The policy calls for social contributions to improve English language (5) from primary schools to senior high schools by employing only foreign native English teachers. Each student will chip in VND120,000 ($5.8) a month to (6) the $35 an hour salary of the foreign (7) . The majority of English teaching jobs available in Vietnam are usually across private English language centers and public schools. The average salary in a language school is $17 - $22 (400, 000 - 500,000 VND) per hour, or $1,500 (33,000,000 VND) per month. Most language centers run classes during the evenings and weekends, and you will score two days off each week. As a high school principal, Phu wants specific solutions to deal with the problem that strike at its root: improving teachers' quality. "Schools should have permission to organize proper training courses for English teachers, solicit private investment to get English teachers with IELTS of 8.0 and foreign teachers, yet only qualified ones and 3.1 Vietnam English teacher development and Vietnam English Teacher Competency Fra mework 2012 Vietnam is responding to the challenges of globalisation with an ambitious foreign PHP 46,776. / mo. PHP 38K. PHP 78K. PHP 18KPHP 90K. Most Likely Range. Possible Range. The estimated total pay for a Teacher is PHP 46,776 per month in the Manila , Philippines Area area, with an average salary of PHP 21,250 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate. European International School. HCMC (D2) English is the instruction language. Additional languages: German, French, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese. Early years, Primary School, Middle School, High School. Early Years: VND 225 - 375 mil; Primary: VND 437 - 476 mil; Middle & High School: VND 498 - 599 mil. hRhh4. Teaching English in Vietnam Vietnam offers an exciting and unique opportunity for ESL teachers to work in one of the most interesting and beautiful countries in Southeast Asia. With a growing economy, English language teaching in Vietnam has become extremely important over the past several years. Teaching English in Vietnam gives teachers the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Vietnam’s vast coastal beaches, inland mountains, and complex river systems. All while experiencing a charming traditional culture that continues to evolve as the country opens itself up to the outside world. What you need to know about teaching English in Vietnam Teach Away offers some of the most attractive teaching positions in Vietnam in conjunction with international and governmental organizations. Positions are generally located in major cities where teachers work in a friendly and supportive environment. English teaching jobs in Vietnam involve a full range of instructional activities including English instruction, student counseling, staff development, and curriculum development. The age of students ranges from children 7-15 years of age to adults 16-50 years of age. Benefits of ESL Jobs in Vietnam Teaching English in Vietnam can offer some of the most attractive employment packages in the region How to Teach English in Vietnam The following are requirements for teaching English in Vietnam. Some requirements are due to visa guidelines and restrictions Fluent English speaker Bachelor’s degree English major preferred TEFL/TESL qualification at least 100+ hours completed in class Teaching experience preferred The Role of the Teacher in Vietnam The teacher acts as a facilitator of students’ learning. As such, they have many roles to fulfill. Teachers are highly respected in Vietnam. The ESL teacher is responsible for managing classroom activities in an effort to promote communication in English. The teacher will also work as an advisor, providing feedback on student questions and monitoring their performance. OISE TEFL Certification for Private School Teachers Many private schools in Vietnam require applicants to possess an OISE TEFL certificate. The University of Toronto’s OISE TEFL Online Certificate can help you become a leading candidate for some of the top Vietnamese private school positions. Ready to Teach in Vietnam? Register for a teacher account to apply for teaching jobs in Vietnam. Vietnam at a glance Country information Capital Hanoi Language Vietnamese Population 89,693,000 2013 Currency Vietnamese dong ₫ Government Single-party Communist-Socialist Republic Major religion Folk religions/beliefs Climate Tropical and Temperate Size 331,210 km² Quick facts Vietnam is well-known for its ancient, traditional buddhist pagodas. It shares a border with Cambodia, Laos and China. It is the world's largest exporter of cashew nuts and black pepper. The capital city of Vietnam is Hanoi, however the largest city in Vietnam is Ho Chi Minh City. Cuisine traditionally combines five taste elements spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet. Soccer, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, tennis and martial arts are the country's most popular sports. Some of the most important cultural symbols are the dragon and the bird. Vietnam is two countries in one. With the north and south being vastly different from one another – not only in terms of climate, but also in terms of attitude and lifestyle. Hanoi is a beautiful, slower paced capital city that is quite small and charming with French style buildings, cafes and narrow walking streets. Ho Chi Minh City referred to as Saigon by anyone who lives there to the south is the economic capital. Bigger buildings, more robust shopping and nightlife options. More foreigners and work options. The people are also friendlier too and more akin to Thai people. Vietnam is filled with some gorgeous landscapes, great food and a low cost of living. Mix all this with a deep culture, a history of invasion and fascinating landmarks. Vietnam is a profitable, fun and interesting ESL destination. Why Teach English in Vietnam? Vietnam is an under-rated, often overlooked destination for teaching English. With it’s good pay and low living costs, Vietnam has a lot to offer prospective teachers. The beautiful country, amazing food, good coffee and friendly locals make for an amazing teaching experience. ​The ESL job market is quite strong here too. With teaching jobs readily available both in the northern capital of Hanoi or in the south in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll have no problem being placed in a good location of your choice. There’s also an ever increasing demand for teachers in smaller cities and towns. Perfect for those looking for a lifestyle outside of the city where you can really take advantage of the low cost of living. Where will You work as a new English teacher in Vietnam? Most jobs in Vietnam are at private language centers for new teachers, but there are opportunities to work at any one of the various international schools located around the country. Also, while it is possible to be placed in a public school in Vietnam, it’s not the norm like it is in most other ESL countries. Instead, Vietnam follows a model similar to a Korean Hagwon in that you’ll mostly be working at private language centers where students attend after school. So expect to be working nights and weekends at these private language centers. What most teachers end up doing is they get their work permit and temporary residence card through a language school where they work 8-12 hours at and then work at other language centers. This is technically illegal as your work permit is only for one school or language center. But because most centers won’t give you 18-22 hours a week, you’ll need to work at a few different places. Get your visa For Vietnam Vietnam currently is only offering only a 30 day e-visa for tourism purposes which can not be extended. If you want to visit as a tourist and explore some options in the country this is your only option. When your e-visa runs out you need to leave the country. You can re-enter on a new 30 day e-visa however. In general it is best to have an offer from a school lined up before hand in order to get a 90 day business visa which can then be converted into a temporary residence card good for one year. To get your e-visa please use the official site found here. Legal and Educational Requirements to work as a teacher in Vietnam Here are the legal requirements to live and work in Vietnam. They have changed and have gotten more strict with the newest requirement that all foreign nationals have a degree related to their field of work not just from English teachers, anyone working in Vietnam. A notarized, 4 year degree in education 3 years experience teaching, notarized if it was outside Vietnam Health Check Police Check from the last 180 days Resume/CV Valid Passport These are the documents you need in order to obtain a work permit which you can then turn into a temporary residence card TRC. Once you have a TRC, it takes the place of your business visa. Currently most enter on a 30 day tourist visa, then they get the required documents in Vietnam to get a business visa. You then visit a neighboring country and apply for a business visa to then re-enter Vietnam. So in Vietnam you first get a business visa which is the visa required to look for work or investment opportunities but you’re not legally allowed to work on a business visa. Once you find an employer, you then get a work permit which then allows you to get a TRC. Temporary residence card in Vietnam? A TRC as it’s known is used in-lieu of your visa. A TRC provides you with all the freedoms and flexibility as you’re a temporary resident. No visa runs, can fly or check into hotels without your passport etc. You are required to pay taxes however to the Vietnamese government however. Notarized 4 Year degree in education Yes, Vietnam now requires any foreign worker to have a degree in the field in which they are designated an “expert.” That means if you want to be a teacher you need to have a degree in education now. This is a legal requirement to obtain a work permit. In addition your degree must be notarized. This can be done at your embassy in Vietnam but it’s best to take care of this before you come to Vietnam as it can be a bit time consuming to do in country. 3 years teaching experience, notarized if outside of Vietnam A massive, recent change is that Vietnam now requires expats to have years of experience teaching before being able to work in the country. If you have experience teaching outside of Vietnam like Thailand or Korea you’ll have to get that experience notarized. If you’ve taught in Vietnam previously or currently then you’re not effected by this new requirement. This requirement is the legal standard to obtain a work permit Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent or higher and a certificate of at least 3 years of experience working a related field to the job position. If outside of Vietnam, it must be notarized. Alternatively, you can have a certificate of at least 5 years of experience working in the trained field relevant to the job position the foreign worker is expected to work for in Vietnam. Health Check You must pass a health check in order to obtain a work permit. The health check is done at a local hospital and consists of a physical. The health check must not be older than 6 months in order to apply for a work permit. Police Check You will need a police check from your state or province. This is best done in your home country as this a few weeks to get sorted. You do not need a national police check like you do for South Korea which involves contacting the FBI and takes months to complete. If you have been living in Vietnam for more than 6 months for whatever reason, you’ll also need a Vietnamese police check. Resume/CV You will need a completed resume or CV to submit as part of your application for a work permit. Part of the regulations dictate that you prove work experience. This is done via a resume. Valid Passport Like immigration at most countries, you’ll need a passport with at least 6 months of validity left on it as well as numerous passport photos. Optional Requirements Native English Speaker Being a native English speaker is preferable, but not a legal requirement like it is in South Korea. Vietnam like Thailand is a country that is open to teachers that are non-native. As long as you meet all the other legal requirements, you can obtain a work permit and a position as an English teacher. Is finding a job hard as a non-native English speaker? No, the issue as a non-native will be the pay. Since you’re not a native speaker your going rate will be considerably less than a native English speaker. TEFL/TESOL A TEFL or TESOL helps you in negotiating a higher hourly rate as well as securing a position in a public school, but as far as being a legal requirement it is not. It’s a good idea to obtain a certificate though because it helps you be a better teacher in the classroom and it sets you apart from less qualified candidates. How much are teachers paid in Vietnam? Working as an English teacher in Vietnam is totally different than other countries in that you’re paid per hour instead of being paid a salary. No exceptions. The hourly rate varies depending upon how qualified of an English teacher you are. With the pay rate ranging anywhere from $15 an hour to $25 an hour. The upper range is for native English speakers with teaching experience, a bachelors degree, a TEFL certificate and who can also pass a background check. If that is you, I would not accept anything less than $20 an hour. Most teachers can easily find work at any one of the numerous language centers in the country. The language centers operate after school and on weekends. These centers will want you to sign a contract and will give you a set minimum amount of teaching hours per week as well as a set schedule. The hours can be anywhere from 10 hours to 25 hours a week depending on if you’re full time or part time. You’ll want about 20 hours a week in order to make a good livable salary. The cost of living in Vietnam is around $800-$1000 USD. Lastly, everything is up for negotiation and don’t be afraid to walk away from an offer you don’t like. I had worked with an American teacher who had a great schedule of two days at a language center in the evening and two days at a high school during the day for a total of 20 hours a week, 3 days off and a monthly income of roughly $2000 USD. He was paid $22 an hour. When I sought employment, I was originally offered a position at a high school only to have a bait and switch pulled on me. Changing the position to a language center in the evenings 5 days a week with Tuesday and Thursday off and the bulk of the hours on the weekend. I said no. What does the average English Teacher make? The average teacher in Vietnam makes about $1,600 USD per month equivalent. You will be paid in Vietnamese Dong and you will have to setup a foreign bank account when in Vietnam so your school or language center can direct deposit your payment. The amount you make depends entirely on your hourly rate and the number of teaching hours your able to secure. Your hourly rate will be anywhere from $15-25 USD an hour and your working hours will be 15-25 hours. It really depends. The more qualified you are, the better hourly rate you will be paid, though school will try to pay you as little as they can. In general, if you’re an experience teacher try to secure a position at an international school. Where do teachers work in Vietnam? There are three places you will work at in Vietnam Language Centers Public Schools International Schools In Vietnam you’ll need to decide if you want to work at a language center, public school or “international” school. You can also work full time or part time. Again, Vietnam is not like other countries. International is in quotes because most private schools call themselves international. In other countries, international schools mean a high quality, competitive, good place to work – In Vietnam you should think Kindergarden or preschool when you hear “international” school. It’s also impossible to work directly with a public school. You’ll always have to go through an agency that sometimes also operates a language center to be placed in such a position. Language Centers $15-25 USD per Hour Language centers are the most common place to work at in Vietnam. Popular centers are Language Link, Apollo, and ILA. You can expect a language center to pay for your work permit and give you paid holidays. Some centers will even provide you a bonus upon contract completion or will pay for a flight. Please consider joining Facebook groups an ask questions about any job offer you get. There are some terrible employers all language centers in Vietnam that don’t pay on time or simply don’t pay teachers all together. Working Hours It depends on your contract. Most centers will give you between 20-25 hours per week. The bulk of your hours will be on the weekend. Expect to teach 6-7 hours worth of class on Saturday and Sunday and 3-4 hours in the evening during the work week. On the weekend centers open at 7 am and stay open until about 8 pm at night so you can be expected to work as early as 7 to as late as 8. You will NOT be given consecutive days off. Expect an odd schedule like Monday and Thursday off. The benefits of language centers are that they are developed, professional, well funded and take care of all the legal aspects of working in Vietnam. They also provide small classes of 15 or so students with a teaching assistant. The disadvantages are the long weekend hours and the lack of consecutive days off. Public Schools $15-25 USD per hour For public schools you have the option to work either full time or part time. To work at a public school you must go through an agency. The agency will place you in different schools during the week, so don’t expect to be going to the same school everyday. You are also only paid by the hour and class time is for a full hour. Full Time Public School Teacher If you choose to be full time, expect to teach 25 hours per week, paid holidays and some small amount of vacation time. If you teach over 25 hours you will be paid overtime. 25 hours is a lot of in class teaching time and most teachers get burned out at this amount of work as it equate to giving a 5 hour high energy speech 5 days a week. The overall advantage of a public school is normal working hours and guaranteed payment. So if your contract is for 80 hours per month 20 hours a week, you’ll be paid for that 80 hours even if you don’t actually teach 80 hours. Part-Time Public School Teacher As a part time teacher you’ll be paid a flat rate depending on your experience and ability to negotiate. With this route you will be required to get and pay for your own work permit yourself and all the costs that come along with it. The part time route gives a lot of flexibility for teachers and is an ideal option for those who teach online and are looking to pick up 10-15 hours during the week. Online teachers work evenings, so being able to have a gig during the morning hours is ideal and can be done by working as a part time teacher. International schools Western Salary at a legitimate school International schools in Vietnam come in two forms. Legitimate international schools like the British International School, and the Australian International School, or school that simply throw in the word “international” to their name to seem more professional. Proper international schools pay well a western salary of $2,900-4,000 a month is reasonable, have normal working hours, give paid vacation and holidays and take care of the work permit. To land a job here you’ll need teacher certification and experience. Set Your Own Schedule $2,000-3,000 USD In Vietnam it is totally possible to set your own schedule with working as a part time teacher at a few different places or combining a part time position at a public school with online teaching. Vietnam is refreshing choice in this regard because you’re much more in charge of your income, time and work week. But this option is for those already established in the country. Just know that it’s possible and a common setup is to work 10-12 hours a week at a public school during the day and then teach online for 16-20 hours. English Teacher Benefits Housing Allowance Only proper international school provide some sort of housing allowance. For all other position you’ll be required to find your own apartment or rent a room in a house with other teachers. In Hanoi, prices are affordable so you can get your own place if you want. Ho Chi Minh city apartments are a bit more expensive. It’s a good idea to find a roommate if possible. Paid Vacation Paid vacation and paid holidays are standard practice if you’re a full time teacher at a language center or public school in Vietnam. Bonus / Return Ticket Some language centers give you a bonus after a 1 year contract or they will help pay for a flight to return to your country. This is case by case and not standard practice as it is in South Korea. Cost of Living in Vietnam Vietnam is very cheap, cheaper than Thailand actually in all aspects except for rent and a gym membership. You can live a comfortable life as a debt free, single person on $1200 a month. This amount is all you will need in order to pay for your living costs. If you wish to travel and explore Vietnam, you’ll want to get your income up to around $1,700 USD. With an average salary of $2,000 USD if you’re working 22-25 hours per week, you can easily save $1,000 USD per month. The Vietnam Business Visa For English Teachers To legally work in Vietnam you need to obtain a business visa and a work permit. You obtain the work permit FIRST and then convert your tourist visa into a business visa. You’ll need to obtain a work permit to legally work at a school or language center in Vietnam. To work without a work permit means you’re working illegally and are putting yourself at risk of fines and deportation so don’t work without a work permit. If you’re working less than 3 month in Vietnam you do not need a work permit. This rule is in place to allow foreign nationals time to get situated first. Step 1 Get The Work Permit The work permit costs a few hundred dollars so please plan accordingly. It’s valid for 3 years. You will need the following to get a work permit in Vietnam A 4 year degree Health Check Police Check from the last 180 days Passport Photos Resume/CV Committee approval document + Business certification A 4 year degree You must be able to demonstrate you have some sort of professional skill. This is accomplished by having a 4-year degree. You have two options. You can either bring a notarized copy of your degree that has also been apostille by your Secretary of State or you can bring your original copy with you to Vietnam and have it certified by your embassy in Vietnam. I suggest the latter as it’s faster, easier and less costly. Check however with your school as rules change. Health Check You’ll have to undergo a physical at a official hospital in Vietnam. This document can not be older than 6 months when applying for the work permit. Otherwise you’ll have to undergo another physical. The physical involves standard work like blood work, blood pressure and a consultation with a physician. Recent Police Check You will need a police check from your home country no older than 180 days. This police check can be from your state or province. It does not need to be a national police check. If you have been living in Vietnam for more than 6 months, you’ll also need to get a Vietnamese police check as well. It’s best to obtain this document before arriving in Vietnam. Passport Photos and Passport Nothing surprising here. You’ll need numerous passport sized photos of yourself as well as a passport with 6 months or more validity still on it. You will also need COPIES of your passport too. Resume/CV Yes, you will need to submit your resume. They want to confirm your work experience from former employers as a way to help show you have professional skill. Committee approval document + Business certification These are documents you will obtain from your language school or agency if you’re working at a public school. Step 2 Get The Business Visa You have a work permit, you can now legally work in Vietnam. The next step is to get a business visa so you can live in Vietnam for the next year without having to do visa runs. To get a business visa you simply need Passport Application form Letter of entry clearance Visa Fee The key item here is the letter of entry clearance. You’ll get this from whatever business Language centers and agencies are private businesses you’re working with in Vietnam. You’ll simply need to provide them with your visa and any other details they ask for. Frequently Asked Questions Can I teach part time without a work permit? If you teach online for example and wish to obtain a part time position, you will still need to obtain a work permit to work legally. While it is common for teachers to work part time at numerous places, it’s technically illegal as your work permit is tied to one employer. Expect to bear the costs for a work permit if you go the part time route. Can I change my employer easily? Yes you can, your work permit is valid for 3 years and is linked to an employer. It’s a simple process of changing the employer on your work permit. All you do is get a few documents signed from your current employer and a few documents from your new employer. Teach English in Vietnam – Conclusion Vietnam is a rapidly growing and changing country. It’s quite under rated as a place to teach English but that’s a good thing. You can find a good paying position and live in a major city for cheap. If you’ve been looking for a place with a good work life balance, a place where you can explore a new culture and be surrounded by interesting expats. Check out Vietnam for teaching English abroad. English teaching in Vietnam Many foreign language teachers, who could earn up to $2,000 per month are now in a distressing situation in a country that was among the world’s nine countries that pay the highest salaries to English as a Second Language teachers. Many foreign teachers are running online classes at cheap rates to survive, while others have left Vietnam as their livelihoods snatched by the Covid-19 pandemic. When Daniel Payne left South Africa to take up a teaching job at a school in Ho Chi Minh City in 2019, he envisioned an exciting life with a lot of new friends, fun and adventure. Now the 31-year-old normally starts his day in the afternoon by looking for job on Facebook, teaching only two online classes a week. “I lost my job at the school due to the pandemic and now I need more classes to survive this outbreak,” Daniel says. He moved into a cheaper apartment in Tan Phu District earlier this year since he could no longer afford to live in the city center. “I did not expect this outbreak to be this severe; last year was much better.” he added. HCMC, the epicenter of Vietnam’s fourth Covid wave, has reported more than 298,000 infections so far. Many foreign language teachers, who could earn up to $2,000 per month are now in a distressing situation in a country that was among the world’s nine countries that pay the highest salaries to English as a Second Language teachers. Related The dark days of foreign teachers in Vietnam will be over? The ESL industry has thrived in Vietnam in recent years, with jobs offering high salaries available all year round as English is an obligatory subject from sixth grade across Vietnam and in large cities like Hanoi and HCMC, many primary schools opt for English programs for students and demand high proficiency. But the year-long pandemic and prolonged lockdown changed the table, forcing schools and language centers to shut down. Many foreign teachers have to teach online to survive while some have left for their home countries, or hunkered down waiting for the lockdown to cease. Payne offers “trial classes” at VND360,000 $ per hour for three groups of four, nearly half his former rate. “Now I teach three classes a week, earning around VND8 million a month…, I use the money to pay my monthly rent and food.” Payne told reporter. Several foreigners have sought online students with “promotions” for big groups and cheaper prices on Facebook communities for expats and English teachers in Vietnam. “Some of my friends have lowered the rate to VND300,000 per hour, but many other teachers opposed this because it would force them to lower their own rates,” Payne says, admitting not many of his students care about learning English at the moment because of the raging pandemic. Before the outbreaking starting in April, most foreign English teachers earned someVND500,000 per hour. “I have relied on online classes from a local English center, but the weekly teaching hours are not stable since no one wants to pay much for online lessons” Stewart Evans, a Briton living in Hanoi’s Tay Ho District said. “My employer cut my working hours to three per week, then to nothing.” “Financially I have been bled dry by Covid; I am massively behind on rent and my landlord increased my electricity price,” Evens says. In HCMC’s Tan Phu District , Thomas Walter, teacher at several English centers in town, quit teaching when the fourth Covid outbreak started in Vietnam in late April, forcing his centers to close. To make ends meet, he has helped local students and employees edit their English writing, earning around VND200,000 a piece. “This job helps me depend less on my savings account, I think the pandemic will be contained next year and children will go to school again, so I will wait for that.” Jahdid Bago, a Filipino working at a school in the northern Son La Province had his salary delayed for three months, and recently returned to his hometown in the Philippines to run online classes for Vietnamese and Chinese students. Brian Bokram, an English teacher in Hanoi, says, “There is a chance I will have to leave Vietnam if the situation does not get better soon.” CJ van Vuuren, an English teacher in HCMC, says while she has chosen to stay, most colleagues at her school have left the country. In HCMC expat community groups on Facebook, many foreigners, including English teachers, are selling off their furniture, cookware and other belongings in preparation for leaving the country. While Covid lockdowns have posed challenges for some, others found a silver lining. Alex Rieger, an American who teaches English to Can Tho University students, says “I have been in Vietnam for a while, so I can find students for online classes and now my income is almost the same as before the pandemic.” Besides, he feels safe at home with his wife and children amid the current outbreak in Can Tho. “I love this country and the people here and I think the stringent measures to contain the pandemic are due to the fact that the government really does care about the people’s well-being and health,” he said. Brightman, an American teacher in HCMC, says her rate for online classes “has of course gone down a little because it’s online.” “But overall I’m secure financially.” She wishes everything would return to normal soon so she and her Vietnamese husband could get their marriage documents formalized and she can reunite with her family in the after more than two years. By Dang Khoa VNExpress. Related Deciding to teach English abroad is a big decision. Even if you’re ready to commit to a year or more away from home, you still have to figure out what country to go to, what visa you’ll need for teaching, how much you’ll make, challenges you may face, and more. If you’re thinking of teaching English in Vietnam, you’re not alone! Vietnam is one of the most popular countries for teaching English. This stems from its combination of low cost of living and relatively high wage for teachers, friendly locals, delicious foods, and plethora of things to do across the country. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know for entering Vietnam as an English teacher, in including job availability, requirements, visas, salaries, potential challenges, and more. Demand for English Teachers in Vietnam Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest demand for English teachers. The demand had already been rising for years before COVID messed everything up. But now that Vietnam is totally open again, the demand has already rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. If you visit any expat Facebook group related to teaching jobs in Vietnam or simply Google “teaching jobs in Vietnam”, you will most likely be overwhelmed with unending posts about job offers. What you’ll probably have to do at this point is decide where in Vietnam you want to live in order to narrow your choices down. Job Requirements – Who Can Teach in Vietnam? Despite what you may have heard in the past, not just anybody can show up in Vietnam and become an English teacher – at least not anymore. The requirements have become stricter and the schools more professional as the years and decades have passed. At the bare minimum, you legally need a degree to teach English in Vietnam. On top of that, there is a strong preference for native English speakers and this can get a little messy – see the “ugly truths” section below. You’ll also need a clean background check. Last but not least, more and more schools are now requiring some kind of TEFL certification – which you can easily do online. You DON’T need to have any teaching experience. Also on the plus side, the general requirements for entering Vietnam have loosened significantly since COVID times. Here’s a summary of the base requirements/qualifications for teaching English in Vietnam Native English speaker – Usually this is determined based on what passport you have, with the main ones they usually recognize as “native” being USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. More on this university degree – This is a legal requirement to get officially hired in Vietnam. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an education or English-related degree – any 4-year Bachelor’s degree will do. Some schools, however, prefer to hire teachers with a degree specifically related to education or English. They will want to see the original degree, not a – Most but not all schools in Vietnam also want teachers to have taken a TEFL course or something similar, like CELTA. This is not a legal requirement, but most schools nowadays require it. You can easily get your TEFL certificate online. You can enjoy 35% off if you use vietnam35 as a coupon code – You can also get certified once you are in valid passport and visa more on visas below. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your anticipated starting date, though more than a year would be ideal so you don’t have to apply for a new one while you are background check – from your home country or country of residence in the last 3 yearsCV and related documents – The school may want a formal resume/CV plus any other relevant documents demonstrating your work experience or courses you’ve taken. TIP If you want a more professional teaching position, look for schools that will check not only your English credentials and physical appearance, but also who will require you to have experience in teaching, a teaching certificate, and/or a master’s degree. These schools are more serious in the business, which is also an indication of the quality of teaching they provide to their students. Visa and Work Permit for Teaching A business visa for Vietnam You won’t believe how many English teachers come here and work on a tourist visa. This is, in fact, illegal – if you plan to work here, you legally have to secure a business visa and a work permit. Working on a tourist visa or on illegal documents can result in serious trouble such as deportation and being banned permanently from the country. If the school let you work on a tourist visa, this is a red flag and a sign of unprofessionalism. They are more likely to screw you over at some point, for example, by not giving you your last paycheck when you quit the job or simply firing you without any acceptable reason. They can also use this against you and you cannot ask for legal help regarding this matter. If you get hired before you come While landing a job before you arrive can have some downsides you can’t see the school/meet the boss first, you don’t really know what you are getting into, the plus is that the school with help you navigate the visa process. What’s more, with only shorter 30 day only visas now being given for travelers, it is now an even better option than before to get hired BEFORE coming to Vietnam. If you land your job before coming, the school will help you apply for a 3-month business visa before you arrive. This will give them the time they need to apply for your work permit after you arrive. You are allowed to work while you are on the business visa, but only under the condition that you work permit is being applied for. In other words, you can’t just get a business visa and then work indefinitely with that alone. If you want to arrive first then find a job If you prefer to show up in Vietnam first, this has the advantage that you can explore first, see the schools/meet the boss, and become more familiar with what’s what in Vietnam before signing a contract to teach. However, with only 30-day visas now available for tourists, this is not enough time to arrive, get settled, find a job, and have your school process your business visa. Therefore, you’ll have to either or leave the country and re-enter to get another 30 days. Unfortunately, these 30-day tourist visas can’t currently be extended like they used to. Another thing to know about this route is that you’ll want to bring enough cash to set up your life there before you land your job and get your first paycheck. Find out how much you’ll need in our budget for moving to Vietnam. You can find more detailed information about all this in our guide to the different Vietnam visa types, how to apply for a Vietnam visa, how to apply for a Vietnam business visa, and applying for Vietnam visa as a US citizen. GET YOUR TOURIST VISA NOW – IT TAKES ONLY A FEW HOURS Click this photo to access the deal! Ugly Truths or Potential Challenges There are loads of private English centres and public schools that are desperate to get their hands on a foreign teacher. However, there are a few ugly truths about teaching in Vietnam that you need to know about Native English speakers are strongly preferred. They generally determine whether you count as one according to your passport type US, Canada, UK, NZ, OZ, South African preferred. However, they don’t consider that many people from other countries such as Singapore, Philippines, Indian, and more also speak English from birth. Even if you are a native English speaker, your skin colour can affects your chances. Some schools and parents still hold the outdated idea that a “real” native English is White. Many expats and even locals have voiced their concern about how wrong this is. Sadly, changes regarding this discrimination still have a long way to it seems that some schools just want to hire White foreigners so they can have a White face to show to the parents and attract more English speakers and non-Whites may have more difficulty finding a teaching job in Vietnam. If you belong to either category but are qualified, you should look into bigger companies and international schools. These tend to be more professional and are more interested in your experiences and qualifications. Having said that, I also know for example, brown/black people from Western countries who still manage to get jobs in regular private schools. To say it more directly, racism in Vietnam in the field of ESL teaching is widespread. People of colour have a harder time getting an ESL job simply because of their skin colour or accent despite their years of experience in this same applies for Viet Kieu, or Vietnamese born overseas. Despite the fact that they may be native English speakers and possibly even speak Vietnamese too!, they will struggle to get hired and paid the same as White English may encounter a slight preference among schools for female teachers, especially for younger aged students, because of the traditional belief that women are more nurturing, and because most local teachers or young children are women. Still, this won’t stop male teachers from finding a job. If you are offered a lower pay rate simply because you are not Caucasian but you know that you are a qualified one, don’t accept or sign the contract. There are jobs and students who are willing to pay you fairly, and know your value. If all aspiring ESL teachers coming to Vietnam will fight this massive race issue by rejecting low paid jobs, at some point, hopefully, Vietnam will see everyone’s value equally. What Is Teaching in Vietnam Like? When deciding whether you want to become an English teacher in a country like Vietnam, it’s important to ask yourself questions like “Will I actually enjoy teaching?” and “Will I be a good teacher?” If you aren’t good with kids, are super shy or awkward when speaking in public, don’t like being in the spotlight, aren’t good at following instructions, then this job may not be for you. Working with young kids and watching then grow can be super rewarding, but it can also be quite tiring. 20 teaching hours per week might not sound like a lot, but it really is, especially when you factor in the preparation time and commuting time. If you’re teaching in a private/cram school, the quality of the schools varies a lot. Some are quite professional, have strict guidelines, and provide training, outlines of what to teach, and lots of materials. Others are poorly run businesses with bosses just trying to cash on the fad. You may be given little guidance and just have to wing it on your own. It’s important to keep in mind that, as businesses, these kinds of schools tend to care about one thing the most keeping their customers. It might sometimes seem like maintaining a nice facade and appeasing the parents is more important than actually educating the kids. Although less common, some foreign teachers get hired by public schools. These jobs tend to be pretty lax, without much preparation time, but you may sometimes feel like you are more of a babysitter than a teacher. These schools often have very large class sizes, too, so that’s something else to be aware of. What is the Salary for Teachers? Cold, hard Vietnamese dong While you won’t get paid as much for teaching English in Vietnam as you would in, say, the Middle East or Northeast Asia, you probably WILL make more than you would in nearby Thailand. But more importantly, a typical teacher’s salary in Vietnam is quite attractive if you compare it to the super low cost of living. This section will give you a ballpark idea of what the salary of an English teacher in Vietnam is like. Depending on your lifestyle, you can definitely save some serious money while teaching in Vietnam. See here to learn how to send money out of Vietnam! Hourly Rate The hourly pay rate in Vietnam ranges from $15-$25 per hour. You will see higher rates in the big cities, like Ho Chi Minh Saigon and Hanoi, while you can expect less in smaller cities or rural areas. There are some schools that will hire you and start the pay at $18 with a chance of a raise depending on your performance. Always double check your contract before signing. With these rates in mind, if you work around 15-20 teaching hours per week, which is pretty normal, you can expect to make around $1000-1500 per month teaching English in Vietnam. Put in a few more hours per week, though, and you can push that figure to $2000 or more. Part-time vs Full-time Some schools may hire you as a full-time teacher, which means you will be guaranteed to get around 20-25 hours per week for a whole year. However, sometimes, as the “full-time” teacher, you may be expected to stick around more or do extra things, and you’re kind of locked in for the year. Schools tend to prefer giving full-time roles to teachers with some experience. As a part time teacher, you may get less hours, such as 12 or 15 per week. You may be happy with this, or you may want to find additional hours in other schools or tutoring to supplement your income. As a part-time teacher, you may even get full-time hours, but since you are not officially full-time, those hours are guaranteed to stay. In other words, being a part time teacher is more flexible. Salaries for Non-native English Speaker or Non-White Sadly, despite your experience, if you are a non-native English speaker, often you will be offered a lower salary $10-$15/hour. Another painful reality is even if you are a native English speaker, if you are not Caucasian, there is a chance they will try to pay you lower. In this situation, especially if you have the experience, you should work with well-known language centres or international schools that look past your physical appearance but rather value your skills and experience. How to Find an ESL Job in Vietnam A quick search on Facebook will yield various groups for finding jobs, such as the above. Now that we’ve covered most of the aspects of teaching, how do you actually find a teaching job in Vietnam? Facebook Groups One of the most common ways to find teaching work in Vietnam is to join Facebook groups aimed and teachers and teaching jobs, such as this one or this one. There are several of them, and a constant stream of new job openings are posted every day. It’s a good idea to browse for a while and do some research before opening dialogue with employers or committing to anything. You can also upload your job posting, CV, contact details, and what you are looking for in these groups and ESL schools and centres will reach out to you. If you receive an offer but are in doubt about if it is legitimate or not, you can ask about it in the expat Facebook groups, of which there are also many. Websites & Agents You can also directly find reputable schools in Vietnam online and then apply directly to their sites, or use websites that list jobs for schools across the country. Examples are this one and this one. We recommend you to be cautious here, as some job listing sites can be dodgy. Remember to never pay anything to anyone who promises to get you a job – this scheme is often a scam. Teaching Online Another way to earn money being an ESL teacher is to teach online. There are great benefits in doing this. For example, you can teach while travelling, you don’t need to hustle through the traffic and spend money on transportation, and you can teach comfortably at home. You might even consider staying in Vietnam on a tourist visa, doing visa runs or extensions, and teaching kids online – the kids could be anywhere in the world. This is a huge business in China, and Vietnam is on the same time zone, so it would make sense time-wise. Some examples of this are EF China-focused and Preply international. Other Questions about Teaching in Vietnam Here are a few other questions you may have about coming to Vietnam to teach English. Will I have to Do a Teaching Demo? Some schools will ask you to do a demo lesson for around 30-minutes as a part of the onboarding process. Some demos are paid whilst others are not. Remember to ask about this before agreeing to perform one. Be aware that some schools invite a lot of aspiring English teachers and require them all to do demos for free. Essentially they are using this as an excuse to get free teachers. If you’re getting hired from abroad, there won’t be a demo requirement, but you may have to do an interview over the phone or video chat. Are there Additional Perks or benefits? Some schools in Vietnam offer additional perks like free accommodation or a transportation allowance, but this is not the norm. Similarly, it is very rare for them to pay for your flights, which you might see in some other countries. However, some schools in Vietnam do offer a year-end bonus, because they strongly prefer that teachers finish the school year for obvious reasons, including continuity for students, if not stay for several years. This bonus usually amounts to half or even a full month’s salary. Another perk to teaching in Vietnam is that you get to experience Vietnam! Whether this be taking a holiday in tropical Phu Quoc island, exploring the country’s huge caves, riding a motorcycle on these famous routes, temple-hopping, hiking, cruising on Halong Bay, and/or feasting on delicious Vietnamese street food, by working in Vietnam, you get to broaden your horizons and get to know one of the world’s most unique and fascinating cultures. What should I pack? Dress Code? Once you have found a teaching job and signed a contract, there are a lot of things that you still need to prepare. One of them is to pack the right work clothes. Fortunately, we’ve prepared this packing checklist for moving to Vietnam! The dress code for teaching in Vietnam is not a lot different than in other parts of the world. You are expected to dress at least semi-formal. Some more high-end schools may expect more formal attire, while some private schools may even be fine with shorts and more casual clothing. You can of course buy more clothes in Vietnam, but you may find it tougher to find clothes you like, or clothes that fit if you are very tall or plus-size. Depending on where you will be living and teaching, some schools have AC while others don’t. If you will be in the north, pack a good semi-formal jacket as it can be cold during winter, while in the south, make sure you pack light but comfortable clothes, as the south can be very hot and humid year-round Some schools even have a casual day once per week. It is best to ask about your school’s policy if they haven’t already informed you. Also see our more general guide to what to wear in Vietnam. Female teachers For women, here are some suggested outfits a dress that is knee-length or longer with a short or longer sleeve, but stick with a standard neckline – showing lots of cleavage isn’t appropriatedress pants and a button-up shirt with sleevesa knee-length skirt or longer and button-up shirt with sleevesyou can wear a sleeveless blouse but use a jacket cardiganblack shoes, high heel shoes or flat shoes are all acceptable as long as they are closed Male teachers Here are some ideas on the dress code for men dress pants and a button-up shirt with short or long sleevesdress pants and a polo shirtblack shoesit is not expected to wear a tie unless specified by your schoolsome schools may allow jeans and a T-shirt or possibly even shorts Well, we hope we’ve answered all the questions you have about how to teach English in Vietnam. Teaching in Vietnam is a true opportunity, but better you research and plan your move, the higher your success rate will be. Learn more in our guide to moving to Vietnam!

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