnam’s most interesting cities, Ho Chi Minh City is considered the economic capital of the Southeast Asian country. Ho Chi Minh City is the preferred destination of most expats in Vietnam. This is primarily because of the city’s outstanding quality of education offered to both locals and immigrants. Moreover, studying at schools in Ho Chi Minh City is affordable compared to neighboring Asian cities such as Hong Kong or Tokyo. Show
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Table of ContentsFacts about Schools in Ho Chi Minh City
Ready to explore schools in Ho Chi Minh City? Find the best school for your child. Below is a comprehensive list of all schools in Ho Chi Minh City. Edarabia strives to offer the latest updates, helping you find the best schools in Ho Chi Minh City with information on tuition fees, accreditation details, videos, photos, location map, community reviews and ratings. Edarabia showcases all private schools in Ho chi minh city through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students. Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Ho chi minh city tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly. Tuition at the most expensive international school in Ho Chi Minh City is set to hit VND924 million (about US$39,500) for the upcoming school year. HCMC now has 13 international schools and nine private institutions which have foreign investment and curricula. For the upcoming school year, many will raise tuition fees by VND50 million. Tuition will go up to VND457 million per year for preschools, VND684 million for elementary schools and VND924 million for high schools, according to recent data. Parents who make a one-time payment for the whole school year will get discounts of 5-10%. The International School Ho Chi Minh City charges the highest, with 11th and 12th graders subjected to tuition of VND924 million per year while those from first to 10th grade pay VND624-809 million. Saigon South International School has announced tuition at VND671-790 million per year for high-school students, VND629 million for elementary students and VND454-516 million for preschool children. Among schools that have announced tuition, EMASI International Bilingual Schools charges the lowest, at VND221-321 million for high-school and VND124-131 million for preschool. Depending on each school, extra fees may be incurred for textbooks, stationery, uniforms, and extracurricular activities, which can cost up to an additional VND20 million per year. If parents register for their children to have lunch and use a school bus, it can cost up to an extra VND75 million per year. By the end of 2022, HCMC had 2,355 schools. Of them, 1,350 were public schools, collecting tuition fees of about VND900,000-2.7 million per year. Education in Vietnam is becoming more important for the country and its population. Here is everything students need to know about earning a degree.Vietnam, the tiny coastal country in Southeast Asia has a population of a whopping 92.7 million. With an increasing population, education in Vietnam is becoming a growing concern, and one the government is taking seriously. Despite the issues in the system (which we will explain), there are real initiatives being made to make an education for Vietnamese students a priority as well as a feasible option. Let’s take a look in to the background, the issues in the educational system, and the options Vietnamese students have in gaining a higher education. The Vietnamese Education System: A BackgroundThe Types of EducationThere are four types of education in the Vietnamese educational system, and within these types are all the levels of schooling — from preschool to PhD. Public: Public education is established and monitored by the government, which means the state chooses the administrators and staff, along with the quota. Semi-public: Semi-public education is set up by the government by using organizations and individuals in the society to invest together. People-founded: Social or economic organizations, with permission from the government, establish institutions with non-State budget funding. Private: Individuals or groups invest and establish institutions with the permission of the government. There may be a rise in private education, yet students from private schools still represent a clear minority of those who apply to higher education institutions abroad.  Source: Unsplash Some Quick StatsTo get an idea of what the Vietnamese education system is dealing with, here are some statistics on each school level. Primary
Secondary
Postsecondary
Issues in EducationLike all education systems, regardless of their location in the world, education in Vietnam has its issues. Teaching quality, accessibility, and style of education are some areas that can be improved. Here’s an explanation on each issue. Source: Unsplash Teaching QualityThe higher education system as a whole is dealing with a number of major issues, such as an outdated curriculum, a weak link between what’s taught and research activities, and a large gap between theory and practical training which means many graduates are left with degrees but without a job. According to recent Vietnamese media reports, most new university graduates are unable to find work, often due to a lack of skills. Despite being taught a lot during their studies, Vietnamese graduates are left without practical knowledge due to the issue that the main of studying hard is to pass exams. And of those who are employed, 61% said they lacked sufficient working skill, 42% lacked experience and 32% reported insecure professional expertise. Style of EducationAnother main issue in the Vietnamese education system is the fact that the system is built upon a teacher-centered method of learning. Class discussions are rare, and students are expected to be passively attentive in the classroom. This is definitely a sharp contrast to the American learning style where classroom interaction is more highly valued and considered an important feature of learning. Source: Pexels Although the international schools generally utilize a more western model, students at public and private high schools in the country receive what can be called ‘passive education.’ The emphasis in this type of education is placed on knowledge acquisition by means of memorization. Rather than critical thinking and experiential learning, Vietnamese students are more focused on studying for exams. Even STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) students spend very little time in a lab environment. When it comes to high school graduates looking to become college students, they’re challenged by the fact that they have little writing experience upon graduating. And since test scores determine placement in higher education, students spend an excess amount of time outside of school in private classes. That means important things like elective classes, school clubs, arts and hobbies are all devalued. AccessibilityThere are issues of accessibility in which the the education system in Vietnam isn’t absorbing the amount of youth that is increasing every year. 37% of the population is under the age of 25, yet Vietnamese universities only have capacity for one third of the applicants. With an ever-growing population in the last few decades, the education system is having trouble keeping up and the quality of education is being compromised. The universities are becoming overcrowded which leads to ‘mushrooming’ of low-quality private providers. All these issues in the education system are motivating aspiring Vietnamese students to seek international education, whether in the country or abroad. The government is keen on the idea of internationalization, providing scholarship programs and funding for studying abroad, some programs offering up to $15,000 annually per student. But despite the government’s initiatives, most Vietnamese students are self-funded which is a deep burden considering the cost of international education. Of the students that do head abroad for an education, more than 60% prefer to study in English-speaking Western countries. Higher Education is on the RiseThe good news is that the Vietnamese government acknowledges its shortcomings in the education system and are taking real initiatives to make improvements. Currently, the country is going through a major transition as government policy is moving toward increased liberalization. Education is the largest priority on the government’s agenda, at 20% (USD $10 billion) as of 2015. Compare that to the global average of 14.1%. Education is of high importance to the Vietnamese, with enrollment in higher education increasing dramatically every year. Take the fact that the amount of students at the college and university level increased from 133,000 in 1987 to 2.12 million by 2015 which account for 28% of the population. Source: Pexels There is an increasing demand for more vocational and job training options. Industrial employment opportunities are growing in Vietnam and so in May 2017, the World Bank approved $155 million in financing to support research, teaching and the quantity of higher education institutions. There is an understanding recently that test scores and literacy are not sufficient in the workforce and that graduates need real skills, such as cognitive, behavioral, and technical skills — skills that have been rare up until recently. The country’s citizens are relatively young and eager to learn and succeed, which is why there are real demands on the education system. As more Vietnamese families are reaching middle-income status, there is more willingness and opportunity to invest in higher education. That means there is a higher demand for international, high-quality education, either in accredited schools in Vietnam or abroad. Study DestinationsThere are lots of options for Vietnamese students to study in their country, but when it comes to college-bound students, there seems to be a trend. They tend to end up in the national university system by means of placement tests, studying at private foreign universities with a local campus, or studying abroad in the United States, Canada, Australia, or Europe. The US is the most popular choice among Vietnamese students, with Australia coming in second, followed by Japan, France, and Canada. Source: Pexels English is actually a mandatory subject in most Vietnamese schools, and thus English fluency has risen dramatically. Speaking English is a major advantage for Vietnamese students due to the fact that many are well-versed in English as a second language. This reduces the real problem of having a language barrier when studying abroad. Top Choices for International StudentsVietnamese students should be aware of online education as a viable option in getting an education, be it at the undergraduate or graduate level. And with costs always increasing in higher education, tuition-free education is in high demand and highly valued among aspiring students. University of the People offers tuition-free quality education that is 100% online. International students are among the majority of the students enrolled. With degrees in Health Science, Computer Science, Education, and Business Administration, students have options within those areas to study at the Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s level. Getting a degree in the US is a popular choice among international students. Check out our article on the secrets of getting a Master’s in the US, and our article on getting into American universities can give you a better idea on what it takes to become an international student. Among the most popular American colleges as of 2018, the following reported the highest percentages of international students: A Guide to Studying in VietnamVietnam is also a popular destination for tourists, including students who want to study abroad. The popular cities that students choose to study in include Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi as well as Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Hue, which have scenic and cultural attractions. The following are universities listed among the top 20 in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon, is a bustling and international city. The city is home to the following universities in the list of the top 20:
Da Nang is a larger coastal city, but it’s more of a quieter escape. The universities among the top 20 include:
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and it’s been ranked as one of the world’s top ten destinations by TripAdvisor in the last couple of years. Of the top 20 universities, those in Hanoi include:
Popular Subjects to Study in Vietnamese UniversitiesThe following subjects are among the popular fields of study that students in Vietnam tend to study: Business. For those who want to search for international business perspectives, Vietnam can give you a chance to visit its companies and learn about working with other cultures. Vietnamese. For those interested in learning languages, Vietnam is one language you can learn and immerse yourself in the culture which is always a surefire way to learn a language. There are intensive language classes, tutors, and a great learning environment. Asian Studies. Vietnam is an ideal place to learn about urbanization, tourism, economic development and how it affects Southeast Asia. How Much it Costs to Study in VietnamThere are private and public universities in Vietnam and the tuition costs vary greatly between the two types. The tuition for public universities is low due to being heavily subsidized by the government. Tuition at a public university is about $200 per year. Private universities, on the other hand, are a lot pricer. Some private colleges have tuition ranging from $2000 to $10,000 a year. Whether you’re a Vietnamese citizen or an international student looking to study in Vietnam, the country is full of opportunities. While it has its shortcomings, Vietnam is becoming increasingly ready to provide quality education that’s worth the experience. What is the most expensive school in Vietnam?So, what is the most expensive school in Vietnam? The highest tuition fees are charged by VinUni International, at 816 million VND per year, or 350 million for their Bachelor of Nursing program. Which school has the most expensive tuition?According to a study by BrokeScholar, the most expensive college in the US for the 2022-23 academic year, based on tuition and required fees, is Columbia University. How much is college tuition in Vietnam?Tuition and Program DurationYearly tuition at public schools is low, from free to about $US 1,000 for Vietnamese students. International students pay rates from about $US 1,000 to $US 2,500 per year. Private schools are somewhat expensive, with total program tuition ranging from about $US 30,000 to $US 40,000. How much does it cost to go to international schools in Vietnam?Secondary tuition fees for Year 7 range from around VND 76,000,000 (US $3,350) at the Asian International School to at Adventist International Mission School to VND 584,000,000 (US $25,100) at International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) (Secondary). The average cost is VND 390,000,000 (US $17,170). |
