Many families tell Vietnam Preschool they feel overwhelmed when they first look into preschool education in Vietnam. "What Vietnamese preschools teach: a curriculum overview" addresses exactly those early uncertainties, with concrete guidance you can act on today.
The article is organised from overview to specifics, with a question-and-answer section at the end, so feel free to jump to the part that matches your situation. Public preschools are affordable and widely available but prioritise local residents, while private and international schools offer more flexible hours and English-language environments at a higher price.
Key facts every family should know
This section repays a few minutes of careful reading. Class names follow the local convention of mam, choi and la, roughly matching three, four and five year olds, with a national curriculum framework guiding what each age group should experience.
The school year generally runs from late August to the end of May, with the Lunar New Year break in January or February being the longest holiday of the calendar.
Common misunderstandings, corrected
Experienced families consistently point to the following. Meals are cooked on site at most schools, and menus are usually posted weekly so families can see exactly what children are served.
Many schools welcome trial days, and observing how staff greet your child during a short visit often tells you more than any brochure.
Questions worth asking early
The essentials, arranged in order of priority, look like this.
- Licensing is handled at district level, and every legitimate preschool can show an operating licence listing its address, capacity and the age groups it is approved to serve.
- Teacher-to-child ratios vary considerably between school types, so asking for the exact number of adults per classroom is one of the most revealing questions a parent can pose.
- Vietnam's early education system is divided into nursery care for children under three and kindergarten classes for ages three to six, with most schools offering full-day programs that include lunch and an afternoon nap.
- A typical day starts with drop-off between seven and eight in the morning, moves through structured activities and free play, and ends with pickup from four in the afternoon onwards.
What preschool education in Vietnam looks like in practice
A little context here prevents a lot of confusion later. Many schools welcome trial days, and observing how staff greet your child during a short visit often tells you more than any brochure.
Vietnam's early education system is divided into nursery care for children under three and kindergarten classes for ages three to six, with most schools offering full-day programs that include lunch and an afternoon nap.
How to evaluate your options
Here is the part of the picture families most often miss. Class names follow the local convention of mam, choi and la, roughly matching three, four and five year olds, with a national curriculum framework guiding what each age group should experience.
The school year generally runs from late August to the end of May, with the Lunar New Year break in January or February being the longest holiday of the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long are waiting lists at popular schools?
Sought-after schools in major cities can fill six months ahead for the youngest groups, so visiting and registering early is the safest strategy.
What hours do preschools typically cover?
A standard day runs roughly from 7:30 to 16:30, and many private schools offer early drop-off and late pickup for working parents at a small extra charge.
At what age can children start preschool in Vietnam?
Nursery groups accept children from around eighteen months, sometimes earlier, while kindergarten classes formally begin at age three and continue until children start primary school at six.
Do Vietnamese preschools operate year-round?
Most private schools offer summer programs in June and July, while the formal school year runs from late August to May; public schools follow the academic calendar more strictly.
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Vietnam Preschool supports families navigating early education in Vietnam. For more on preschool education in Vietnam, explore the Understanding the System section, or reach us via the contact details in the footer.