Preschools in HCMC: An Expat Parent’s Early-Years Guide (2026)

For families with kids under six, the early-years question lands before almost anything else about moving to Ho Chi Minh City. The good news: the city has a deep bench of nurseries, bilingual preschools, Montessori houses and full international early-years programmes. The catch: fees range enormously, “international” on a signboard doesn’t always mean what you think, and a school’s location quietly dictates where your daily life will work.

This guide maps the main expat preschool clusters, gives honest 2026 fee bands, and flags the checks parents most often skip — then connects it to where to actually live.

Quick answer: the best preschool areas for expat families

• Thao Dien (An Khanh Ward): the strongest early-years cluster — the most schools, the most walk-to-cafe-and-clinic convenience, the most expat families. Default choice if school is the priority.
• Phu My Hung / District 7: quieter planned streets, larger campuses, a settled South Saigon school ecosystem. Great if a parent works in the south; less so for a CBD commute.
• The Estella / An Phu side (Binh Trung Ward): newer condo stock with access to An Phu and Thu Thiem early-years schools.
• Binh Thanh & District 1: excellent apartments and CBD convenience, but fewer verified expat-preschool anchors nearby — usually a “live here, drive to Thao Dien for school” choice.

Nursery, preschool, kindergarten: what the age bands mean

The English labels overlap, so anchor to Vietnam’s Education Law, which defines early-childhood institutions by age:

• Nursery / nhà trẻ — childcare for roughly 3 to 36 months.
• Preschool / mẫu giáo — for roughly 3 to 6 years.
• Combined early-childhood schools — covering the whole 3-months-to-6-years span.

International schools layer their own names on top — Infants, Toddler, Nursery, Junior/Senior Kindergarten, KG1/KG2, Reception, EC3/EC4. Don’t get hung up on the labels; ask each school which exact age your child enters and what the day actually looks like.

What types of preschool can you choose?

Preschool clusters by neighbourhood

These are early-years schools operating at the time of writing — names to start your shortlist, not endorsements. Verify each one’s current status before you commit (see the licensing check below).

Thao Dien / An Khanh Ward — the main cluster

The densest concentration, spread along Thao Dien Road, Nguyen Van Huong, Duong So 10, Le Van Mien and Giang Van Minh: BIS HCMC’s Early Years campus (ages 2–5), EIS HCMC kindergarten (2–5), the AIS Thao Dien kindergarten, plus boutique and Montessori options like SmartKids International, Anne Hill and Sakura Montessori on the An Phu side. Easy to pair school drop-off with western groceries, paediatric clinics and family social life. Buildings that put you in range include Masteri Thao Dien, Gateway Thao Dien and others across Thao Dien.

The Estella / An Phu side — Binh Trung Ward

Newer condo stock with good access to the AIS Thu Thiem campus and An Phu-side preschools. A practical base for families who want modern apartments and a manageable school micro-commute. Look at Estella Heights and the wider District 2 (An Phu/Binh Trung) stock.

Phu My Hung / District 7 — South Saigon

Larger campuses and calmer roads. The anchor is SSIS (Saigon South International School) in Tan Hung Ward, alongside options like Kids Club Saigon and SIS @ Saigon South. Strong if a parent works in the south; a longer haul if daily work is in the CBD or Thao Dien. Browse the Phu My Hung (District 7) apartments, and read our deeper Living in Phu My Hung guide.

Binh Thanh & District 1 — housing first, school by commute

Both have excellent apartments but fewer verified expat-preschool anchors nearby — note that International School Saigon Pearl closed after the 2024–25 year, so don’t rely on older lists. Families here typically live central (for example in Vinhomes Central Park) and drive to Thao Dien or District 7 for school. Workable for CBD-working parents, but keep your toddler’s commute tolerance low.

How much do preschools in HCMC cost in 2026?

The spread is wide, so compare like with like — and always ask for the full first-year invoice, not just tuition.

For context, EIS’s official 2025/26 early-years tuition runs from about ₫274.7M (Toddler) to ₫484.6M (Preschool Year 1); SSIS’s 2026/27 early-years tuition is roughly ₫498–603M depending on stage and payment plan. Those are tuition alone.

What parents should check before enrolling

This is where the early-years decision is genuinely YMYL — it’s your child and a large deposit. Run these checks before you pay:

1. Licensing and operating status. HCMC publishes a public preschool database where you can check a school’s legal status, programme, staff and the ages it’s licensed to accept. Look up each campus before paying a deposit.
2. Is “international” real? HCMC authorities have warned that some preschools display “international” on the signboard without being licensed international schools. Ask what curriculum is actually delivered and in what language mix — then watch a class.
3. Ratios, class size and the daily timetable. Teacher-to-child ratio, nap and meal arrangements, after-hours care and the school-day length matter far more at this age than the brochure.
4. Safety and pickup. Who is authorised to collect your child, how pickup is verified (ID/app/guards), and the school’s child-protection policy.
5. Trial days, waitlists and refunds. Premium early-years places can be limited near the August start; ask about a settling-in/trial plan, and read the refund and closure policy before prepaying.

Where to live if preschool is the priority

Once you’ve shortlisted schools, choose the apartment around the real drop-off route — and test it at 8am and at pickup, in the rain if you can:

• Thao Dien cluster: Thao Dien apartments (Masteri Thao Dien, Gateway, The Vista, Q2, D’Edge and more) keep most Thao Dien preschools within a short ride.
• AIS Thu Thiem / An Phu schools: the Estella / Binh Trung side (Estella Heights, The Estella, Lexington, Diamond Island).
• South Saigon schools: Phu My Hung / District 7.
• CBD-working parents: live central in Binh Thanh or District 1 and budget a daily school drive.

Settling a young family is rarely just the school — see our guides to bringing pets to Vietnam if the family dog is coming too, and to hiring a housekeeper or nanny for the help most expat households end up relying on.

Common mistakes expat parents make

Frequently asked questions

What age do children start preschool in Vietnam?

Under Vietnam’s Education Law, nurseries take children from about 3 months to 36 months, and preschool/kindergarten covers roughly 3 to 6 years. International schools set their own entry points (often from 18 months–2 years), so confirm the exact age band with each school.

How much does preschool cost in HCMC?

Premium international early-years tuition runs roughly ₫275–600 million a year (about $10,800–23,500), before deposits and extras. Boutique, bilingual and Montessori preschools are far cheaper — commonly around ₫4.5–15 million a month in directory listings. Always confirm current fees directly and ask for the full first-year invoice.

Are there English-speaking preschools in HCMC?

Yes — full-English international early-years programmes (such as BIS, EIS, AIS and SSIS) and many bilingual options. Language exposure varies a lot between “international” and “bilingual,” so visit and listen to the classroom before committing.

Which area is best for expat families with young children?

Thao Dien (An Khanh Ward) is the most popular for its school density and family convenience. Phu My Hung / District 7 suits families who want calmer streets and larger campuses, especially with a southern commute. The Estella/Binh Trung side and central districts work depending on your school and workplace.

How do I check if a preschool is licensed?

HCMC runs a public preschool database where you can verify a school’s legal/operating status, programme and the ages it’s allowed to accept. Check each campus there before paying a deposit, and be wary of “international” on a signboard that isn’t backed by a licence.

What’s the difference between nursery, preschool and kindergarten?

Broadly: nursery/daycare is under-3 care; preschool and kindergarten cover roughly 3–6 years. International schools use their own grade names (Toddler, Nursery, KG1/KG2, Reception), so map your child’s age to the school’s structure when you enquire.

Should I choose my apartment before or after the preschool?

After. Toddlers cope badly with long commutes, and HCMC traffic and rain can double a short drive. Shortlist schools, then rent within an easy, tested drop-off route.

Is it safe to pay a year of tuition upfront?

Be cautious. Schools occasionally suspend or close, and recovering prepaid fees can be hard. Pay per term or year where possible, get receipts, and read the refund/closure policy in writing first.

Key takeaways

Found your school? Let’s find the apartment

Tell us which preschool you’re aiming for and we’ll help you rent within an easy school run — and sort the rest of the family move. No fee charged to tenants.

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Related guides:

• International Schools in HCMC: Where to Live
• International Schools in Thao Dien
• Living in Phu My Hung
• Hiring a Housekeeper or Nanny in HCMC