Australian International School Saigon (AIS)

What the school is

Curriculum, calendar and school history

The school’s published curriculum is based on IB and Cambridge programmes. Families seeking continuity with an Australian state or territory syllabus should compare the actual subjects and year placement with their child’s current school; despite the name, it does not teach an Australian state syllabus.

AIS follows an August-to-June academic year. The 2025–26 calendar ended on 18 June 2026; use the current calendar for a new application. Families transferring from a January-to-December school year should ask how the different timing affects placement, completed coursework and the proposed start date.

AIS opened in District 3 in 2006, expanded to Thao Dien and Thu Thiem in 2007, and merged with ACG Vietnam in 2013. It joined Inspired Education in 2019. School history dates the introduction of on-site boarding to 2020. Families living outside Ho Chi Minh City can ask about current boarding ages, availability and travel arrangements.

Academics in practice

IB and Cambridge, plus a new American diploma option

AIS reports CIS accreditation, Cambridge centre status and IB authorisation for the PYP and Diploma Programme. Published sources also record NEASC accreditation in December 2025 and an American High School Diploma option for Year 13 graduates alongside the IB Diploma. NEASC accredits institutions; it is not the awarding body for a separate “NEASC diploma.” Ask AIS for the graduation requirements, transcript format and which students can earn both diplomas.

The school reports 2026 IB results of a 35.5 average, a 100% pass rate, 30% scoring at least 38 points and a top score of 45. An earlier school press release celebrated two perfect 45 scores. Keep the examination years separate and request candidate numbers and several years of results before making comparisons.

External reviews describe teachers trained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US and the UK. Cambridge courses may share content with a transferring pupil’s previous programme, but subject combinations and examination boards can differ.

Admissions and cost

2026–27 tuition and charges to confirm

AIS’s own 2026–27 fee schedule sets annual tuition (paid in full) at VND 311,900,000 for Foundation Kindergarten, rising to VND 597,100,000 in Year 1, VND 749,600,000 in Year 7 and VND 908,000,000 in Years 12 and 13. Two- and four-instalment plans cost more; the four-instalment total for Year 12 is VND 962,500,000. Full and school-day boarding for Years 7–13 cost VND 248,100,000 and VND 215,300,000 a year.

The same schedule lists a one-time application fee of VND 3,500,000 and a non-refundable acceptance fee of VND 64,000,000 for Years 1–11 (VND 32,000,000 for kindergarten, with the balance due on reaching Year 1, and for Years 12–13). A second child receives 50% off the acceptance fee; third and subsequent children receive full remission of it plus 20% off tuition.

Older reviews describe academic selection and English-language support, while directories refer to age-appropriate assessment. A school day of 08:00–14:40 is reported, but hours may vary by age or campus. For boarding, ask for availability and the complete package price with its inclusions.

The family experience

Campus journeys and boarding life

Xi, Thao Dien and Thu Thiem serve different ages and locations, so siblings may attend different sites with separate bus coverage, start times and pickup arrangements.

Reviewers describe a family atmosphere, while the school promotes performing arts and sport within the Inspired group. Explore the activities available at the relevant campus and how places are allocated. Boarding families should also ask about weekend supervision, leave arrangements, transport home and how boarders participate in activities with day pupils.