International school fees in Vietnam typically rise 5–8% a year — consistently ahead of general inflation — and without a funding plan built around that real rate of increase, the gap between what you've saved and what's actually due tends to show up right when you can least afford it. The same applies to university costs further down the line, which is why we plan for the full education timeline, not just the next school year.
Why is education fee planning different for expats?
Fees at Vietnam's international schools typically increase faster than general inflation, and currency movements between Sterling and Dong add a second layer of uncertainty on top of that. If UK boarding or private schooling is also part of the plan, the UK's 20% VAT on private school fees (in force since January 2025) needs building in too — UK private school fees rose by around 22% in the year after VAT was introduced, and a legal challenge against the policy failed in 2026, so it's a cost that's here to stay rather than one likely to be reversed. A plan based on today's fees held flat almost always falls short by the time payment is due.
How much do international and UK school fees really cost?
Costs vary widely by school and location, but two things hold true almost everywhere: fees rarely stand still, and the total bill is bigger than the headline tuition figure. Boarding and premium international schools can run well into five figures a year before extras such as uniforms, technology, trips, and university application support are added on top. University costs then follow, often with their own separate savings timeline. Because international school fees compound at 5–8% a year, a plan based on this year's prices, rather than what fees will actually be in five or ten years, tends to fall short right when it matters most.
Which savings vehicles work for expat families?
There's no single right answer — it depends on the currency you're saving in, your time horizon, and whether family members want to contribute. Options we commonly weigh up include:
- Offshore bonds — tax-deferred growth, and can be split into segments that are cashed in to match specific fee due dates rather than drawn as one lump sum
- Regular offshore savings plans — a disciplined monthly contribution structured around when fees actually fall due, not a fixed end date
- Currency-matched accounts — holding savings in the currency fees will be paid in, to reduce the impact of Sterling-Dong swings
- Family-funded structures — where grandparents or other relatives want to contribute, bond assignments and regular gifting can reduce inheritance tax exposure while still building the fund
What we help with
- Projecting future school and university costs using realistic fee inflation of 5–8% a year, not today's prices held flat
- Structuring a regular offshore savings plan timed to when fees actually fall due
- Choosing between offshore bonds, regular savings plans, and currency-matched accounts based on your circumstances
- Accounting for currency exposure between Sterling, Dong, and any other relevant currency
- Factoring in UK VAT on school fees where UK private education is part of the plan
- Structuring family contributions — including grandparent gifting — in a tax-efficient way
- Reviewing the plan annually as fees, currency rates, and personal circumstances change
The earlier a plan is in place, the smaller the monthly commitment needed to fund it — but we can build a plan at any stage, including once fees are already close.