American International School officially dissolved
(NLDO) - Controversies surrounding the American International School in Ho Chi Minh City emerged in early October 2023.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has issued a decision to dissolve the American International School (AIS), an elementary–middle–high school located at 220 Nguyen Van Tao Street, Long Thoi Commune, Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City (now Hiep Phuoc Commune).
According to the municipal authorities, the dissolution is based on Point b, Clause 2, Article 51 of the 2019 Education Law. The school failed to remedy the violations that led to its suspension under Decision No. 2042/2024 issued by the Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, even after the suspension period had expired.
The decision states that the American International Education Joint Stock Company (AIS – the investor) and the American International School are responsible for handling all matters related to organizational structure, personnel, finances, assets, land, and other relevant issues in accordance with the law; settling financial obligations; and ensuring the lawful rights and interests of students and employees.
They must fully settle all outstanding debts in compliance with legal requirements, particularly overdue payments to social insurance, health insurance, and labor accident–occupational disease insurance funds, and they will bear legal responsibility for debt settlement.
They are also required to fulfill all tax obligations; refund tuition fees and other collected charges that have not been used; and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of students.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has issued a decision to dissolve the American International School
They must ensure full implementation of salary, allowance, social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance policies in accordance with signed labor contracts and relevant legal regulations for all employees.
All educational records and administrative documents must be handed over to the Department of Education and Training for archiving in accordance with regulations.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has assigned the Department of Education and Training to take the lead, in coordination with relevant agencies, in guiding and supporting the transfer of students to educational institutions that have been duly licensed to operate, ensuring that their learning is not disrupted.
The Department will also coordinate with other departments and agencies to supervise the implementation of all requirements set out in the city’s decision.
In August 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training submitted a report on matters related to the American International School.
The department determined that by the end of the suspension period set out in the previous decision, the school had failed to address the causes that led to its suspension and had also been unable to demonstrate the financial capacity required to sustain its operations. As a result, the department issued Report No. 65/2025 outlining the school’s situation and submitted it to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee for consideration and a decision on the school’s dissolution.
As previously reported by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, controversies surrounding the American International School emerged in early October 2023, when a number of parents gathered and displayed banners at the school entrance demanding repayment.
The school is among those with the highest tuition fees in Ho Chi Minh City.