Vietnam

Finnish education in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the more established Finnish education markets in Southeast Asia, home to both a Finnish early years kindergarten and a separate Finnish-curriculum school.

In brief

Vietnamese primary school, Classes 1 to 5, starts around age 6 under the Ministry of Education and Training's national curriculum.
Ho Chi Minh City is home to HEI Schools Saigon Central, a Finnish early years kindergarten that opened in 2023 for children aged 1.5 to 6.
The city also hosts Vietnam-Finland International School (VFIS), a separate school built on Finnish pedagogical principles, which opened around 2019.
Vietnam's education system is known for strong academic results but also for long school hours and heavy homework loads, a contrast with Finland's lighter approach.

Two different Finnish-pedagogy schools, side by side

Ho Chi Minh City is unusual in already having two distinct entrants built on Finnish education: HEI Schools Saigon Central, an early years kindergarten for ages 1.5 to 6, and Vietnam-Finland International School (VFIS), a separate institution that has taught a Finnish-influenced curriculum since around 2019. They are not affiliated with each other, and families researching Finnish education in the city should be clear about which one they are looking at.

What sets a K-5 national curriculum approach apart

Where HEI Schools Saigon Central focuses on early years, a K-5 Finnish national curriculum school follows Finland's comprehensive school model through Classes 1 to 5: one generalist class teacher per cohort, phenomenon-based learning woven through core subjects, and formative rather than ranked assessment. That is a structurally different offering from an early years-only concept, and worth distinguishing from any existing Finnish-branded school when comparing options.

A contrast with Vietnam's academic intensity

Vietnam's mainstream schools are known internationally for strong results, but also for long hours, heavy homework and significant reliance on after-school tutoring, even in primary grades. Finnish pedagogy's lighter touch on testing and homework, alongside its focus on wellbeing, is a large part of why Finnish-inspired schools have found an audience in Ho Chi Minh City already.

Frequently asked questions

What Finnish-pedagogy schools exist in Ho Chi Minh City?

Two, and they are separate: HEI Schools Saigon Central, a Finnish early years kindergarten, and Vietnam-Finland International School (VFIS), a school built on Finnish pedagogical principles that predates it.

Are HEI Schools and VFIS the same organisation?

No. They are independent schools that both draw on Finnish education, but they are run separately and are not part of the same network.

What age does Vietnamese primary school start?

Around age 6, one year earlier than Finland's own starting age of 7.

Bring Finnish pedagogy to your school

OPPI affiliates a selective cohort of schools each year for its K-5 Finnish-pedagogy programme, backed by Education Finland. Tell us about your school and our team will reach out.

Backed by Education Finland. Over 20 schools have already affiliated, including DPS, Radcliffe and Sanctus. Places in each cohort are limited.

Apply to the affiliation cohort →