La Petite Ecole HCMC is the only school in Ho Chi Minh City teaching the French National curriculum while offering a truly bilingual French-English program in equal parts from Early Years onwards. The French and English languages are not just academic subjects, but vectors for learning various disciplines such as mathematics, science, sport and the arts. The school follows a cycle-based approach that respects each child’s learning pace, encouraging independence and initiative.

La Petite Ecole HCMC has been a member of the Odyssey Education group since 2021.
Based in Paris, Odyssey is an international group that brings together French international schools throughout the world, from nursery to high school. Supported by French institutions (accreditation by the French Ministry of Education and partnership with the AEFE), the Odyssey group was founded by well-known figures in the French education sector, including Mr Luc Chatel, former French Minister of Education, and is committed to promoting French education abroad.

La Petite Ecole’s cycles 1 and 2 have been approved by the French Ministry of Education since 2020 and cycle 3 since 2023, which means that pupils can automatically continue their studies in the French system, in France or abroad.

La Petite Ecole welcomes pupils from many different backgrounds (over 25 different nationalities), creating a multicultural and diverse environment. Less than half of our students are French. This diversity enriches the learning experience by exposing students to different cultures and perspectives, fostering global awareness and understanding.

La Petite Ecole HCMC follows the French national curriculum, accredited by the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). This programme is complemented by innovative teaching methods inspired by alternative pedagogies such as Montessori, Reggio, Freinet, etc.

La Petite Ecole HCMC offers immersive multilingual education in French, English and Vietnamese from Early Years school onwards. English and French are taught equally over the course of a week. The program guarantees a high level of proficiency in French and English through project-based learning and interactive activities. Learning Vietnamese varies from 45 minutes to 2 hours per week depending on the age and nationality of the children.

La Petite Ecole HCMC welcomes children from the age of 1 in its French-speaking nursery, then from Early Years school through to the end of Elementary school (CM2, equivalent to Grade 5) with its bilingual French-English program.

The French curriculum is organised into 3-year learning cycles, at the end of which pupils must validate expectation from the French curriculum. Assignment to a particular class at La Petite Ecole is determined by the child’s year of birth. For example, a child born between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 will enter the Petite Section class in September 2024, for the whole of the 2024-2025 school year.

The teaching team at La Petite Ecole HCMC is made up of qualified teachers who are native speakers of their language (French, English or Vietnamese) from all over the world, including France, South Africa, England and more. Each teacher brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to putting children at the centre of their learning. The teaching team undergoes continuous professional development to ensure high teaching standards.

The school places a strong emphasis on personal development through innovative educational practices. These include the promotion of independence, curiosity, motivation and self-confidence in students. The curriculum is designed to meet individual needs, encouraging students to learn at their own pace.

La Petite Ecole HCMC supports students who do not speak French or English on arrival through language support programmes in small group with dedicated FLE (Français Langue Etrangère) and ESL (English Second Language) teachers. These programmes are designed to help non-native speakers integrate smoothly into the bilingual programme and develop their fluency in both languages over time.

After attending La Petite Ecole HCMC, students can continue their education in any of the 543 schools in the AEFE network around the world, including the Lycée Français Marguerite Duras in Ho Chi Minh City. This ensures the continuity of the French curriculum and maintains high academic standards.

However, our students are not restricted to the French education system. Thanks to our bilingual program, which makes them proficient in both French and English, they have the opportunity to continue their education beyond primary school in international establishments. Our teachers incorporate the same skills and teaching methods as those used in American and English primary schools, broadening our pupils’ educational horizons beyond the French system.

Parents are kept regularly informed of their child’s progress through a variety of means, including weekly newsletters on our dedicated Class Dojo app, regular parent-teacher meetings, progress reports and school events. The school values open communication between teachers and parents to support student development through the principle of co-education.

The academic year generally starts at the beginning of September and ends at the beginning of July, following the guidelines of the Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Etranger (AEFE) and the local Vietnamese calendar. The school emphasises a balanced alternation between work and holiday periods.

The school operates according to a timetable adapted to the needs of children and families.
The nursery for children aged 1 to 3 is open from 7.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The Early Years and Elementary schools start every morning from Monday to Friday at 8.30am, with doors opening at 8am. From Monday to Thursday, the school day ends at 3.15pm (with the option of collecting your child until 3.30pm), and on Fridays at 12.15pm for the Early Years school and 12.30pm for the Elementary schools.

Children can also sign up for extra-curricular activities on our campus after school. See the dedicated section for more information.

La Petite Ecole HCMC has two canteen areas: a dedicated area for nursery children and a larger area for early years and elementary school children. The meals
are prepared daily in our kitchen, following menus drawn up in collaboration with nutritionists, respecting the needs of the children. The origin of the products is controlled. We have a total of 7 different menus throughout the year, rotating every week. Each menu includes 2 Western recipes, 2 Vietnamese recipes and, every other week, a vegetarian menu. Children with allergies or special dietary requirements can be catered for.

La Petite Ecole HCMC offers an additional bus service to all its students, with 6 different bus routes in total. You can see the route of our different lines on our dedicated page.

In the morning, bus departures are scheduled to arrive at the school before 8.15am. In the afternoon, depending on the route, there are two possible departures: 3.30pm after school or 4.30pm after extra-curricular activities from Monday to Thursday and 12.30pm or 3.30pm on Fridays.

La Petite Ecole HCMC organises holiday camps on its campus during several school holiday periods. Each summer camp focuses on a fun theme for the children. However, these camps are only open to children studying at La Petite Ecole HCMC.

Yes, a daycare service is available at La Petite Ecole HCMC (at an additional cost): Monday to Thursday, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and Friday from 1pm to 3.15pm.

Extra-curricular activities are open to all children from the first year of Early Years school (Petite Section) to the end of Elementary schools (CM2), i.e. from age 3 to age 11.

Our extra-curricular activities are open from Monday to Thursday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, then from 1pm to 2pm and from 2.15pm to 3.15pm on Fridays.

La Petite Ecole HCMC offers a variety of extra-curricular activities, over 30 in total, centered around the arts, sport and language development. Each activity is separated by level group. You can find the catalogue of activities available during our first term of the 2024-2025 school year on our dedicated page.

Yes, a snack will be provided by our school for all pupils enrolled in extra-curricular activities. It will be taken directly from our canteen.

La Petite Ecole HCMC is nestled in the family neighbourhood of Thao Dien, in District 2 of Ho Chi Minh City, offering a natural environment with various facilities.

La Petite Ecole HCMC has a unique 4,500 m² campus with modern facilities, including bright classrooms equipped with IT resources, libraries, an auditorium, a canteen, a music room, language rooms, a 25-metre swimming pool, a football pitch, a basketball court, playgrounds and more.

La Petite Ecole HCMC takes steps to ensure a safe and healthy environment for students, including monitoring and managing air quality. A protocol has been put in place based on air quality, which is checked every morning by our school nurse using a sensor located at our entrance. Each classroom and motricity room is also equipped with one or more air purifiers, depending on the size of the room.

The admissions process involves submitting an application via our Eduka platform, providing the necessary documents and then attending a meeting with our educational management.

You can contact La Petite Ecole HCMC at the following address and telephone number:

Address: 172-180 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City
Telephone number: +84 (0)28 35 19 15 21,
Email: contact@lpehochiminh.com,
Facebook: @lapetiteecolehcm