HEI Schools has signed a partnership agreement with STH Holdings to develop the largest HEI Schools campus in Southeast Asia, located in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. Scheduled to open in July 2027, the new preschool will welcome up to 500 children aged 1–6, bringing the Finnish early childhood education approach to one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing regions.
The campus will deliver HEI Schools’ play-based, child-centred learning model, with a strong focus on well-being, creativity, and holistic development.
The agreement builds on the recent launch of Sigma International Bilingual School in Thai Nguyen, where STH Holdings and HEI Schools officially marked their collaboration during the school’s inauguration ceremony. The event was attended by local authorities and representatives of the Finnish Embassy, reflecting strong institutional support for international education initiatives in the province.
“We are proud to commence our partnership with STH Holdings and bring the HEI Schools early childhood education model to Thai Nguyen. This new campus represents an important milestone for HEI Schools in Southeast Asia, and we are excited to support local families by creating a learning environment where children can thrive through play, well-being, and joyful learning. Together with our partners, we aim to build a strong foundation for future generations in Vietnam.” Inkeri Aimonen, CEO of HEI Schools, says.
The upcoming HEI Schools campus represents a significant expansion in scale. The facility will be renovated to meet HEI Schools’ Nordic-inspired standards, featuring modern learning environments and generous indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support play, exploration, and active learning. The project also aligns with Vietnam’s national education development goals, which emphasise innovation and quality improvement in early childhood education.
The school will implement the HEI Schools curriculum, developed in collaboration with the University of Helsinki and grounded in decades of Finnish education research. The curriculum supports children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development through play and inquiry-based learning.
The campus will offer a bilingual learning environment, combining Vietnamese educational requirements with international best practices. As with other HEI Schools campuses in the region, teachers will receive comprehensive training and continuous pedagogical support from HEI Schools’ Finland-based education team to ensure high-quality, locally relevant implementation.
Once opened in July 2027, the Thai Nguyen campus will serve families in a rapidly developing area and contribute to long-term community growth through high-quality early education. The project also reflects the broader cooperation between Finland and Vietnam in advancing sustainable education solutions.
With this development, HEI Schools continues to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, building on existing campuses and partnerships in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and beyond.
About HEI Schools
Founded in Helsinki, Finland in 2015, HEI Schools (Helsinki International Schools Group) is an award-winning early education company that provides globally scalable education solutions inspired by Finland’s renowned school system. With its child-focused approach and scientifically-backed curriculum, HEI Schools equips educators and parents with the tools they need to foster inspiring learning environments. Today, HEI Schools operates in over 15 countries and continues to expand its mission of bringing joyful learning to children around the world. For more information, visit www.heischools.com
About STH Holdings & Sigma International Bilingual School
STH Holdings, a Vietnamese investment company focused on sustainable development and multi-sector growth including education, has officially launched Sigma International Bilingual School in Thai Nguyen — the province’s first international bilingual school. The opening ceremony on 30 January 2026 marked the transformation of the former Iris School into Sigma, representing a new bilingual education model in the region. Sigma International Bilingual School delivers a dual-track curriculum that meets both Vietnamese national standards and international benchmarks, including programs aligned with Pearson Edexcel. The school aims to foster academic excellence, global thinking, and English proficiency from early childhood through secondary levels. At the event, STH Holdings also signed an agreement to develop an HEI Schools campus in Thai Nguyen, underscoring its long-term commitment to international and innovative education in the province. Read more.