ᐅ Kindergarten in HCMC ᐅ AIS Saigon Kindergarten & Preschool

International Preschool Education in HCMC

Ages 18 months to 5 years | Campuses in Thu Thiem & Thao Dien

Our world-class kindergarten in Saigon has earned a strong reputation for delivering exceptional early childhood education over the past two decades. AIS' specialised International Early Years programme takes a holistic approach, supporting each child's social, emotional, physical, and academic development.

With highly qualified teachers, our kindergarten in HCMC provides a well-structured programme delivered in English—an essential stage for language acquisition, skill development, and nurturing individual talents. We celebrate each child's uniqueness, inspiring them to reach their full potential.

By incorporating best international practices, we empower every child to build a strong foundation of knowledge and future-ready skills, setting the stage for academic excellence and personal success in future years.

Why Choose Our Kindergarten in HCMC?

AIS Saigon Kindergarten offers exceptional early childhood education where children naturally learn English with native-speaking teachers. With brand-new, purpose-built facilities across our campuses and low teacher-to-student ratios, we provide optimal learning environments that foster the development of key social, emotional, motor, literacy, and numeracy skills. Our curriculum is enriched with specialist lessons in music, Vietnamese language and culture, physical education, and swimming.

Blending the renowned Reggio Emilia philosophy, the Australian Early Years Framework, and the globally recognised IB curriculum, our experienced educators help children build a strong foundation in knowledge, socio-emotional skills, critical thinking, and communication—ensuring they thrive academically and personally. By emphasising relationships, belonging, and independence, AIS' preschool education prepares students for a seamless transition to primary school. Our multicultural kindergarten in HCMC nurtures confident, capable, and curious young learners, giving them a significant advantage to excel globally.

Ho Chi Minh City Kindergartens for my child

Kindergarten Timetable

At our kindergarten in Saigon, school days are structured with specific routines to support children's well-being and manage their expectations:

Welcome and registration: 8:00 am - 8:10 am
Learning through play: 8:10 am - 9:30 am
Morning recess and snack time: 9:30 am
Specialist teaching (music, swimming, Vietnamese, and Physical Education): 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Lunch: 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Teeth brushing and preparing for nap time: 12:00 pm - 12:15 pm
Nap time: 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Snack time: 1:45 pm - 2:00 pm
Story reading and reflection time: 2:00 pm - 2:40 pm
Time to go home: 2:40 pm
School buses depart: 2:50 pm

To make life easier for our families, we offer an after-hours childcare programme at an additional cost, available daily until 4:30 pm.

Kindergarten Curriculum

AIS' specially designed international kindergarten programmes provide rich learning environments and engaging lessons to develop literacy and numeracy skills, building strong foundations for future learning. In addition to classroom experiences, children also receive music, arts, and physical education lessons, including a swimming module.

Our preschool education in Ho Chi Minh City is divided into three distinct stages based on age groups:

Infants: 1.5 to 3 years old
Junior Kindergarten: 3 to 4 years old
Senior Kindergarten: 4 to 5 years old

Using a play-based approach, our kindergarten curriculum incorporates the globally respected Reggio Emilia methodology, the Australian Early Years Framework, and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). We respect and adapt to each child's pace and needs, ensuring an enriching learning experience for all.

Top International Early Years Schools in HCMC

Australian Early Years Framework

The Australian Early Years Framework focuses on Belonging, Being and Becoming:

Belonging: Healthy and secure relationships are essential to developing a sense of self and belonging in children. Therefore, teaching across the kindergarten year groups focuses on this essential element of 'Belonging'.
Being: Allowing each child to celebrate themselves as a respected individual while developing their own identity and discovering their passions and interests.
Becoming: Children are shaped by their environment and circumstances. ‘Becoming’ reflects the process of rapid and significant change that occurs in the early years, so we aim to foster curious, solutions-oriented learners who can overcome challenges.

Reggio Emilia Inspired Philosophy

Through the Reggio Emilia approach, children are valued and respected as unique individuals. They explore and make discoveries through play, engage in collaborative learning, think critically, and solve problems through hands-on projects. This method nurtures confidence, independent learning, emotional intelligence, and the essential skills needed for long-term literacy, numeracy, and overall academic success.

IB Primary Years Programme

Starting at age three, children follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for the Early Years. In the Infants class, they engage in activity-based learning that aligns with the PYP framework as well.

This programme provides a transformative, transdisciplinary experience across academics, arts, and physical education, complemented by diverse activities that lay the foundation for future success in the Cambridge and IB Diploma programmes. The PYP emphasises holistic development, fostering proactive, lifelong learners. Through hands-on projects, Early Years children explore the world and develop essential 21st-century skills.

Learning Through Play

The guiding principle in our HCMC kindergartens is "learning through play and inquiry," allowing children to explore, develop, and represent their learning experiences in a secure yet challenging environment. Through this approach, they make sense of the world, practise and build ideas, concepts, and skills, and learn the importance of rules. Children are encouraged to take risks, make mistakes, think creatively and imaginatively, communicate with others while investigating or solving problems, and develop their sense of identity.

International Kindergarten Ho Chi Minh City

An Inspiring Preschool Environment

Our kindergarten environment is purpose-designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning, inspired by the globally renowned Reggio Emilia methodology. This approach nurtures capable, resourceful, and proactive individuals, preparing them for the challenges of Primary School.

Bright, inviting classrooms tailored to children's age groups provide a safe and stimulating setting filled with educational resources. We emphasise play-based learning, combining guided instruction with self-directed exploration to develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, laying a foundation for academic success. Classrooms are organised into areas that encourage the development of skills and talents in literacy, maths, science, music, visual arts, and role-playing. Furthermore, through activities like storytelling, music, art, and physical play, our kindergarten teachers create a nurturing environment that supports each child's cognitive and emotional growth at their own pace.

Language Immersion in Our Kindergarten

At our international preschools in Ho Chi Minh City, the early years programme is fully delivered in English.

Speech and language development is a high priority in our kindergarten approach. As a crucial first step in literacy development, our language-based activities lead to children learning English naturally. Given that many of our early learners are bilingual or multilingual, coming from multicultural backgrounds, our Early Years teachers provide opportunities for all young learners to become proficient communicators in both English and their home languages. Children are also introduced to Vietnamese through language and culture lessons.

State-of-the-Art Kindergarten Facilities

Children at AIS Kindergarten can attend either our Thu Thiem campus, catering to all academic stages, or the Lotus campus in Thao Dien, which is exclusively for preschoolers. Our recent investment in innovative preschool areas at both campuses includes fully refurbished, purpose-built classrooms, designed to create an engaging environment for young learners to explore their interests and enhance their talents. Children also have access to exceptional sports facilities, music rooms, visual arts classrooms, and a school library.

Additionally, our new outdoor playgrounds, constructed with high-quality equipment from the renowned European manufacturer Kompan, and interactive sandboxes encourage exploration, motor skill development, creativity, and problem-solving. Upgraded canteen spaces further support healthy habits from the earliest years.

Learn English at Top Kindergarten in Ho Chi Minh City

Exceptional Kindergarten Teachers

At our preschools in Saigon, each class is led by an internationally trained teacher and supported by at least one Vietnamese assistant teacher to meet the needs of local learners. Our highly qualified English-speaking teachers, from diverse global backgrounds, bring a wealth of experience and pedagogical knowledge to our robust Early Years programme. All teachers hold either a BA in Education or an MA specialising in early childhood.

In addition to our homeroom teachers, we have specialist educators for Swimming, Physical Education, Music, and Vietnamese Language and Culture. Our dedicated teachers are passionate about early years education and committed to ensuring that every child receives the best care. They focus on understanding each young learner's individual needs and nurturing their development and potential.

Preschool Activities

In addition to music and visual arts, sports are a core pillar at AIS. Beyond weekly PE lessons with specialist teachers, each kindergarten group participates in an intensive two-week swimming programme every term. These lessons build water confidence and safety, laying the foundation for various swimming strokes in later years. Our Director of Sports also organises an annual Sports Day, inviting families to join.

Kindergarten children develop a love for reading by frequently visiting the library and selecting books to take home. Throughout the year, our kindergarten children also participate in special events such as the Moon Festival, TET, Christmas concerts, and assemblies. To ease their transition to other campuses and strengthen the AIS community, local field trips to other AIS campuses are organised.

Discover how our preschool education in Ho Chi Minh City can maximise your child's learning and ensure a smooth transition to Primary School.

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Kindergarten in Ho Chi Minh City