Updated May 2026 · 4 min read
Ho Chi Minh City has a deep international school market, but only one school qualifies for the British Schools Asia index, and it sits at #2 in Asia, the highest-ranked British school in Southeast Asia outside Singapore.
British International School Ho Chi Minh City (BIS HCMC) is the only Ho Chi Minh City entry in the index, ranked #2 in Asia. Founded in 1997 and operated by Nord Anglia Education, the school has grown from a small pre-school in District 1 into one of the largest international schools in Vietnam, with approximately 2,300 students from over 55 nationalities.
BIS HCMC runs three purpose-built campuses, Early Years, Junior, and Secondary, all in the An Phu area of District 2, the city's principal expat residential hub. The curriculum follows the English National Curriculum at primary level, IGCSE in Years 10–11, and either A Levels or the IB Diploma in Years 12–13. The dual Sixth Form pathway is unusual in Vietnam and a meaningful differentiator.
Fees in context
Top-year fees at BIS HCMC run to approximately USD 37,500, placing HCMC roughly in line with Hanoi and below Singapore or Hong Kong. Like its sister school in Hanoi, BIS HCMC bundles uniform, daily lunch, snacks for younger students, learning materials, day trips and most co-curricular activities into the headline fee. That makes the all-in cost cleaner to plan around than at schools that itemise extras separately.
What parents should know
District 2's An Phu neighbourhood is the practical answer to "where do British school families live in HCMC". The three campuses sit close together along Nguyen Van Huong Street, which keeps multi-child logistics simple. Families based in District 1 or District 3 should expect a 25–40 minute commute, longer in peak traffic.
Pathway is the second decision. BIS HCMC is one of very few schools in the region that runs both A Levels and the IB Diploma in parallel. Children who change pathway intent late in secondary have meaningful flexibility here.
For a full breakdown, visit the Ho Chi Minh City page or browse the full rankings.