High-quality public primary schools in Hanoi set higher requirements for students. Some schools enroll students based on their learning records, while others select students based on aptitude tests.

Organizing entrance tests is the best solution for schools providing high-quality education, because the competition is very high and schools need a filter to find the best students.

Nguyen Thu Lieu, a parent in Nam Tu Liem district, after consulting with other parents, enrolled her daughter in a private tutoring class to prepare for school entrance tests.

“I leave my office exactly at 5 pm every day and go to the kindergarten to pick up my daughter. After a light meal with bread and milk, I take her to private tutoring classes. She needs to be present in classes at 6 pm to learn and do assessment questions,” Lieu said.

“The competition ratio for the Nam Tu Liem Primary School is very high and if my daughter is not well prepared, she will fail to get a seat there,” she explained, adding that her daughter has four extra lessons a week to prepare for the entrance exam.

Meanwhile, Trinh Thu Ha in Cau Giay district is eyeing a primary school in the district.

“I want to enroll my daughter in a star school. The competition is really stiff. It is even stiffer than the entrance exam to university. If you fail to apply for a university, you will find another opportunity. There are not many good primary schools for choice,” she said.

Nguyen Thi Thuong, a parent in Bac Tu Liem district, said that she will enroll her son in a private school. However, as private schools set higher tuition that public schools, she wants her son to obtain a scholarship. 

The boy not only has to study reading and writing, but also fine arts and chess. Thuong hopes that his aptitude in arts and chess will be an advantage.

“He has five extra lessons of mathematics, Vietnamese, English, arts and chess every week,” she said, adding that after every lesson, he has to spend 30-40 minutes to review and do home exercises. The boy finishes his day at around 10pm.

Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, deputy head of the Ha Dong Education and Training Sub-department, said teaching students before they enter the first grade is prohibited. However, parents still send their children to preparatory classes, which puts pressure on their children.

Hoang Thanh