Parent's Review of British International School Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

British International School Vietnam

In what town or city is this school located?

Ho Chi Minh

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

British

What grade levels are represented at this school?

Pre-k through to Year 13

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

Bus, walk, bicycles, motorcycles, car

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

From the outside it looks nice enough but once in the hallways everyday it feels very cramped, stuffy and claustrophobic. There are no work-out facilities so students have to make do with climbing to a gym on the fifth floor and an extremely itchy soccer (or as they like to stress it here, FOOTBALL) field. There is an underground pool which has a low ceiling, again making you feel trapped. The locker rooms smell bad. The classrooms are decent enough. As for activities, the main ones are sports (swimming, basketball) and a few orphanage clubs.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

Nothing. Teachers didn't help the children settle in at all; they had to struggle to catch up with work all on their own (as they moved in the middle of the year.)

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

There is a PTO, but it's more like an exclusive club.

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

If you're British and used to the system, you'll probably be a-okay with this school. If you want your children to be happy and feel accepted, don't enroll them here. Unless they are very athletically or musically gifted, they will be cast out on the edges of the school "community", sitting in silent corners staring gloomily at their lunches while all the limelight is cast upon the more deserving 'talented' group.

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