ᐅ Primary School in HCMC ᐅ AIS Saigon Primary

International Primary Years Education in HCMC

Ages 5 to 11 years | Campuses in Thu Thiem & Thao Dien

AIS' private Primary School in Saigon, Vietnam, offers a globally respected international programme focused on helping each child reach their fullest potential. These preparatory school years emphasise academic excellence, socio-emotional skills, and physical development. With newly upgraded facilities for academics, sports, and the arts across two campuses in the city, our Primary Years education nurtures individual talents, in-demand skills, and fluency in up to four languages, while fostering a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

By integrating the most effective educational approaches and advanced technology into the Primary curriculum, we prepare pupils to excel both in Vietnam and globally. Delivered by expert teachers, our Primary education in HCMC establishes a strong foundation for exceptional performance in Secondary School, encouraging learners to go the extra mile in their future academic and career endeavours.

Top Primary Education in Ho Chi Minh City

Why Choose Our Primary School in HCMC?

AIS Saigon ranks among Vietnam’s top primary schools, offering full English immersion with native-speaking, internationally-trained specialist teachers, helping students become proficient quickly and opening doors to living outside of Vietnam.

Our curriculum uniquely combines the globally recognised IB Primary Years Programme with the Cambridge International Primary English and Maths curriculum. This is further enhanced by strong technology, sports, arts, and language programmes, creating an unparalleled learning experience. With a rich extracurricular programme and diverse leadership opportunities, students are encouraged to pursue their passions and develop exceptional talents.

Our Primary Years education in Ho Chi Minh City facilitates a smooth transition to Secondary School while equipping students with future-ready skills such as organisation, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and an entrepreneurial spirit. By attending our Primary School, your child will gain a competitive edge to excel in their future studies and beyond.

Primary Years Curriculum

IB Primary Years Programme

The Primary School curriculum at AIS Saigon is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), which promotes holistic development—social, emotional, physical, and academic. The IB uses an inquiry-based approach, integrating subjects like Languages, Mathematics, and Science into six transdisciplinary themes, encouraging critical thinking and real-world applications of knowledge. The PYP equips students with essential skills and a robust knowledge base for future academic challenges.

Cambridge International English & Mathematics Curriculum

Our PYP curriculum integrates the Cambridge International Primary Curriculum for English and Maths, enhancing academic rigour and preparing students for the Cambridge Lower Secondary and IGCSE curriculum following Primary School.

The Cambridge Primary English curriculum focuses on reading, writing, listening, and speaking, ensuring comprehensive language proficiency. We adapt the curriculum to accommodate the varying language abilities of our Primary students.

In Mathematics, the Cambridge Primary curriculum covers numbers, geometry, measurement, handling data, and problem-solving. It helps students apply their mathematical knowledge in real-life situations and develop a thorough understanding of the subject.

Primary School Subjects

In addition to English, Maths, and IB themes, Primary students at AIS Saigon study Sciences, Technology, Social Studies, Vietnamese Language & Culture (or the Vietnamese National Curriculum for local students), Arts (including visual arts, music, and drama), and PSPE (Personal, Social, and Physical Education).

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths) education is crucial at our HCMC Primary School. STEAM activities transform abstract concepts into concrete knowledge and encourage students to address real-world problems creatively. Through these experiences, students develop essential skills such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication, preparing them for success in the 21st century.

Download Handbook

Primary School Assessment

At our Ho Chi Minh City primary schools, assessment is central to addressing individual needs and helping students achieve their personal best. We use various summative assessment strategies across subjects, including cycle testing, the Cambridge Primary Curriculum Progression Tests, and the Year 6 Cambridge Primary Checkpoint Tests for English and Maths.

Cambridge International Assessments for English & Maths

The Progression Tests provide an internal assessment of knowledge, skills, and understanding, while the Checkpoint Tests, taken at the end of Year 6, offer diagnostic feedback on students' strengths and weaknesses in English and Maths. These tests are marked externally by Cambridge.

Years 5 & 6 Cycle Tests

As an Inspired Education School, our Primary students have regular cycle tests scheduled in their agendas. The purpose of these weekly cycle tests, conducted on a rotational basis across subjects, is to serve as a form of summative assessment. This approach helps students become more confident and comfortable in test conditions, preparing them for real exam settings later in their schooling. Cycle tests primarily assess knowledge recall and application.

PYP Exhibition

As a culmination of the IB Primary Years Programme in Year 6, students undertake an extended, collaborative inquiry project known as the PYP Exhibition, guided by their expert teachers. The Exhibition is an important milestone for both the school and the students. It synthesises the essential elements learned in the Primary Years subjects and shares them with the entire school community.

Languages in Primary School

At our international Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City, pupils are immersed in a rich linguistic environment that boosts their communication skills and cultural understanding. English, the primary language of instruction, is integrated across all subjects to develop strong proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

In addition to learning English, Primary students explore other languages to broaden their global perspective. Vietnamese is taught through the Vietnamese National Curriculum (VNC) for Vietnamese learners and a Language and Culture programme for non-Vietnamese students. From Year 3 onwards, Mandarin and Spanish are offered as extracurricular activities, exposing students to two of the world's most widely spoken languages. This multilingual approach enhances language skills, supports cognitive development, and fosters intercultural awareness, preparing students for success in a globalised world.

Experienced & Committed Primary School Teachers

At our prestigious Primary School in HCMC, teachers adopt a personalised approach to education to support each student’s unique strengths and needs. They create a nurturing and engaging environment, fostering exploration, inquiry, and critical thinking skills. With extensive international experience and expertise in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), our teachers ensure your child’s academic and personal growth.

We employ expert, highly qualified and passionate teachers committed to providing a holistic education. Specialist educators in music, physical education, swimming, Vietnamese Language & Culture, and Mandarin Chinese, as well as English as an Additional Language (EAL), work alongside class teachers. This ensures a broad, well-structured Primary curriculum and high-quality instruction across all subject areas, contributing to students' overall development and success in the Primary Years and beyond.

The Best Primary School Facilities

Students can attend our private Primary School at one of AIS' fully refurbished campuses in Saigon: the Cherry Blossom Campus in Thao Dien, dedicated exclusively to Primary learners, and the Thu Thiem Campus, which serves all AIS academic stages. Our state-of-the-art facilities significantly enhance students' personal and academic development, while fostering their skills and talents.

Both campuses feature fully equipped classrooms and world-class resources, as well as the following brand-new amenities:

Science Labs
School Auditorium
Music Studio
Dance Room
Drama Studio
Swimming Pool
FIFA-sized Football Field
New Playgrounds
Spacious Libraries
School Canteen & Kitchen

Activities in Primary School

At AIS Saigon Primary Schools, students benefit from a variety of activities that enrich their development and learning experience. Our diverse Extracurricular Activities Programme includes GLEE Club, Drama, Dance, Robotics STEM, Arts & Crafts, Chess, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Judo, Tennis, In-line Skating, Gymnastics, Basketball, Soccer, Netball, and a Swim Squad. These activities promote teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, communication, physical fitness, and social interaction.

In addition to extracurricular opportunities, Primary students receive wellbeing lessons that explore mindfulness and life skills, and participate in regular school events and excursions, connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences. Our exciting school camps for Years 2 to 6 further develop independence, self-esteem, and resilience. Families are also invited to key events such as the Moon Festival, AIS Celebrates, Tet Festival, and Book Week.

Sports

At AIS Saigon Primary School, students engage in a wide range of sporting activities through Physical Education lessons, a swimming programme with qualified instructors, extracurriculars at our Sports Centre, and AIS Titans teams. They participate in modified and rule-based games and have the chance to compete against other schools.

Sports introduced at this stage include football, basketball, tennis, swimming, and netball. These activities enhance physical fitness, motor skills, and coordination, while also teaching essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, fair play, perseverance, and discipline. Additionally, participation in sports promotes a healthy, active lifestyle from an early age, and contributes to a well-rounded education.

Arts

At AIS Saigon Primary School, the Arts play a key role in enriching students' learning and fostering creativity. Through specialist instruction and extracurricular activities in Music, Drama, Dance, and Visual Arts, students explore various forms of artistic expression, including playing instruments (such as the recorder, ukulele, and guitar), choral activities, and different techniques and materials. They are also encouraged to participate in school theatre and musical productions, which are annual highlights. Taking part in these productions enhances and showcases their talents and creativity, builds confidence, and promotes teamwork. Additionally, these artistic opportunities contribute to students' overall personal development, helping them acquire a balanced skill set for life.

Discover how our Ho Chi Minh City Primary School can set your child on a path to success.

Enquire Now