5 Things To Know About Teaching in Vietnam
Vietnam’s economic growth miracle has brought the country to be among the fastest-growing economies in the world. As people understand the increasing importance of globalization, many Vietnamese parents are eager to equip their kids with excellent English skills. Thus, there are tons of job opportunities for those who want to teach English abroad in Vietnam.
Vietnam is a beautiful country with diverse landscapes and popular attractions such as Ha Long Bay caves on water, Sapa mountains, Hoi An Ancient Town’s colorful lanterns, Ho Chi Minh City growing skyline, beautiful beaches and islands from North to South of Vietnam. It’s got something for everyone. We can also help you find a teaching job there!
Here are 5 things you should know about teaching English abroad in Vietnam:
1. The Must-Haves to Qualify as an English Teacher in Vietnam
Firstly, you have to be a native English speaker from an English-speaking country. Secondly, you must have a bachelor’s degree, no matter what major, and proof of TEFL or TESOL certificate.
Most reputable companies strictly request these qualifications. Yet it’s not to say that you can’t find an English teaching job in Vietnam if you’re a non-native with perfect English, or if you are without a degree. You’ll just find it more challenging and may get lower pay.
Once you’ve got the above qualifications, teaching experience is not really a requirement, though it could help you stand out in the tough competition.
2. Visa and Working Permit to Teach English in Vietnam
To teach English in Vietnam legally, you must apply for a business visa (DN) with a work permit (LD). You will need to submit these following documents:
- Proof of your bachelor’s degree
- TEFL/TESOL certificate
- Federal FBI Background check
- 3 passport photos
Your employer will guide you through to provide these following required paperwork:
- Local health check
- Local police check (filled out by the Ministry of Police in Vietnam)
- Permit stay (filled out by the landlord)
It’s important that you have your original or notarized copies of all the documents listed above. The name on all of your documents must match your name on the passport exactly.
Another option is to arrive in Vietnam on a tourist visa, then bring all your original documents with you and apply for a business visa as well as a work permit in Vietnam. However, this will require a visa run, meaning you have to leave and re-enter the country to activate the new visa.
You might also be interested in
- Everything you need to know about teaching English abroad
- Travel and Teach ESL in Japan
- The top 10 highest paying countries teaching abroad
3. Where to Teach English in Vietnam: You’ve Got Options
The country consists of a peaceful, not yet developed, agriculture-dominated life in the villages, and a bustling, modern, and fast-moving life in the cities. Teaching in rural communities may include more perks such as housing allowance, slower-paced life, and lower cost of living. Moreover, it will feel more rewarding to help poorer kids who lack the opportunities that city kids are enjoying.
However, a large percentage of expats choose the comforts of teaching in Vietnam’s cities, where more opportunities will be available. Among the two biggest cities, Hanoi is the historical and cultural capital, while Ho Chi Minh City is more modern, populous, and “Westernized”. There are smaller cities that are convenient and growing fast like Da Nang or Nha Trang as well.
In the big cities, there are numerous public schools, private schools, language centers, international schools and universities for you to choose from. These would differ in students, pay, schedule, teaching style, and working environment.
Choosing your teaching location truly depends on your lifestyle and the expectation of what you want to experience in Vietnam.
4. Lifestyle in Vietnam
Some call Vietnam “organized chaos.” You’ll probably be shocked at first by the crazy traffic mixed of cars, scooters, buses, bikes, cycles and an insane amount of pedestrians. But you’ll get used to it! You may want to learn to drive a motorbike to venture around like a true local.
A few Vietnamese phrases will help. Learn the numbers and food items so you can negotiate and order food at local restaurants.
Overall, the people in Vietnam are nice and friendly. You should be able to fit it just fine. There are some Facebook groups that may be helpful to join such as Hanoi Massive and Expats in Ho Chi Minh City.
5. Cost of Living in Vietnam
The cost of living in Vietnam is quite affordable. Most can live comfortably anywhere with $500 to $1,000 a month, and maybe less in rural areas. This includes everything from rent ($250 to $400 a month), Internet and phone service ($10 to $15 a month), to meals ($1 to $5 per meal). Price haggling and negotiation are not unusual. You may want to sharpen those skills up while living in Vietnam.
Are you looking for opportunities to teach English abroad in Vietnam? Check out our Teach English Abroad Facebook group for daily job listings.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.