Comparing 2 schools side by side in USD.
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.
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).
VFIS is a co-educational day school.
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.
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.
VFIS does not specify any religious affiliation; it is a secular international school.
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.
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.
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.
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.
VFIS operates as a not-for-profit international school under Ton Duc Thang University, a not-for-profit public property independent from businesses.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The school does not publicly disclose the use of a waitlist or pool system.
Pathway Tuệ Đức (Pathway School) operates in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as a multi-campus school network. The Pathway Center Office is at 280-A18 Luong Dinh Cua Street, An Phu Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. The network spans about 20 campuses across the city, including campuses in Thu Duc City, District 12, and Binh Chanh, with Nguyen Sy Sach Campus in Tan Binh District and Viet Nhat Campus in District 7 as examples. The Nguyen Sy Sach Campus in Tan Binh is listed at 75/16 Nguyen Sy Sach Street, Ward 15, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Pathway School offers preschool, elementary, and middle/high school levels across its campuses. The system describes itself as providing an educational continuum from early childhood through Grade 12.
Pathway Tuệ Đức is a private, city-wide school system with multiple campuses. It operates as a day school across its campuses and does not publicize any boarding facilities in its published materials.
The school includes Harmony SEL (Social Emotional Learning) as part of its curriculum to support students' emotional development. Public materials describe emotional learning as a core component of the program, but there is no published detail of formal, dedicated SEN/services beyond this curriculum. The emphasis is on social-emotional learning and mindfulness integrated across activities.
Vietnam. The Pathway School network is based and operates in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
No religious affiliation is publicly stated in Pathway Tuệ Đức materials.
Administrative and campus offices operate Monday to Friday, 7:00–17:00. Pathway emphasizes a full-day program with a focus on structured, experiential learning, mindfulness, and scheduled meals; specific daily class start/end times are not published, but meal concepts such as Peaceful Meals are part of the culture.
Pathway School offers a bus service for students. The service is managed with a formal process and is trackable via the Pathway School app, with a dedicated hotline for inquiries. The school provides a bus schedule and enrollment information through its admissions channels.
The school operates a kitchen and maintains a process to ensure safe and nutritious meals.
The school is owned by Bach Khoa Education Alliance Joint Stock Company and operates as part of the Pathway School network.
Preschool level covers the first six years and blends Montessori education with Vietnamese education, Harmony SEL, English support, physical education, and music sensing courses. Elementary level is a five-year foundation that uses Constructivist pedagogy, with 25% English instruction, seven skill subjects, and the three-root values Morality – Wisdom – Willpower integrated into Cultural, Skills, and English. Cambridge-related qualifications are offered at the elementary stage, including the Cambridge Flyers certificate for Grades 1-5 (English taught 10 hours per week, 40% native teachers) and annual Cambridge exams; the English program is designed to connect to Cambridge through high school. Middle and High School use an active learning approach based on the Vietnamese program, with English developed to international standards and project-based learning that blends theory with practical experiences on a monthly or semester basis. Harmony SEL is integrated across levels to support social-emotional development, alongside a curriculum that emphasizes morals and willpower.
Pathway School integrates Harmony SEL (formerly Sanford Harmony) as its Social-Emotional Learning program, with topics including diversity and tolerance, critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and friendship; emotional education is delivered through classroom lessons and mindfulness activities such as the Mindfulness Bell, Peaceful Meals, Circle Sharing, and Meditation.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision.
English as an Additional Language is integrated into Pathway School's curriculum; elementary students study English with 10 hours per week, and 40% of those lessons are taught by foreign teachers, with Cambridge YLE examinations used as outcomes.
Mental wellbeing is addressed through Harmony SEL and mindfulness initiatives within the school, including mindfulness activities and emotional education aimed at inner peace and empathy.
Pathway School states a commitment to safeguarding and privacy, with formal data-security measures described in its privacy and security policies.
Step 1: Learn about Pathway Tuệ Đức and its programs. Pathway Tuệ Đức outlines a happiness-focused approach across Mầm non (early years), Tiểu học (primary), and Trung học (secondary) with multiple campuses across Ho Chi Minh City. Parents should study the program descriptions and the campus options to determine the best fit for their child. This initial review helps families prepare targeted questions for the next step in the process.
Step 2: Register for a consultation. After selecting a suitable campus, parents fill out a consultation registration so the Admissions team can provide detailed information about the program, fee policy, and schedule a campus visit. The admissions team coordinates the site visit and explains the curriculum, teaching approach, and campus specifics during this step. Details about the campuses and how to begin are provided on the school's site as part of the consultation flow.
Step 3: Take the entrance assessment. Pathway Tuệ Đức conducts an entrance assessment tailored to the child's level. For Mầm non, assessment focuses on age alignment with MOET requirements plus basic psychology and physical readiness. For Tiểu học, the process includes age alignment, conduct (English proficiency expected), Vietnamese, and Math, with a skill assessment for Grade 1. For Trung học, the assessment checks age alignment, completion of the primary program, conduct (Khá or better), English, Vietnamese, Math, and Psychology.
Step 4: Complete enrollment procedures. After the assessment, parents submit the enrollment application and complete the required fees within seven days of receiving the test results. The enrollment documents include: an enrollment form, enrollment agreement, child's psychology report, medical examination, three 2-inch photos, birth certificate copy or translated/notarized version for foreigners, copies of household registration or passport, latest report cards (excluding Nursery), evidence of completion of prior levels as applicable, and a transfer letter if applicable. The school emphasizes that enrollment paperwork must be valid and that prior academic records will be reviewed for accuracy and honesty.
Campus details: Pathway Tuệ Đức operates across several campuses, including Thủ Đức, Quận 12, Bình Chánh, and other areas. Examples of contact points include Mầm non at Lê Đức Thọ; Mầm non–Tiểu học at Tân Thới Nhất 17; Tiểu học at Nguyễn Sỹ Sách; and other listed addresses with phone contacts for each site. These campus options and contact details are provided to assist families in planning visits and submissions.
Pathway Tuệ Đức does not publish traditional scholarships. Tuition discounts are offered under the policy described as tuition incentives. The 2025–2026 information lists the following: Nhà trẻ (18–36 months): 80,910,000–122,760,000 VND per year; Pathway Foundation (3–6): 64,170,000 VND; Pathway Advanced (3–6): 80,910,000 VND; Pathway Elite (3–6): 103,230,000 VND; Pathway Bilingual (3–6): 122,760,000 VND; Tiểu học: 94,000,000–115,000,000 VND; THCS: 99,500,000–126,500,000 VND; THPT: 101,500,000–114,500,000 VND. Fees noted are for the 2025–2026 academic year and do not include facility, extracurricular activities, field trips, boarding, or insurance. There are additional discounts for tuition payment: 7% for paying for the full year; 5% for paying in 3 installments; 2% for paying in 2 installments. Sibling discounts apply: a second child receives 5% off tuition; a third child and beyond receive 10% off tuition (applied after the first two children's payments are fulfilled). There are also campus-specific flexible discount packages. These policies indicate discounts rather than need-based or merit-based scholarships.
There is no published waitlist or pool system described in Pathway Tuệ Đức's admissions pages. The documented admissions flow consists of four steps (information, consultation, entrance assessment, and enrollment) with campus-specific details available for scheduling visits. No separate waitlist policy is publicly documented.
