Saigon South International School (SSIS)

SSIS is located at 78 Nguyen Duc Canh, Tân Hưng Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The campus is in the Phú Mỹ Hưng residential zone, a well-planned neighbourhood with lakes, green spaces and local amenities, and is approximately 20 minutes by car from the city centre.

The school serves Early Childhood (starting at age 3) through to Grade 12. It is organised into divisions encompassing Early Years/Kindergarten, Elementary (Grades 1–5), Middle School (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–12).

SSIS is a co-educational day school.

The school offers Learning Support services for students with mild to moderate learning differences, working with parents and teachers to develop individual learning plans. It also offers English as an Additional Language (EAL) support for multilingual learners.

There is no formal affiliation to a particular national government. SSIS operates as a not-for-profit international school based in Vietnam, following an American standards-based curriculum.

The school has no religious affiliations.

Specific published times are not detailed on the school's website.

SSIS provides a bus service for students. Each bus has an assigned monitor to ensure students board and alight safely. For after-school activities (ASAs), special bus departures are scheduled (for example at 4:10 pm and 4:40 pm) with an extra charge for ASA-only riders.

Teaching and learning at SSIS follow an American-standards based framework across Early Childhood through Grade 12, emphasising inquiry, student engagement and critical thinking. In the Elementary School, a written curriculum provides integrated “Super Units” that connect subjects such as English, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Arts and Vietnamese, while specialist teachers support subjects like Visual Art, Drama, Music and Physical Education. In Middle School, students move into discipline-based classes, expanding their study of modern world languages, mathematics, science and humanities. In High School (Grades 9-12), students can pursue the high school diploma pathway with a choice of Advanced Placement (AP) courses or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) alongside the SSIS Diploma. The program of studies shows that students earn credits by subject area and can select pathways that match their future study plans.

Saigon South International School integrates social and emotional learning throughout daily school life. The Wellness Program helps students build skills in communication, empathy, responsibility, and community engagement. In the Elementary School, SEL is included through classroom activities such as goal setting and reflection. Middle School students participate in an Advisory Program focused on self-awareness, healthy relationships, and personal growth. In High School, regular advisory sessions and peer activities encourage connection, confidence, and a sense of belonging across the student community.

The school provides Learning Support for students with mild to moderate learning differences. This support is offered through collaboration between classroom teachers, learning specialists, and parents. Individual Learning Plans are developed to help students meet their academic and personal goals. SSIS clarifies that it is not a specialist SEN institution and cannot accommodate students requiring intensive or full-time therapeutic support.

The school offers an English as an Additional Language program for multilingual learners starting from Kindergarten. EAL teachers work alongside classroom teachers to help students develop their English skills while engaging fully in classroom learning. English language proficiency is assessed during the admissions process to determine placement and support levels.

Student mental wellbeing is supported through access to school counsellors and structured wellness education across divisions. The High School program includes counselling services, advisory sessions, and lessons focused on life skills and resilience. These initiatives aim to help students navigate academic and personal challenges in a supportive environment.

Saigon South International School (SSIS) maintains a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy approved by its Board of Directors and reviewed every four years. The policy applies to all teaching and non-teaching staff and outlines clear responsibilities for protecting students’ safety and wellbeing. The school fosters a “Culture of Care,” ensuring all community members are aware of their duty to promote child welfare and report any concerns. A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), supported by divisional principals and counsellors, oversees the safeguarding process and coordinates a “Team Around the Child” approach to provide multi-layered support. Staff are required to record concerns using a secure online system (CPOMS), with clear procedures for emergencies, confidentiality, and follow-up actions. The policy also mandates annual safeguarding training, parent education sessions, and compliance with international and Vietnamese child-protection laws, including the 2016 Vietnamese Children’s Law and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

1. Inquiry and Application Submission
Families begin by completing the online application form and uploading all required documents. An application fee of VND 10,000,000 is payable at this stage. Applicants in Early Childhood to Kindergarten complete a developmental observation, while Grades 1–12 complete written assessments in English and mathematics.

2. Assessment and Interview
Following the initial review, students may be invited for additional testing or an interview to determine English proficiency and overall readiness. The Admissions Office evaluates prior school records, assessment results, and whether the school can meet the student’s learning needs.

3. Decision and Offer
After review, applicants may receive an offer of admission, be placed on the waiting list, or be declined. Accepted families receive a formal Letter of Acceptance, which must be signed and returned along with a completed health form.

4. Payment and Enrollment
To secure a place, families must pay the required enrollment deposit and tuition (or first installment) by the due dates listed in the fee schedule. All payments must be completed before the student’s first day of class.

5. Orientation and Start
New students and parents are invited to attend orientation sessions before the start of the academic year in August. Middle and High School students also meet with a counselor to confirm course selections and discuss academic planning.

6. Rolling Admissions
Applications are accepted year-round, although placement is based on space availability. Families seeking entry in August are encouraged to begin the process by January of the same calendar year.

SSIS offers the annual Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship for one Vietnamese student entering Grade 10 who has only attended local Vietnamese schools. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years, is awarded on the basis of academic excellence, English proficiency, interest in global/international affairs and service to others. The application timeline begins in December and features a written test, group discussion and interview rounds, with winners announced in May.

SSIS operates a wait-pool (waiting list) system. Qualified applicants whose grade level is full are placed on the waiting list until space becomes available. Admission thereafter depends on space and on the candidate meeting requirements.