International School Ho Chi Minh City

What International School Ho Chi Minh City does

International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) is a privately held, non-denominational, co-educational international school operating two campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Founded in 1991 as Ho Chi Minh City's first IB World School, ISHCMC delivers the full International Baccalaureate continuum for students aged 2-18, including the Early Years programme (ages 2-5), Primary Years Programme (PYP, ages 6-10), Middle Years Programme (MYP, ages 11-15), and Diploma Programme (DP, ages 16-18) with 34+ DP courses available. The school enrolls approximately 1,800 students representing 60+ nationalities and maintains an 8.5:1 student-to-teacher ratio across the Primary Campus at 28 Vo Truong Toan and the Secondary Campus at 1 Xuan Thuy, both located in the An Khanh area of District 2.

The school's core technology and educational platform is the IB curriculum framework, supplemented by MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) standardized assessment and dedicated facilities including a Fab Lab, Makerspace, 350-seat professional theatre, Black Box performance space, recording studios, swimming pools, and air purification systems across both campuses. ISHCMC holds triple accreditation as an IB World School, a NEASC-accredited institution, and a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS). The school is part of the Cognita global education group, a strategic operator managing 85+ schools across 15 countries.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual tuition fees paid by enrolled families, with pricing structured by grade level and program and not publicly disclosed (families must inquire directly). The school employs a sales-led go-to-market motion targeting both expatriate and Vietnamese premium-education families through a five-language website (English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean), personal campus tours, open days, virtual tours, a family referral program, and an agent network. ISHCMC reports 100% university acceptance with 98% of graduates admitted to their top-choice university, an average of 14 university offers per student, and a Class of 2025 average IB score of 34 points versus the global average of 30.

Name

International School Ho Chi Minh City

Legal name

International School Ho Chi Minh City

Website

https://ishcmc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) is a privately held international school operating two campuses in HCMC, Vietnam, delivering the full IB continuum to approximately 1,800 students aged 2-18 from 60+ nationalities, as part of the Cognita global education group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• International education
• IB curriculum
• Primary education
• Secondary education
• University counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Ho Chi Minh City

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: ISHCMC generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to enrolled students. The school offers programs for Early Years, Primary School, and Secondary School (including IB Diploma Programme). Fee structure varies by grade level and program. The school also offers a Family Referral Program as a marketing mechanism.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

ISHCMC delivers a full International Baccalaureate (IB) World School continuum for students aged 2-18, spanning Early Years (ages 2-5), Primary Years Programme/PYP (ages 6-10), Middle Years Programme/MYP (ages 11-15), and Diploma Programme/DP (ages 16-18). The core product is tuition-based schooling delivered across two campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, supplemented by 34+ IB DP course offerings, university counseling, sports (including SISAC league participation), arts, outdoor education, and language support programs. The school generates revenue almost entirely from recurring annual tuition fees paid by enrolled families.

Product overview

ISHCMC is a full IB World School (IB Continuum) for children aged 2-18 years, organized into Early Years (ages 2-5), Primary School (ages 6-10 implementing PYP), and Secondary School (ages 11-18 with MYP and DP pathways). The school offers 34+ IB Diploma Programme courses and three graduation pathways: full IB Diploma, IB Courses, and ISHCMC High School Diploma. Beyond academics, the school provides supplementary programs including After School Activities, Sports & Athletics (featuring ISHCMC Stingrays swimming team and SISAC league), The Arts (with a 350-seat theatre and Performing Arts Academy), Outdoor Education with Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and comprehensive support services including College/University Counseling, Health Centre, Language Programs, and Student Support. The school serves students from 60+ nationalities across two campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, achieving 100% university acceptance with 98% admitted to top choice universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IB Continuum School (PYP, MYP, DP) Full International Baccalaureate continuum schooling for ages 6-18, covering Primary Years Programme (PYP, ages 6-10), Middle Years Programme (MYP, ages 11-15), and Diploma Programme (DP, ages 16-18). The school is Ho Chi Minh City's first and leading IB World School, with 34+ IB DP course offerings.
• Early Years Programme Early childhood education programme for children aged 2-5 years, providing foundational play-based and inquiry-based learning experiences as the starting point for lifelong learning within the IB framework.
• Primary School Programme Primary education for ages 6-10 (Grades 1-5) implementing the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) with inquiry-based learning and transdisciplinary skills; students are reported to exceed US standards in Math, Reading, and Language assessments.
• Secondary School Programme Secondary education for ages 11-18 offering three flexible graduation pathways: full IB Diploma Programme, IB Courses, and ISHCMC High School Diploma. Features 34+ IB DP courses and operates from the Secondary Campus at 1 Xuan Thuy, Ho Chi Minh City.
• College and University Counseling Professional university admission counseling supporting secondary students with applications to top universities worldwide, with a track record of 100% university acceptance rate and 98% admitted to top-choice universities, averaging 14 offers per student.
• After School Activities (ASA)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% university acceptance rate
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CognitacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISHCMC is part of the Cognita global network of 85+ international schools across 15 countries. Cognita provides educational expertise, global standards, professional development, and shared resources across its school network. The partnership enables ISHCMC to leverage international best practices and maintain global educational standards.
• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial IB World School authorized to offer the complete IB continuum (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme). The school follows IB curricula, assessment standards, and pedagogical approaches.
• Duke of Edinburgh's International AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISHCMC partners with the Duke of Edinburgh Award to offer the International Award programme (Bronze and Silver levels) to students aged 14+. The program helps students develop skills, physical fitness, volunteering experience, and adventure through structured activities.
• SISAC (Saigon International Schools Athletic Conference)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISHCMC is a member of SISAC comprising 15 international schools, participating in competitive sports including volleyball, football, basketball, badminton, gymnastics, athletics, and cross-country for three age groups (U11, U14, U19).
• NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISHCMC holds accreditation from NEASC, a premier educational accrediting body. This accreditation demonstrates the school's commitment to meeting high international standards in education.
• CIS (Council of International Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISHCMC is a member of the Council of International Schools network, providing access to global educational resources, professional development, and international school standards.
• Camp AsiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCamp Asia offers holiday camps and programs affiliated with ISHCMC/Cognita, providing extended learning and cultural experiences for students during school breaks.
• ABRSM and RockSchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISHCMC's Performing Arts Academy prepares students for ABRSM and RockSchool music examinations, providing internationally recognized music qualifications that support university applications.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cognita (Parent Group): Global education group operating 85+ international schools across 15 countries. Comparable as the operating parent and benchmarking entity for ISHCMC, with shared standards, curriculum resources, and acquisition pipeline relevant to PE analysis.

Direct peers

• British International School Ho Chi Minh City: Long-established premium international school in HCMC offering a parallel English-medium curriculum track (British/IGCSE/A-Levels) alongside IB. Directly competes with ISHCMC for the same expatriate and affluent Vietnamese family segments and similar tuition levels.
• Australian International School HCMC (AIS): HCMC-based international school offering IB alongside Australian curriculum pathways. Targets the same premium expatriate and Vietnamese families and operates a comparable two-campus model with university counseling focus.
• Saigon South International School (SSIS): IB continuum school in HCMC serving a similar multinational student base. Competes head-to-head with ISHCMC on full IB continuum offerings, university placement outcomes, and premium tuition pricing.
• Nord Anglia International School Ho Chi Minh City: Premium HCMC international school backed by global group Nord Anglia, offering IB continuum. Competes directly for the same premium expatriate and Vietnamese family segment with comparable tuition pricing and university placement focus.
• TAS (The American School): HCMC-based international school offering American-style curriculum with IB DP. Targets similar premium segments with comparable tuition levels and university counseling services.
• Renaissance International School Saigon: IB continuum school in HCMC offering PYP, MYP and DP. Directly competes for the same IB-seeking families with similar positioning on multicultural environment and university outcomes.
• ABC International School (ABCIS): Premium IB school in HCMC operating across multiple campuses. Competes with ISHCMC for both expatriate and affluent Vietnamese students on IB continuum and university placement.
• International School Ho Chi Minh City American Academy (ISHCMC AA): Sister school within the Cognita network in HCMC, also offering an IB-aligned premium international education. Closely comparable in operating model, target families, and tuition tier, even though it operates a separate brand and curriculum emphasis.

Regional players

• United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS Hanoi): Premium IB continuum school in Hanoi serving the same expatriate and affluent Vietnamese family profile. Regional peer operating a comparable full IB continuum with strong university placement outcomes, though in a different city.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ishcmcsaigon
• Instagraminstagram.com/ishcmc.official
• Xx.com/ISHCMC_life

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International School Ho Chi Minh City