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Teaching English in Vietnam
Everything you need to know about teaching in the land of the Blue Dragon.
Vietnam is a vision of rivers, karsts, ancient ruins, temples, beautiful post-colonial architecture, lush tropical countryside, and war memorials. It has a delicious and distinctive cuisine, its own art and dance forms, and lively celebrations. It is little wonder that so much of the economy of the country comes from the tourism industry. Recent years have seen over 10 million people coming to visit annually to gorge on Pho and celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Prospective English teachers who are looking for a great base for living and working in Southeast Asia that can provide endlessly fascinating experiences, should consider the many benefits of a position in Vietnam.
Wages
Wages
Earn between 18,000,000₫ – 35,000,000₫ per month!
(that’s about $800-$1,500 US – which goes far in Vietnam where you can live on less than $5 per day)
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Vietnam is an adventure seeker’s paradise with mountains, beaches, and plenty of rich local culture.
Communication
Communication
Vietnamese can be a tricky language to master, but don’t worry – English is widely spoken in most cities so you can easily get by with just a few phrases and pleasantries.
Climate
Climate
Vietnam can be hot and humid summer months, but things cool down around November-January.
If you’re heading to Ho Chi Minh, you’ll be fine with summer clothes, and if you’re heading to Hanoi pack a jacket.
TEFL Wages in Vietnam
Wages in Vietnam can vary quite a bit, with teachers making anywhere between $800-$1,800 usd per month, depending on the type of school in which they work. Language schools are plentiful in most towns and just about everywhere in the major cities, so it should not be a struggle to find positions. Language schools run on the low end of the spectrum paying between $800-$1000 usd per month.
The cost of living in the country is very low, and even the low end of the range can provide plenty for individual needs, entertainment, and potential travel to nearby countries. Vietnamese language schools almost always offer benefits like relocation packages, visa help, and in some cases housing.
| Class types: | Wages: |
|---|---|
| Language schools | $800-$1,200 p/m |
| International schools | $1,200-$1,800 p/m |
| Private tutoring | $10-15 p/h |
Higher salaries with equal or greater benefits such as airfare reimbursement can be obtained through employment with International Schools, which typically pay anywhere from $1200-$1800 per month. These schools usually recruit in the Summer months and potential teachers need a TEFL certificate, and if possible, a few years of experience to be competitive for candidacy.
Both International Schools and Language Schools often hire online and conduct interviews via Skype, though it is also possible to line up a job at a language school while already living in the country.
Food in Vietnam
Vietnamese cuisine is a delicious mix of traditional recipes perfected through countless generations, combined with ingredients from its colonial past. In recent years high-class Vietnamese restaurants have started to appear in the west, but trust us – the real thing is a whole other experience.
Pho
Sometimes eating noodle soup can be a religious experience.
Bánh Mi
The French brought the baguette and pate to Vietnam and the Vietnamese brought all sorts of other things into the mix. A typical sandwich is full of roasted pork or sometimes chicken, with pickled vegetables, cucumber, chili and condiments. It’s a great daily lunch.
Bánh xèo
These fried pancakes that are particularly great for winter comfort eating.
English teaching requirements in Vietnam
To teach English in Vietnam, you’ll have to meet several requirements set by the government. For the most part, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
Non-native teachers: If you don’t have a passport from the UK/US/IRE/CAN/AUS/NZ/SA, you can still get a fully legal work permit in Vietnam (woo!).
Teachers without degrees: Having a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) is a requirement for gaining a work visa in Vietnam. Having one will ensure you’re able to gain a fully legal work permit. However, while most schools in Vietnam will ask for a degree, many will still hire teachers without one, particularly if you have a notarized TEFL certificate and can bring lots of energy into the classroom. It’s common for schools to arrange a business visa, employ teachers on tourist visas, or to pay some money to get a visa arranged through other means. This means that there are lots of teachers without degrees which work all around Vietnam – however, it’s not something we’d recommend.
If you don’t meet these requirements, check out our blog post on tips, or get in touch to find out what other opportunities are available to you.