International schools in Da Nang

Hello, I know your post was a while ago but are you still in Hoi An? My family and I may move there in  the new year and I was wanting to know a bit more about the schools. I have 2 kids, 12 and 14 and was looking for reviews on schools. Also any other info on living in Danang/Hoi An. They attend an IB school in HCMC at the moment.
Thanks

Hi. Yes, I am still living in Hoi An. The homeschool teacher we used several years ago was not very good and we cancelled her. Then my kids went to Palm River. It is a nice small school, and inexpensive, but they weren't learning much. The older kids just learning online with a computer, so why am I paying tuition? I checked all the other options. From my research, I wasn't impressed with Green Shoots School, lessons mostly just following printed curriculm. I was most impressed with Singapore School, as well as the American International School (next door to the American University). However, the tuition prices would have overwhelmed me for either school, and they are both a long commute from Hoi An (half hour), and a little too serious and strict lessons (more geared towards rich Vietnamese that want to send their kids to an overseas university), while my kids are a little too laid back. But both have REAL teachers, REAL cerrification, and  real books, library, chemistry, etc... Now I would go back to Skyline. It is inexpensive, laid back, and  offers forignor or a Vietnamese curriculm. My kids went before to the Danang campus, but they just opened up a new school in Hoi An that is great. However, they dont offer all grades yet in Hoi An, and its a long commute to send kids to the Danang campus if they dont have your kids grade in Hoi An. BUT, as you have been here a while, I am sure you have figured out how these "international" schools work in Vietnam. It is either legit, which means REAL international certification of the school, (not just they applied for it), and REAL certified foreign teachers. But tuition is like 15k USD/ year minimum, with a bunch of extra fees, PER kid. The rest of the international schools means they just follow a foreign curriculm (you can just buy these same study books at a big book store), with the token forignor, who isnt a real teacher at all, but just got their TOEFL certificate and is here on an extended holiday, working to pay for the vacation, with a REAL teacher who is Vietnamese behind them (the foreignor figurehead is make like $1500 a month, while the Vietnamese real teacher is paid a few hundred, but they need the forignor to look like they are a legit forignor school). This same game is played all over the world, as people try to open an "international school" by hiring the backpacker, using a printed curriculm from say Singapore or the British school system, but charging ridiculous prices. What a racket, as they fleece the foreign parents, thinking their kids are actually getting a real education. On top of that, we have school closure all the time due to Covid restrictions, yet these schools expect you to keep paying thousands of dollars a month when your kid is at home? Sorry, not me.... So what do I recommend after all that? Well, it all depends on your kids and your expectations. In the end, I decided to homeschool my kids myself (I had gotten my first bachelors as a teacher a long time ago), and my kids went up 4 grades in a year, and happier from it, saving me $45k a year. Sorry for the length, hope that helps.

Thanks For your reply. Do you know much about Hoi An International School? It seems like a nice school. Not sure if we will be living in Hoi An or Danang yet so we will be looking for somewhere to rent too. Are there many expat families in Hoi An or are they typically in Danang?

I looked into this school briefly, they opened recently, I think about 2 years or so. Looking at the website, the yearly tuition is $17k/ year (395vnd) plus extra costs, for each child. I can't see any true international school certifications listed (should be C.I.S. or other, fully accredited, not just applied), only a few foreignor teachers, and unable to see if we are talking about foriegnors that are licensed in the West, with a teaching degree and experience (my guess not). Instead, looks like mostly Vietnamese teachers, which they probably pay $200 a month (just look up the average teacher salary for Vietnam), but you are paying them $1500 a month (9 months of school) along with all the other parents, for what? Just "Cambridge", which is the study books the book store sells. Unless they are actually accredited (be careful how they word their accreditation), and have real long term foreign teachers (I am talking teaching for years in Vietnam, with a teaching license, no TOEFL backpackers), than for that money, I would suggest Singapore School, Skyline, or American International, but they test to get in. (The mere fact these other schools dont test just demonstrates they want the money only). I am not involved in Expat community, but there is more in Hoi An, if that is your thing. Without Covid, Hoi An is completely saturated with tourists like Venice and not much of a local culture, which has destroyed its beauty in my opinion. But right now it is wonderful, like it used to be. Danang is a real city with all the amenities, shopping, restaurants, night life. Thats it for me.

Just a follow up. Although I homeschool my kids now, I was curious again about the local international school offerings, as I hadnt checked it out recently. I looked up again the accredidations for schools in Danang, Hoi An area. There are 3 legit certifications for an international school- CIS, WASC, and IB. There are no IB (International Baccalaureate) schools in Danang/ Hoi An. This seems like the best certification, as they want over 50% of teachers to gave a Masters Degree in Education from a Western University, with a history of teaching ecperience to back it up from what I can tell (Hoi An International Schools has "applied" for this. I applied at Harvard too. Do I have an Ivy League education?). The American School in Danang (next to the American Public University), I thought was amazing when I went there to check it out, but I believe only their Ho Chi Minh Campus has accredidation (I think WASC).  Green Shoots in Hoi An has also "applied" for Council of International School Accredidation, but not gotten it yet according to the CIS website (just to say you follow the Cambridge Education doesnt mean anything other than that is the study books you use, Singapore model ). So if you can afford the tuition at an accredited WASC, IB, or CIS school (ballpark 15kper year per child, plus additional fees for books, uniforms, etc, so need to budget 20, which is basically Ivy League school price, but at least you know your money is going to an accredited school and not lining someones pockets who is paying their fake teachers a barely livable wage), and your kids are smart enough to test to get in and want to study that much (I believe they go to an IB school already), then the only option is Singapore International School, with the American School as a good second option in this area. Hanoi and Saigon have all the real options for these types of schools. Good luck, Robert.

I found this thread while looking for info on schools in this area. I realise it's an old thread but for the benefit of anyone else who finds it in the future:

We have 3 kids of secondary age and unfortunately at the moment neither Greenshoots nor Hoi An international cater for post-16, Greenshoots is hoping to introduce the IBDP in the near future but it'll be too late for my daughter, At present they only teach up to IGCSE. Surprisingly, Hoi An International School also only teaches up to IGCSE. They will take in A-level students but don't have Alevel teachers, instead they use online education providers based in the UK.

We have found that going direct to these online providers will cost a fraction of the fees that the Hoi An school charges and it's hard to see how they justify the mark-up,

Anyway, if these schools don't suit you are are too expensive, have a look at Wolsey Hall. They also teach IGCSE and middle school.

We haven't finalised our decision yet. I would much prefer face to face education for my children so we are also thinking about SIS. If we decide to go online for the eldest (starting A-levels this year) we may still look at Greenshoots for the others in the hope that by the time the next one finishes IGCSE, the IB programme there will be up and running.

@lilyfish Have you checked out Skyline school? I believe their campus in Đanang offers this. Many international schools simply rely on online schools, with many of these programs being low quality, and you could do at home for a fraction of the cost, they are just babysitting for you. No IB program approved yet in central Vietnam, and most foreign teachers are not teachers at all (no teaching credentials or certification in any country, not even a Bachelors in Education, only TEFL paper that takes one month and teaching experience, primarily teaching English, not in any other subjects). That’s because the govt only approves work visas for teaching English. Just start asking deep questions at the school office and notice how they avoid a clear answer on the credentials of their teachers. Schools here are mostly a money racket unless you want to go to an IB school in Hanoi or Saigon and spend over $25k a year. The schools appear fancy because they are making the cash, just do the math- charge $1500 a month for a class of 21 kids and only rent an young traveler that wants to live overseas for $1500 a month salary ( with no desire for a lifelong career as an educator).  The school administration just pocketed $30000 a month for doing nothing, just for one class, so they are banking millions every year in your typical international “school” here (if you can even call it that). Singapore school in Đanang is the only one that at least is a credentialed school (WASC), but still the same  Cambridge teaching, not IB. Thanks, Robert.

@lilyfish oh, I forgot to mention: they hire legit Vietnamese teachers for “support” in the classrooms in basically a ruse to the government. By having actual certified teachers (Vietnamese, because the backpack foreigner isn’t), then the govt can certify them as an actual school. Of course, these aren’t the ones teaching, and only getting paid $400 a month ($20 for all day) vs the unqualified foreigners on vacation making $20 an hour). But if the school was staffed with actual English speaking qualified certified Vietnamese teachers, no foreigners would attend: they need the typically white female “teachers” to attract the foreign rich kids. It only makes sense from a money hungry perspective, profiting from foreign parents ignorance, yet ruining their kids future- where can they actually go with this? Certainly not a university.

Are you talking about the Hoi An school? It would make sense, you can't get A-level teachers for that kind of money and while I can imagine it might be possible to bluff your way to teaching IGCSE, that wouldn't be the case for A-level

I understand that Greenshoots is going for IB accreditation so they must have properly qualified staff, the IB people don't mess about.

Applying for IB is a great step but not nearly the same as getting accredited. Hội An International School also was trying to get it but now they gave up and just using Cambridge. Most of these schools use the “we are applying for. … (accreditation)” just to lure in more students (profit) without ever achieving it, which makes me skeptical they were even serious “applying” for it. I would just interview the prospective teacher for your kids class and ask for their specific certifications (not years of experience), along with looking at textbooks/ tests/ recent essays written by  their students. So far, all the Hội An schools have disappointed me once you look under the rug. Skyline uses the same curriculum and teachers, but alot less expensive. Singapore International and American School are impressive if you can afford it, and at the same price as Green Shoots, I would choose either of those (chemistry lab, library, textbooks, etc much higher quality). Hope my opinion helps, Robert.

Anyway, if these schools don't suit you are are too expensive, have a look at Wolsey Hall. They also teach IGCSE and middle school.

-@lilyfish

Having read back I realise this line might not make sense.  Wolsey Hall is one of several providers in the UK offering online education and it's the preferred choice of Hoi An school (so they told me). If you look at their website, you'll see overseas/travelling families are one of their target groups as your kids can study with them wherever you are in the world. You can get an idea of fees by choosing your children's age/stage and subjects required - it comes in much cheaper than an international school place.

I'd still far prefer that my children could be in a real school with real teachers, but at the moment the options for that are limited.

Virtual classrooms and online distance learning is mostly a waste of money, as this pandemic certainly demonstrated (with most kids like 2 years behind despite years “studying” online). If your kids succeed in this, great, but most kids tune out after a half hour. Obviously you must pay more for a decent (accredited) online school, which Wolsey Hall appears, so they can actually pass a test to get into college, but the question isn’t so much on which online provider to choose (of the huge choices, although commonly religious based), but if your kids can actually learn anything all day taking online classes. In other words, you must oversee them completing the assignments and be engaged, which most parents don’t have the time for (or remember how to do calculus). Wolsey Hall states they only give you a tutor at the beginning, the end, and once in the middle, which means the rest is unguided. There are other virtual tutoring options, such as Varsity Tutors, but can your kid connect with an online teacher to actually explain the lesson? My kids certainly can’t and that is why I am homeschooling my older one (I have a teaching degree which helps), by making my own curriculum and 1:1 learning, while my other kids go to Skyline. Therefore, my suggestion remains with Singapore International School or American School in Đanang if they offer real classes for your kids age and not having to pay a premium for doing online learning, particularly if the person watching over them doesn’t understand what they are learning online. Best regards.

Oh, it looks like Green Shoots and Hội An International School now have the CIS accreditation (Council of International Schools, which is the European accreditation , the American system uses WASC, and some of the best schools are dually accredited, like APU). This doesn’t stipulate that teachers are certified, just that the curriculum follows the standards. I think the IB certification has strict teacher requirements and certainly a more rigorous program , which we will see if Green Shoots actually achieves. Obviously if you are paying around $1200 a month just for a kid to go to school you would expect a certified teacher rather than just some backpacker on an extended vacation, but people can be gullible.

And not surprisingly, the Green Shoots owner ran away with everyones tuition money (https://ampe.vnexpress.net/news/educati … 50457.html). I think they tried to open a classroom at Victory school to appease the obviously distressed parents who lost all that money.  Sad. As I stated, most International Schools are ripping off their students while avoiding accountability as they hide behind the facade of foreign teachers. where is the college acceptance rates of their graduates? where are the teaching licenses? ask the right questions before signing up or you can only blame yourself.

And another international school in the news… be careful and fully investigate a school before enrolling. https://ampe.vnexpress.net/news/news/ed … 58104.html

    And not surprisingly, the Green Shoots owner ran away with everyones tuition money (https://ampe.vnexpress.net/news/educati … 50457.html). I think they tried to open a classroom at Victory school to appease the obviously distressed parents who lost all that money.  Sad. As I stated, most International Schools are ripping off their students while avoiding accountability as they hide behind the facade of foreign teachers. where is the college acceptance rates of their graduates? where are the teaching licenses? ask the right questions before signing up or you can only blame yourself.
        -@robertwnagel

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 16#5746767

    And another international school in the news… be careful and fully investigate a school before enrolling. https://ampe.vnexpress.net/news/news/ed … 58104.html-@robertwnagel

(from the story)

Tung said if he deposited VND3 billion into the bank then the interest he gets every year is not enough to pay the tuition fees at international schools.

So truthfully, this is not a story about the risks of paying tuition for regular enrollment.

It's about people who loaned money to schools in return for free tuition.

The carrot being the chance to get something for free that they couldn't otherwise afford from the interest on regular savings interest.

So in essence, they bought JUNK BONDS because they were too cheap to dig into their savings as many people do when financing their children's education.

Yeah, definitely be careful before considering that...

Large loans to international schools where the school refuses to honor the loan terms, or closing an international school at the beginning of the semester to leave the country pocketing everyones tuition fees are both examples of fraud. when you combine this with poor accountability regarding teaching and licensing standards at the international schools which often lack any official international or Vietnamese accredidation, parents must do due diligence to properly evaluate whether the schools goal is simply for profit, which is typically the case in my experience. This is not small money, with each student paying between $1500 to $3000 a month, compared to the low income potential of most expat families. It is unfortunate there is a lack of affordable options with a school that is there for the kids and not the dollars. And it is not right the unqualified foreignor on an extended  holiday is making roughly 10 times the income as the licensed Vietnamese teacher- not because of better English skills, but simply to offer the school a ”face” to attract more foreign students (in this case, we should say ”customers”).  Thanks

The accreditation of International schools here is an interesting topic.

I'm in the education field and can share a few things.

Most of these 'accrediting orgs' for example from the UK, charge huge fees directly and indirectly to give the cert, it's a big racket imo. How do you get accredited? Well, firstly, you have to pay for a team of 'auditors' to fly in business class from the UK and be put up at a 5* hotel, all expenses paid. Normally the team consists of 4-10 people, and the duration of stay is typically 2 weeks. Already quite a big outlay and no guarantees of anything yet...

They will then go back and consider your application and inform you of the result. Often times a second visit might be required, again at your expense. You can get into a 6 figure $ outlay and still not get the result you're after.

Many of the school owners, who are used to getting their own way locally with 'payments' usually baulk at this initial outlay and often just give up/don't want to go through with the process. The big schools have the funds to go through this process as they already charge ridiculously huge fees and make huge profits anyway. This keeps the big schools accredited, but can leave the small players, some of which are very good, unable to get the accreditation they need/desire.

Hi Robert,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I emailed Sky line international school in Da Nang and got a respond from them that foreign students need to know Vietnamese because they required to take entrance exams which are in Vietnamese. They don't have a program to teach in 100% English for foreign students. I think I will end up with APU for

my kid.

hi there 

Im Kim from USA   i actually moving me and my 9 year old to Hoi An in July 2025 in Hoi An international studies 

i have scheduled my zoey on an entire day in class to see how she likes it   my main goal is for zoey to be fluent in VN as i am and i plan to take her back to usa   

however things can change and i may like it and stay  never know   VN does allow foreigners to attend public school but the child but be fluent in the language 

its difficult to really know about the international  schools without being there in person.  which is why i am flying there in December. 

i have visited singapore International 2 yrs ago and its very nice and beautiful comes with a cost of 1800/usd a month.  edcuation is not cheap. However i think the offset of cheap housing balances out. 

connect with me  in email and i can update you my schbool trial day  in Hoi An 

Kim

[link moderated]

connect with me  in email and i can update you my schbool trial day  in Hoi An 
Kim
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    -@Seattle520

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