doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
V

Vietnam Finland International School

Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Finnish, Vietnamese
Fees ₫457,590,000 - 639,240,000
Ages 6 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 400
Type Co-educational
Opened 2019
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum, Finnish Curriculum
Taught languages English, Finnish, Vietnamese
Typical class size 22
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Vietnam–Finland International School (VFIS) is a non-profit school established under Ton Duc Thang University in 2016 and opened to students in August 2019. Located within the university campus in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, the school offers two pathways from Grade 1 to Grade 12: an International Programme based on the Finnish National Core Curriculum, and a Bilingual Programme combining Finnish and Vietnamese educational requirements. Upper secondary students follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, supported by an IB preparatory year in Grade 10. Class sizes typically range from 20 to 25 students. VFIS features a variety of specialised learning spaces, including workshops for textiles, woodworking, and home economics. Students participate in notable events such as the VFIS Chess Fest, Science Fair, and Public Speaking and Storytelling competitions. The school provides after-school clubs in art, debate, badminton, and fitness, along with a dedicated VFIS-operated school bus service within 10 kilometres of campus.

Gate 9, Ton Duc Thang University, 19 Nguyen Huu Tho Street, Tan Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

The Essentials

Vietnam Finland International School has 400 pupils, typical class sizes of 22, instruction in English, Finnish, Vietnamese.

Location
VFIS is located at Gate 9, Ton Duc Thang University, 19 Nguyen Huu Tho Street, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It sits within the university campus in a planned urban district, with accessible transport links and a calm, campus-conducive environment for families relocating.

Stages
The school offers programmes from Grade 1 through to Grade 12, covering primary, lower secondary and upper secondary levels. It delivers both an International Programme (Grades 1–12) and a Bilingual Programme (Grades 1–12).

Type
VFIS is a co-educational day school.

Additional learning support
VFIS provides English Language Support (EAL) for students whose first language is not English, including foundation courses and grouped support classes. Additionally, the welfare services include a multi-professional team with special education teacher involvement to support student well-being.

Country affiliation
The school is affiliated with Vietnam in that it is located in Vietnam and is part of a Vietnamese public university; additionally it draws on the Finnish education ethos and curriculum standards but is not a Finnish “branch school” in the sense of being governed from Finland.

Religious affiliation
VFIS does not specify any religious affiliation; it is a secular international school.

School day structure
On a typical day, the school opens from 7:30 am Monday to Friday, with formal lessons starting at 8:00 am and the main school day ending at 3:15 pm. Lunch and recess together last approximately 45 minutes (at different times depending on grade). After-school extra-curricular and additional classes may continue until about 4:00 pm.

Bus service
VFIS offers a dedicated school bus service operated by the school. The service is owned and run by VFIS, uses experienced drivers and monitors, and covers routes within approximately 10 km of the campus. Parents can register via the school’s transport office for pick-up and drop-off.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
VFIS has uniforms designed for activities both inside and outside the classroom. There is a separate uniform for PE activities, field trips and traveling. Uniforms are obligatory for every VFISer when arriving at or leaving campus or representing the School off-campus.

Food Options
VFIS offers daily nutritious, balanced meals for all students in the school canteen. Meals are prepared by an outsourced international catering company that meets Vietnamese Food Safety Requirements and EN ISO 9001:2015 (TUV Austria). The menu provides Western, Asian and vegetarian options, and there are cultural theme weeks during the school year.

Governance and Ownership
VFIS operates as a not-for-profit international school under Ton Duc Thang University, a not-for-profit public property independent from businesses.
Fees

Annual tuition at Vietnam Finland International School ranges from VND 457,590,000 to VND 639,240,000 for 2026/27.

Application Fees
Primary applicants (Grades 1–5) pay an application fee of 2,250,000 VND.
Secondary and High School applicants (Grades 6–12) pay 4,500,000 VND.
This fee covers the entrance assessment and administration and is non-refundable.

Tuition Fees
*International Programme – Annual Tuition (per grade):*
• Grades 1–5: 457,590,000 VND
• Grades 6–7: 499,230,000 VND
• Grades 8–10: 525,690,000 VND
• Grades 11–12: 639,240,000 VND

*Term Tuition (per term):*
• Grades 1–5: Term 1 – 230,620,000 VND; Term 2 – 263,570,000 VND
• Grades 6–7: Term 1 – 251,610,000 VND; Term 2 – 287,560,000 VND
• Grades 8–10: Term 1 – 264,950,000 VND; Term 2 – 302,800,000 VND
• Grades 11–12: Term 1 – 322,180,000 VND; Term 2 – 368,200,000 VND

Billing Schedule & Payment Terms
All annual tuition or Term 1 fees must be paid before the school year begins; Term 2 tuition must be paid before Term 2 starts. Early full-year payment made before 27 May receives a 10% reduction; payments between 28 May and 16 July receive a 5% reduction.

Sibling & Long-Term Reductions
Sibling reductions range from 10% (second child) to 20% (fourth child onward). A 3% reduction applies for students enrolled for five or more consecutive years.

Other Costs
Security deposit: 25,000,000 VND (International Programme).
Meals: Primary includes lunch and snack; Secondary and High School include lunch only.
Bus service fees vary by distance (5–15 km and Phu My Hung) and by public or private pick-up points.

Refund Policies
Refunds depend on withdrawal timing, with up to 100% refunded before the school year begins and partial refunds after the year has started.

Fee Payment Options
Fees may be paid annually or by term through the school’s accepted payment channels (e.g., bank transfer).
Academics

Vietnam Finland International School teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum, Finnish Curriculum for students aged 6 to 18.

Curriculum
Vietnam–Finland International School (VFIS) offers two pathways from Grade 1 to Grade 12: an International Programme and a Bilingual Programme. The International Programme follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum, with Vietnamese language, History, Geography and Ethics added for Vietnamese citizens as required by national regulations. The Bilingual Programme combines Finnish curriculum principles with subjects taught in Vietnamese in alignment with Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training. From Grade 10, students begin a preparatory year leading toward the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), which is formally offered in Grades 11 and 12. Across all years, students learn English with a structured progression based on Cambridge Assessment English, supported by additional English Language Support where needed. Specialist subjects include arts, crafts, home economics, physical education, and science, reflecting the broad subject areas in the Finnish framework.

Academic calendar
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
VFIS supports students’ social and emotional development through its pupil-welfare services, which focus on learning, mental and physical health, and social well-being. The school states that this work is carried out by a multi-professional team that includes psychologists, counsellors, school nurses, and a special education teacher, overseen by the principal. Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) are used to guide student progress and provide structured support. The school also emphasises close collaboration between welfare staff, teachers, and families to ensure that students’ needs are identified and monitored. No additional SEL-specific programmes are publicly described.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
VFIS has a special education teacher as part of its welfare services, indicating that the school offers some level of SEN support. The welfare team includes professionals such as psychologists and counsellors who may also contribute to supporting students with additional needs. However, the school does not publicly specify which categories of SEN it can accommodate, nor does it describe specialised SEN programmes or facilities. There is no indication that VFIS is a specialist SEN institution. The available information confirms only that SEN support exists but does not detail its scope.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
VFIS provides structured English Language Support for students who require additional help. New students are assessed upon entry, and those who need support complete a compulsory foundation course, often held in the summer. During the school year, students may be placed into English support groups based on their proficiency level, with progress reviewed at the end of each semester. Additional English classes are available as paid programmes. This is the only EAL-related provision the school publicly describes.

Mental Wellbeing
The school’s welfare services state a commitment to promoting students’ mental and physical health as part of overall well-being. Psychologists and counsellors are included in the welfare team, indicating that professional mental-health support is available on campus. The emphasis on individual guidance and collaboration between staff and families is positioned as part of this support. Beyond these core services, the school does not publicly detail additional mental-wellbeing programmes, therapy services, or structured interventions.

Safeguarding
VFIS publicly describes its welfare services team but does not publish a dedicated safeguarding or child-protection policy on its website. There is no publicly available information about staff safeguarding training, reporting procedures, or child-protection frameworks. As such, apart from the presence of counsellors and psychologists, the school does not disclose further safeguarding provisions.
Parent Experience

History
VFIS was established under Decision No. 5834/QD-HCMC by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on 7 November 2016 and operates as a non-profit institution affiliated with Ton Duc Thang University. The school opened its first academic year in August 2019 under the Finnish-inspired educational model. Initially serving Grades 1–9, it has since expanded to cover higher secondary levels and runs both International and Bilingual programmes.

Community
The VFIS community brings together students, teachers and families from diverse cultural backgrounds and hosts regular events such as the back-to-school Orientation Day, where new students and parents meet their teachers and peers. The school also organises cross-cultural programmes including the Finnish Education Expo, which invites Finnish school representatives and parents to explore study pathway options. These activities aim to foster inclusive relationships among stakeholders and strengthen the school’s collaborative, multicultural ethos.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school website does not publicly provide detailed information about a specific Parent Teacher Association (PTA) structure, groups or regular files of activities labelled as a “PTA”. Therefore, the existence of a formal PTA with named committees, events or parent-led groups is not clearly disclosed on the school’s public materials.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
VFIS is located on Ton Duc Thang University's main campus. The building has a basement and three floors plus a roof, with a total construction area over 50,000 m2 on a 5-hectare site within TDTU's main campus. The facilities were designed by Finnish architects to reflect Finnish education principles and learning approaches. The learning environment aims to enable the joy of learning, support thinking and learning to learn, develop transversal skills through multidisciplinary modules, and promote communal knowledge. Open Learning spaces, Flexible Classrooms, Modern Practical Rooms, an Inspiration Library, and Outdoor Open Space form the core learning environments, while the campus integrates with Ton Duc Thang University facilities to support independent and collaborative study.

Sports Facilities
Outdoor Open Space is listed as a VFIS facility.

Academic Facilities
VFIS offers two programmes from Primary through Upper Secondary: International and Bilingual. The Finnish National Core Curriculum provides the framework for the International and Bilingual programmes, with local adaptations. The International Programme is taught in English by Finnish and international teachers, and upper secondary follows the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with a Grade 10 IB preparatory year. The Bilingual Programme integrates Finnish and Vietnamese curricula, with Vietnamese as the main language of instruction and selected subjects taught in English. The English-language program is developed on the Cambridge English framework and aims for CEFR level B2 (IELTS 6.5) at graduation. VFIS became an IB World School in 2021 and offers the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11-12. The school operates under Ton Duc Thang University.

Extra Curricular Facilities
VFIS offers co-curricular opportunities including visual arts, organised clubs, and Model United Nations.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
VFIS is an IB World School authorized in 2021 to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The curriculum blends the Finnish core curriculum with Vietnamese values and uses a research-based, learner-centered pedagogy. In the international program, students study 180 days and there are no standardized tests. VFIS offers two educational programs, International Programme and Bilingual Programme, for Grades 1–12, aligned with Finnish education standards to develop global citizenship.

Arts & Creative
VFIS emphasizes arts and creative pursuits as part of the learning experience. Drama is taught in Grades 8–9 using active learning methods. Psychology is offered to Pre-IB students (Grade 10) and in the IB Diploma Programme. Rainbow Hour supports creativity and well-being as part of VFIS study.

Cultural & Language
VFIS offers International and Bilingual Programmes for Grades 1–12, with 15 nationalities represented. The Bilingual Programme includes Vietnamese language instruction; International Programme assessments are conducted in English and Bilingual Programme assessments are conducted in English and Vietnamese. VFIS operates within Ton Duc Thang University and emphasizes cross-cultural understanding and international-mindedness.

Social & Hobbies
Student life includes events such as STEM Robotics Experience Day, the Finnish Culture & Education Experience Day, and Vietnamese Teachers' Day. The school hosts the VFIS Mathcounts Challenge and a Career Guidance & Study Abroad Fair. Upcoming events include VFIS Tet Fair 2026 on February 5, 2026, a School Tour & Information Day on January 31, 2026, and a Finnish performance exchange with the Imatra Big Band on January 16, 2026.

Community & Service
VFIS is the first Finnish international school in Southeast Asia and is a not-for-profit international school belonging to Ton Duc Thang University, a public autonomous university in Vietnam. VFIS pursues sustainable human development and aims to be a world-class learning community. Scholarships are available for current VFIS students (Grades 9–12) and new students (Grades 2–12), covering 25%–50% of tuition; selection is by the Scholarship Committee. Scholarships apply to tuition fees only and do not cover other fees.

Leadership & Professional
VFIS has a leadership team led by the Head of School, Ms. Miekk-Oja Suvi Kristiina, and emphasizes Finnish standards and teacher autonomy. Teachers are encouraged to engage in continuous professional development. The school hosts Career Guidance & Study Abroad Fair to support student leadership and future planning.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
VFIS emphasizes peace and happiness, with a learning approach that avoids excessive pressure or competition in the international program. The campus features Finnish-designed facilities, flexible classrooms, and open spaces to support well-being and safe growth. The school promotes meals, physical education, and mindfulness as part of student life.
Languages

Language Provision
The International Programme is taught in English by Finnish and international teachers. Vietnamese language and social studies are compulsory within the International Programme and Vietnamese is the main language of instruction in the Bilingual Programme, with selected subjects delivered in English. The English-language component follows Cambridge Assessment English framework and aims for CEFR level B2 (IELTS 6.5) by graduation.

Bilingual Teaching
VFIS offers two programmes from Primary through Upper Secondary: the International Programme and the Bilingual Programme. The International Programme is taught in English by Finnish and international teachers and follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum with local adaptations; upper secondary students pursue the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11-12 with an IB preparatory year in Grade 10. The Bilingual Programme provides an integrated Finnish and Vietnamese curriculum; Vietnamese is the main language of instruction, with selected subjects delivered in English. The English-language component uses the Cambridge framework and aims for CEFR level B2 by graduation.
Reputation

Awards
VFIS does not publicly disclose any institutional awards given directly to the school in the last five years.

Accreditations
International Baccalaureate (IB) World School – Diploma Programme: VFIS is authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12. This accreditation confirms that the school meets the International Baccalaureate Organization’s standards for delivering the programme.

Establishment Approval by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee: The school was formally established under an official government decision in 2016. This authorisation recognises the school as an approved educational institution within Vietnam’s national regulatory framework.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Submit Application & Required Documents
Parents begin by completing the application form and submitting the required documents to the Admissions Office. These documents typically include school records, identification documents, and the application fee. The school reviews the documents to determine the child’s eligibility to move to the next step. Parents are informed if any additional paperwork is needed.

2. Entrance Assessment & Interview
VFIS requires an entrance assessment for all applicants. The assessment may include academic testing and an interview, depending on the year group and programme. Assessment scheduling is arranged by the Admissions Office after the application is processed. Families receive instructions on preparation, location, and required materials.

3. Review of Results & Placement Decision
The school evaluates the entrance assessment results, academic history, and programme suitability. Based on this review, VFIS determines whether the applicant is eligible for placement. Parents are notified of the decision by the Admissions Office. Applicants who meet requirements may proceed to enrollment if space is available.

4. Offer Letter & Acceptance
If the student is accepted, VFIS issues an official Offer Letter. Parents must confirm acceptance within the timeframe described by the school. The offer outlines the programme, grade placement, and next administrative steps. Failure to respond on time may result in the offer being withdrawn.

5. Payment of Security Deposit & Fees
To secure the place, parents must pay the required security deposit and tuition fee according to the school’s payment schedule. Payment confirms the student’s seat for the upcoming academic year. The security deposit policies differ for returning and new students, as stated on the fees page. Parents receive confirmation once payment is completed.

6. Enrollment Completion & Orientation
After payment, families complete remaining administrative steps such as uniform purchase, student card registration, and health-related requirements. The school informs parents of orientation dates and the start of term procedures. Enrollment is considered complete once all steps are fulfilled. Students then join their assigned class at the beginning of the school year.

Scholarships
VFIS offers scholarships to students based on academic performance, assessment results, and other eligibility criteria defined by the school. Applicants may be required to sit scholarship-specific assessments, and results determine scholarship levels. Scholarships can cover a percentage of tuition fees, and conditions include maintaining academic performance and school conduct. Scholarship policies also clarify that tuition refunds for scholarship recipients are calculated after applying scholarship reductions. Detailed criteria, required documents, and application timelines are provided on the school’s scholarship page.

Waitlist
The school does not publicly disclose the use of a waitlist or pool system.
School Events
The school has not added events
Compare Vietnam Finland International School with
vs Sedbergh Vietnam vs International School Ho Chi Minh City - Primary Campus vs International Schools of North America - Saigon South (SNA Saigon South) vs Renaissance International School Saigon vs Saigon South International School (SSIS)
Search for more schools
Search schools in Vietnam View all schools in Ho Chi Minh City View all schools in Vietnam IB curriculum schools in Vietnam Open days & tours in Ho Chi Minh City What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools