List of 19 Best Schools in Hanoi (2026 Fees)

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is an education hub that offers one of the best education systems in Southeast Asia, with schools in Hanoi high on the PISA rankings. In 2015, the country outdid the United Kingdom by ranking 8th in science. Later, in 2012, Vietnam also beat the US and the UK in reading and mathematics.

Children begin compulsory education from the age of six. Before that, children have the option of joining kindergarten or preschool from as early as 18 months old. Primary schools in Hanoi last for five years and focus on subjects such as Vietnamese, moral education, and mathematics. Primary education is compulsory and tuition-free. However, parents cater to certain expenses, such as textbooks and extracurricular activities.

After primary school, children progress to lower secondary, which lasts for four years (grades six to nine). At the lower secondary level, students study literature, mathematics, civic education, and sciences. Their performance in this exam determines whether they will progress to upper secondary school, which lasts for three years and is not compulsory. If students fail to achieve the required grade to enter the general upper secondary school system, they can seek admission at vocational upper secondary Hanoi schools. Programs offered at the upper secondary level, are categorized into three main subject groups:

Natural Sciences
Foreign languages
Social sciences
Technology

Facts about schools in Hanoi

Competition is fierce in schools in Hanoi. The curriculum is also demanding and there have been proposals to change it.
A typical school year begins from August or September all through to May or June. The academic year consists of two semesters with school holidays in between.
Children attend schools for six days a week, that is from Monday to Saturday, and most spend half-days on learning activities.
Public schools are crowded and use a shift system to avoid overcrowding. This means that some students attend school in the morning, whereas others participate in the afternoon.
Private and international schools in Hanoi have a different school calendar compared to public schools. As such, private and international schools have longer holidays compared to public schools.
Students who have a general secondary diploma from lower secondary do not have to go to upper secondary. Instead, they can earn a professional secondary degree in shortened two-year programs.
Generally, state-run schools are cheaper than private or international schools.

Edarabia showcases all private schools in Hanoi through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.

Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Hanoi tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

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