How to Choose a Preschool in Vietnam

Start with curriculum type, not brand names

Ho Chi Minh City preschools tend to fall into a handful of recognisable approaches:

• Montessori — child-led activity, mixed-age classrooms, an emphasis on independence and practical life skills. Works well for children who thrive with self-directed choice.
• Reggio Emilia — project-based and highly creative, with the environment itself treated as a “third teacher.” Tends to suit curious, expressive children.
• Play-based / general international — a looser structure blending free play with early literacy and numeracy groundwork. The most common default, and a safe choice if you’re unsure which philosophy fits.
• Bilingual (English–Vietnamese) — genuinely useful if you plan to stay in Vietnam long-term or want your child fluent in both languages; check the actual weekly split of instruction time, since “bilingual” can mean anything from 50/50 to a token Vietnamese class once a week.

None of these is objectively “best” — the right one depends on your child’s temperament and your own plans (are you here for one year or ten?).

Budget realistically, including the extras

Tuition at international and bilingual preschools in HCMC varies enormously — roughly from a few million VND a month at smaller local-international schools to well over 20 million VND a month at the most established international campuses. Before comparing headline tuition figures, ask about enrolment fees, facility fees, meals, school buses, and end-of-term deposits — these can add 15–30% to the sticker price and are easy to miss when you’re comparing brochures side by side.

Location matters more than it seems

A 20-minute commute sounds trivial until you’re doing it twice a day with a tired toddler through Ho Chi Minh City traffic. Visit at actual drop-off or pick-up time, not just during a quiet midday tour — it’س the only way to see real traffic, real crowding at the gate, and how staff actually manage the handover.

Questions worth asking on a visit

• What’s the actual child-to-teacher ratio in the age group my child would join — not the school-wide average?
• What’s staff turnover been like this year? High turnover in the lead teacher role is worth probing.
• How do you support a child who doesn’t speak English (or Vietnamese) yet on day one?
• What happens if my child gets sick or has an accident during the day — what’s the actual protocol, and how fast can I be reached?
• Can I see a real daily schedule, not the marketing version?

A few honest red flags

Be cautious of schools that won’t let you visit an actual class in session, that are vague about qualifications of lead teachers versus assistants, or that pressure you to pay a large non-refundable deposit before you’ve seen the classroom your child would actually join. A good school is used to parents asking hard questions and won’t flinch at them.

Trust your child’s reaction, not just yours

If possible, bring your child along for at least part of a visit. A three-year-old who lights up at the sensory corner or clings to you and won’t look at the teacher is telling you something a brochure can’t.