Brighton College Vietnam Becomes First Vietnamese School in Spear's Global Index

Brighton College Vietnam has become the first school based in Vietnam to be included in the "Top Recommended Private Schools Globally" category of the Spear's Schools Index 2026. The recognition places the Hanoi campus alongside some of the world's most established private institutions and signals a wider shift in how Vietnam's international school sector is being assessed against global benchmarks. According to VietnamNet, it is the first representative from the country to receive the designation.

Published annually by Spear's Magazine in collaboration with educational consultancy Thuso Group, the Spear's Schools Index evaluates schools on academic performance, teaching quality, pastoral care, co-curricular provision, learning environment, and long-term student development. Schools selected for the Top Recommended category must demonstrate consistently high standards across both academic and non-academic areas following a comprehensive review process.

A British curriculum in Vingroup's ecosystem

Brighton College Vietnam opened in Hanoi in 2023 as the first campus under a partnership between Brighton College International and Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, which already operates 39 private school campuses through its Vinschool brand. Under that agreement, Brighton College handles curriculum design, key recruitment and teacher training, while Vingroup manages infrastructure and administration. Up to seven campuses are planned across the country, with a second site in Ho Chi Minh City's Vinhomes Grand Park in development.

The curriculum follows a continuous British pathway, from the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and, since March 2025, the IB Diploma Programme. The school currently serves students from more than 20 nationalities aged 3 to 18. Brighton College International's CEO, Graeme Owton, has previously described the ambition as giving Vietnamese families access to "a remarkable start" without sending children overseas.

What it means for the region

The Spear's index already features branded British schools elsewhere in the region, among them Brighton College Bangkok, Harrow International School Hong Kong, and Marlborough College Malaysia. Vietnam's inclusion is a newer development and reflects the pace at which Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have attracted premium British-curriculum operators over the past three years. Operators including Rugby School, Uppingham, and Cranleigh have all announced or opened Vietnamese campuses recently, suggesting that the Spear's recognition may not remain a sole distinction for long.