International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC)

What the school is

History, ownership and two campuses

The school moved to District 2 and adopted its current name in 1997. IB Diploma authorisation followed in 1998, with the first IB graduating class in 2000. Its published history dates accreditation through the European international-school body to 1999 and NEASC accreditation to 2008. Since 2011 it has belonged to Cognita, a for-profit group that also operates other schools in Vietnam.

The Primary Campus at 28 Vo Truong Toan Street, An Phu, serves Early Years through Grade 5. The Secondary Campus at 1 Xuan Thuy Street, Thao Dien, serves Grades 6–12 and opened in 2017–18. Facilities there include a 350-seat theatre, rooftop sports field and NBA-size basketball court. School publications report more than 700 primary and 800 secondary pupils.

Published sources include a legal briefing on Vietnamese enrolment at foreign-invested schools. Families whose application may be affected by nationality-related rules should ask admissions for the current requirements and available places. The school’s reported nationality mix does not by itself establish eligibility for an individual applicant.

Academics in practice

The full continuum, three exit pathways

The IB Primary Years and Middle Years programmes lead into three reported options for Grades 11–12: the ISHCMC High School Diploma, selected IB courses alongside that diploma, or the full IB Diploma. School materials describe more than 34 course options and 15 languages, including a self-taught language option.

School and operator publications report an IB average of 34 points, a 98% pass rate for the Class of 2025 and a 57% bilingual-diploma rate. They also cite 98% acceptance to top-choice universities, USD 56 million in scholarships for the Class of 2025 and 2,080 offers for the Class of 2026. These measures need their own dates, cohort sizes and definitions. Offers are not the same as enrolled students, and scholarship totals may include multiple awards offered to the same graduate.

ISHCMC describes its admissions as inclusive and non-selective. Ask how support is assessed and how students are advised between the three graduation options. Published IB averages describe the diploma candidates, not necessarily the entire graduating class. The school also reports Apple Distinguished School recognition in 2025; this is distinct from institutional accreditation.

Admissions and cost

Tuition and development payments

The school’s 2026–27 fee page lists annual tuition of VND 287.4 million for Early Explorers 2 half-day, VND 702.4 million for Kindergarten, VND 769.9 million for Grades 1–2, VND 837.1 million for Grade 5 and VND 1,055.3 million for Grades 11–12; for Grades 1–12 these figures include the VND 67.5 million Annual Development Fee. A one-time admissions fee of VND 25 million (Early Explorers to Kindergarten) or VND 50 million (Grades 1–12) is charged separately. Older reporting gives VND 959 million for the senior years in 2025–26. Compare the same grade and payment basis in the school’s current quotation.

The fee page describes two development-payment options for Grades 1–12: an Annual Development Fee of VND 67.5 million or a one-time Certificate of Entitlement of VND 337.5 million, which the 2026–27 fee schedule offers for Grades 1–10 only (new Grade 11–12 entrants pay the annual fee). Five annual payments at that unchanged rate equal the certificate amount. Which option is better depends on refund, transfer and validity terms for the certificate, which are not published. Get those terms in writing.

The school describes tuition as including uniforms, field trips and individual devices. Transport and specialist support are charged separately. Reported sibling discounts for non-corporate payers are 20% for a third child and 35% for a fourth, applied to the youngest child’s tuition. Show the admission fee and development payment separately when comparing the first-year cash requirement.

The family experience

School runs and activities across two campuses

The primary and secondary campuses are in An Phu and Thao Dien. Families with children on both sites should check start times, pickup arrangements and any transport connection between them. Test the journey from the proposed home at school-run times. The school year generally runs from August to June.