Updated May 2026 · 4 min read
Hanoi's expat education market is dominated by a small number of premium international schools, most of them clustered around the gated residential developments east and west of the centre. One school in the city qualifies for the British Schools Asia index, and at #10 in Asia, it sits comfortably in the regional top tier.
British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi) is the only entry from Hanoi in the index, ranked #10 in Asia. Founded in 2012 and operated by Nord Anglia Education, the school sits inside the Vinhomes Riverside development in Long Bien District, on the eastern bank of the Red River. Around 1,100 students from 31 nationalities are enrolled across Foundation through Year 13.
The school runs the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum at primary level, IGCSE in Years 10–11, and the IB Diploma in Years 12–13. Families seeking A Levels in Hanoi will need to look outside the city, BIS does not offer that pathway.
Fees in context
Top-year fees at BIS Hanoi run to approximately USD 38,000, placing Hanoi above Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and roughly in line with Ho Chi Minh City. BIS fees are also unusually inclusive: school uniform, daily lunch, snacks for Early Years and Primary, learning materials, day trips and mandatory secondary external examinations are bundled into tuition. That is unusual in the region and worth factoring into any cross-city comparison.
What parents should know
Location decides convenience. Vinhomes Riverside is the largest gated expat residential development in Hanoi, and BIS is built into it, many families live and school inside the same compound. Families based in Tay Ho (West Lake), the traditional expat heartland, face a 30–45 minute commute across the Red River, which can be punishing in monsoon season.
Curriculum continuity is the second consideration. If you are committed to A Levels through to university, BIS's IB-only Sixth Form may not fit. If the IB Diploma is your goal, the pathway is well-established and well-resourced.
For a full breakdown, visit the Hanoi city page or browse the full rankings.