Saigon South International School

Community at SSIS

A Genuinely Diverse Student Body

SSIS enrolls more than 1,500 students representing over 48 nationalities—a diversity index that few international schools in Southeast Asia can match. The school deliberately manages its admissions to maintain this balance, capping enrollment of any single nationality (including Vietnamese) to preserve a multicultural environment.

Expatriate and Local Families Together

The school is situated in District 7's Phu My Hung township, historically the hub for expatriate families in Ho Chi Minh City. Over 80% of students live within District 7, making it both a neighborhood school for the expat community and a destination school for globally minded Vietnamese families.

The Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship

To ensure accessibility, SSIS offers the Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship annually—a merit-based award for outstanding Vietnamese students. Named after one of the school's co-founders, this scholarship underscores the founding vision of making high-quality international education available to local talent. Notably, students already attending international schools are not eligible, prioritizing those who would otherwise have no access.

Sibling Discounts and Affordability

Families enrolling three or more children at SSIS receive a 20% tuition discount for the third child onward—a meaningful concession in a school where annual tuition ranges from approximately 530 million to 925 million VND.

Regional Athletic and Cultural Connections

As a founding member of SEASAC and MRISA, SSIS connects its students to peers across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam through inter-school athletics and cultural events. Student-led organizations such as Global Issues Network, Operation Smile Club, and MUN further embed community consciousness into school life.

Wellbeing Infrastructure

SSSIS invests heavily in community wellbeing: 8 full-time counselors plus a school psychologist serve the student body, reflecting a culture where pastoral care and mental health are treated as foundational rather than supplementary.

Campus and Atmosphere at SSIS

The Largest Green Campus in Ho Chi Minh City

SSIS occupies a 6-hectare site in the Phu My Hung district—widely described as the largest international school campus in Ho Chi Minh City. Unlike many urban international schools constrained by space, SSIS can offer its students genuine outdoor areas: three full-size grass soccer fields, multiple gardens, and two dedicated playgrounds for early childhood students.

Outdoor and Indoor Sports Facilities

The sports infrastructure supports a wide array of competitive and recreational activities. Teams compete in soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton, tennis, golf, cross country, and track & field—many at the SEASAC and MRISA inter-school level. An outdoor swimming pool and gymnasium round out the athletic facilities.

STEAM Design Center (2024)

Opened in 2024, the 7,100 m² STEAM Design Center is the centerpiece of SSIS's academic investment. It houses:

• Dedicated chemistry, physics, and biology laboratories
• A professional makerspace with 3D printers and fabrication tools
• VEX Robotics and general robotics facilities
• Art studios and a visual art gallery
• Music practice rooms

This facility positions SSIS at the forefront of STEM education in Vietnam.

Arts and Performance Spaces

Beyond STEAM, SSIS has a large indoor auditorium for assemblies, theatrical productions, and concerts; dance studios; and separate music rooms for its concert band, string orchestra, and choir. An outdoor amphitheater adds another dimension to the performing arts culture.

Day-to-Day Atmosphere

The campus's greenery and space create an atmosphere distinct from the high-rise urban environment surrounding it. Students transition between buildings through landscaped paths rather than crowded corridors. Lunch is provided through Aden catering (a professional school catering service), and the cafeteria serves as a social hub. The uniform policy and small class sizes contribute to a focused yet friendly environment that parents and students consistently highlight.

History of Saigon South International School

Origins (1997)

SSIS was conceived by Ferdinand Tsien and Lawrence Ting, key figures behind the Phu My Hung urban development project in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City. Their vision was to provide expatriate and Vietnamese families moving into the new township with access to world-class, affordable, values-driven education. The school opened in 1997 as a not-for-profit PreK–12 institution following an American curriculum.

Early Growth and Accreditation

In its first decade, SSIS earned accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), cementing its academic credibility. The Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship—named after the school's co-founder—was established (reportedly around 2005) to support outstanding Vietnamese students who might otherwise be unable to attend.

IB Authorization (2010)

On 23 March 2010, SSIS was formally authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer the IB Diploma Programme, making it one of the earliest IB schools in southern Vietnam. This expanded the school's offering for high school students seeking globally recognized qualifications alongside Advanced Placement courses.

Membership in Regional Networks

SSIS became a founding member of SEASAC (South East Asia Student Activities Conference) and MRISA (Mekong River International Schools Association), connecting its students to regional athletic and academic competitions across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

Campus Expansion (2024)

In 2024, SSIS opened a new 7,100 m² (part of an 18,000 m² development) STEAM Design Center, housing state-of-the-art science laboratories for chemistry, physics, and biology, a makerspace, robotics facilities, and an art studio. This investment underscored the school's commitment to 21st-century learning.

Today

SSIS now enrolls more than 1,500 students from 48+ countries on a 6-hectare campus described as the largest and most verdant international school campus in Ho Chi Minh City.

Educational Philosophy at SSIS

Saigon South International School (SSIS) was founded on the belief that quality international education should be both intellectually rigorous and personally enriching. The school's official mission states: "SSIS is a college preparatory school committed to the intellectual and personal development of each student in preparation for a purposeful life as a global citizen."

Core Values Framework

The school's approach is guided by five core values:

• Academic Excellence – high standards in all subjects
• Sense of Self – personal identity and self-awareness
• Respect for All – multicultural appreciation
• Balance in Life – holistic wellbeing
• Dedicated Service – giving back to community

These values permeate every aspect of school life, from classroom instruction to extracurricular activities and community service programs.

American Curriculum with Global Credentials

SSIS delivers an American standards-based curriculum from PreK through Grade 12, supplemented in the upper years by both Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the IB Diploma Programme. The school claims to be the only international school in Ho Chi Minh City that offers both the IB Diploma and AP, giving students maximum flexibility when applying to universities worldwide.

Student-Centered Approach

Classroom instruction is deliberately kept small (maximum ~20 students per class, with a student-teacher ratio of approximately 10:1), enabling individualized attention. Eight full-time counselors and a school psychologist support students' social and emotional wellbeing alongside their academic journey.

Global Citizenship

With 48+ nationalities in a student body of 1,500+, SSIS uses its diverse community as a living classroom for global citizenship. The school's not-for-profit model, dating to its 1997 founding by Phu My Hung Corporation, ensures that its educational mission takes precedence over commercial imperatives.

Academic Culture at SSIS

Unique Dual-Pathway High School

SSIS claims to be the only international school in Ho Chi Minh City offering both the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement (AP) courses within the same institution. This gives students and families a genuine choice at Grade 11: pursue the holistic, internationally recognized IB Diploma (a two-year program culminating in external examinations) or take individual AP courses aligned with US university expectations.

100% University Acceptance

The school publishes that 100% of its graduates are accepted into universities globally each year—a remarkable benchmark that reflects both the academic preparation students receive and the college counseling team's support. With 8 counselors and a school psychologist on staff, university preparation is highly personalized.

Global University Destinations

Recent cohorts (Class of 2025 and 2026) have earned places at institutions including:

• USA: Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Northwestern, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, Pomona, Parsons, West Point
• UK: Imperial College London, UCL, University of Edinburgh
• Canada: McGill, University of British Columbia
• Korea: KAIST, Seoul National University
• Japan: Waseda, Sophia
• Europe: Bocconi (Italy), University of Amsterdam
• Australia: University of Sydney

STEAM-Centered Learning Environment

The 2024-opened STEAM Design Center (7,100 m²) provides dedicated spaces for chemistry, physics, and biology laboratories, a professional makerspace with 3D printing, robotics labs, and art studios—all under one roof. This physical investment signals the school's long-term commitment to science- and technology-oriented college preparation.

Small Classes, High Standards

With a maximum class size of approximately 20 students and a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, SSIS ensures that academic expectations are met with personalized support. The rolling admissions process (no fixed deadline) includes an English proficiency assessment for all incoming students, ensuring baseline readiness.