After having two children at International Schools in HCMC for 8 years finally came to the conclusion that the cost of their education at schools in HCMC was not worth the expenditure. Look at the Tier 1 schools in HCMC and you will discover that they charge much the same. Is that a coincidence or what?
Good private schools in the UK or USA, boarding schools in Malaysia, and long established private schools in other neighbouring countries charged less that the International Schools in HCMC. How can that be?
Parents are subjected to educational scare tactics which the schools are well practiced at. Pupils are pushed hard with many hours of homework which saves the teachers actually teaching. They are pushed towards either IB or AP courses which are stated as being the requirement for University entrance.
Only when they complete the subjects and they are in their final year does the SAT exam requirement become known. If the children have completed a US curriculum education they will need a SAT exam score before they can apply to a University. Yet another cost not mentioned in the glossy brochure.
Teachers are always going on about how they only care about the pupils but that does not stop them doing the two year stint and moving on. The pupils then have to get used to yet another new teacher.
Not really ideal for their education but that is the situation in most International Schools in HCMC. A rip off from start to finish with most being populated by pupils whose fees are being paid by their employer.
Could go on and on with more observations but think that the above is enough for readers to get the picture. Approach with caution and don't believe everything you are told at the admissions interview.