Why Teach in Vietnam?
VIETNAM
From kindergarten to University, there is no shortage of teaching jobs in Vietnam. We’d go as far as saying that you are guaranteed to find a job somewhere in the big cities of Vietnam, especially when you’re job hunting on the ground.
Vietnam is an explorer’s dream. After work, wind through the city streets and duck between old school alleys to find hidden food spots with families who have been cooking the same dish for decades. During the weekends, get out and adventure with a cruise on the wondrous Halong Bay, go on a self-guided seafood tour along the coast, trek with local hill tribe people in Sapa, or kayak along the Mekong River.
There is no shortage of social opportunities with other teachers, expats, and travelers present in Vietnam. With flexible teaching schedules and other eager explorers all around you, teaching in Vietnam offers the best of both work and play.
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Why Teach in Vietnam?
Qualifications to Teach in Vietnam
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You've got two options when it comes to working in Vietnam: teach the legal way or teach under the table. The legal way will require you to have all of your educational ducks in a row; the under the table method is much more relaxed, as you'll read below.
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Fun Fact: Many English language schools in Vietnam look for TEFL/CELTA Degrees and are less concerned with (but appreciate) Bachelor’s Degrees.
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With a Work Permit
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Native Speaker: Required
Bachelor’s Degree: Required
Master’s Degree: Not Required
TEFL Certificate, CELTA Degree or Equivalent: Required
Criminal Background Check: Sometimes Required
Health Check: Required
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Without a Work Permit
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Native Speaker: Flexible*
Bachelor’s Degree: Flexible
Master’s Degree: Not Required
TEFL Certificate, CELTA Degree or Equivalent: Required
Criminal Background Check: Not Required
Health Check: Not Required
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Teaching with a work permit is ideal as you are entitled to more benefits and less risk of getting deported. Working without a work permit can prove to be quite a hassle with visa runs and is not a long-term teaching option, rather a fun way to make a bit of cash for a year or so.
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*If you're not a native English speaker and/or don't have a University degree, you're best (and sometimes only) shot at getting a job in Vietnam is with a TEFL degree.
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Don't have a TEFL yet? We can fix that.
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If you want to get your TEFL quickly via the clearest course online, iTTT TEFL is the way to go.
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Not only will a TEFL degree open doors for you in Vietnam, but also the rest of Asia. Most ESL countries require a TEFL degree and every country favors a TEFL degree.
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A TEFL degree is your golden ticket to getting hired in Vietnam.​
You can finish as quickly as 4 weeks.
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Increase your chances of getting hired
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Increase your value as a teacher and thus increase your pay
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Allow you to land a job in practically every country in Asia
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Use our link and get a 5% discount off of your online course or a 5% discount off a 4-week TEFL course in Asia.
How to Find a Job in Vietnam
With most English language schools in Vietnam, there will be no tests, trials, or hoops to jump through in order to land a job. English academies in Vietnam just want to know that you are a native English speaker, are responsible enough to lesson plan, and can entertain a class of high-energy kids.
Here are your options when it comes to finding a teaching job in Vietnam...
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Some schools - not all- will hire teachers before they come to Vietnam. You're most likely to be hired in this manner if you have a Bachelors Degree and a TEFL Certificate.
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Where to Look:
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It’s easiest to find teaching jobs when you are on the ground in Vietnam! Go on vacation or make the move to Vietnam and start socializing. Get connected to English schools by making friends with local teachers- it's easier than you think!
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You can also gather a list of schools in the area, print out your resume, and literally show up to English academies in your teacher attire!
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If you want to start your job search in Vietnam, you can obtain a 3-month or 6-month tourist visa quite easily by following instructions on The Vietnamese Embassy’s website or using an online visa agency to process this for you.
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Immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture while you earn your TEFL degree in Ho Chi Minh City!
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Walk away with a TEFL Certificate and a teaching job when you take this 4-week long TEFL course in Vietnam.
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Sign up now, and you can be in Vietnam as quickly as next month or schedule your course 6-months down the line.
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The Course Includes...
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Luckily, the best TEFL course in Vietnam also happens to be the cheapest. Yes, please.
Use our link and automatically get a 5% discount on your TEFL course at check-out.
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Option 1: Contact Private Language Schools Online
Option 3: Get TEFL Certified in Vietnam and Land a Job
Option 2: Go to Vietnam and Apply in Person
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120-hour TEFL qualification
4 weeks of TEFL training in Ho Chi Minh City
Practical teaching experience with Vietnamese students
Cozy housing nearby
Orientation and 24/7 in-country support
Airport pick-up and in-country transfers
There are two types of teachers in Vietnam: the most common type of teacher *works illegally on 3-month tourist visas (which we don't condone) and the other teacher works on a legal work permit provided by their school.
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Almost everyone will enter the country on an E-Visa- no matter if you're getting a work permit later on or not. You have to apply for the E-Visa before you enter the country to recieve a "visa approval letter". It's a simple process and can be done within 1 week or same day. You've got two options to get a Vietnamese visa:
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Step 1: Visit Vietnam Visa Pro and choose the 3-month Single Entry or Multiple Entry Visa.
Step 2: Fill out the online form
Step 3: Make your payment
Step 4: Recieve your Visa Approval Letter via email and print it out.
Step 5: At the airport or border crossing in Vietnam, present you Visa Approval Letter to the visa counter and get a visa sticker in your passport.
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If you're already traveling in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos or other nearby South East Asian countries, you'll see plenty of visa agencies offering Vietnamese Visa services. Here's how it works:
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Step 1: Visit the visa agency and fill out the paperwork for a 3-month vietnamese visa
Step 2: Pay the agency fee and the visa fee
Step 3: Intrust your passport to the agency. They will personally take your passport to the Vietnamese Embassy nearby to process your visa
Step 4: Pick up your passport (usually 3-5 days, sometimes quicker depending on location)
Step 5: Now you have your visa and can pass through Vietnamese customs with no letter needed.
Now, let's say you find a school in Vietnam who wants to hire your and sponsor your visa. You'll need a work permit.
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In order to qualify for a work permit to teach in Vietnam, the following will be required:
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Copy of your University Degree and/or TEFL Degree​
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Health Check in Vietnam​
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Vietnamese Background Check (only applies if you’ve been in the country 6+ months)
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CV/Resume
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4 Passport Photos
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Applications Provided by your School
Once you've been hired, your school will help you gather the documents and will submit them on your behalf.
*There are many teachers in Vietnam who work illegally because they do not have the University Degree needed to apply for a work permit. This means that they leave the country on “visa runs” every few months to renew the visa that allows them to stay in the country. We do not recommend or endorse this practice.
Visas for Teachers in Vietnam
Option 1- Apply for a Visa Online
Option 2- Go to a Visa Agency in Person
What's Included in the Job
Cost of Living in Vietnam
The beauty of working in Vietnam is this: you can make as much or as little money as you please- it all depends on how many hours you’re willing to take on between your sponsored school, side jobs, and private tutoring.
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Your hourly rate depends on your school, experience, and qualifications; your benefits depend on your school and visa status.
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English Academies with a Legal Work Visa
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Average Monthly Income: $1,500-$2,200+ per month
Average Hourly Rate: $20-$25 per hour
Housing: Sometimes provided by your school
Flights: Not provided by your school
Medical Insurance: Provided by your school
End of the Year Pension or Bonus: Sometimes provided by your school
Vacation Time: Very Flexible
Contract Commitment: Yearly
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English Academies without Work Visa
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Average Monthly Income: $500-$2,200+ per month
Average Hourly Rate: $16-$25 per hour
Housing: Sometimes provided by your school
Flights: Not provided by your school
Medical Insurance: Not typically provided by your school
End of the Year Pension or Bonus: Not typically provided by your school
Vacation Time: Very Flexible
Contract Commitment: Flexible (monthly-yearly)
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Cost of living is relative to your lifestyle. Where you live, what amenities you require, and the big one- how much you drink- all determine your overall cost of living. But for measurement's sake, here are the basics…
(Prices are in USD roughly according to numbeo.com and individual research– Updated August 2017)
Overall Cost of Living Range by City
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Ho Chi Minh/Saigon: $700 to $1,400 per month ​
Hanoi: $600 to $1,000 per month
Da Nang: $600 to $900 per month
Hoi An: $500 to $800 per month
Outskirts: $450-$800 per month
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Approximate Rent
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Studio apartment in the city center: $250+
One bedroom in the city center: $400-$800
One bedroom in outskirts of the city: $200+
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Day to Day
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Taxi (1km): $0.53
Gasoline (1 Liter): $0.75
Cinema- International Release (1 Ticket): $4.18
Milk (1 Liter): $1.39
Chicken Breast (1kg): $3.96
Loaf of Fresh White Bread: $0.66
Draft Beer (pint): $0.88
Restaurant Meal (average restaurant): $1.76
McDonald’s Combo Meal: $4.40
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Compare your current cost of living to Vietnamese cities here.
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Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Vietnamese Dong; (VND rate here)
Type of Government: Communist
Crime: Petty crime, such as pick pocketing, bag snatching, taximeter scams
Safety Concerns: Motorbike traffic accidents
Street Food: Huge street food culture in big cities and small! Dishes for $1
Public Transportation: Taxis, inner-city buses, inter-city busses and motorbikes; very pedestrian friendly
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Ho Chi Minh/Saigon
Welcome to the colorful community of expats, digital nomads, and fellow teachers who make Ho Chi Minh such a playful city. Living or working in District 1 or District 3, you’ll never be far from an expat bar with burgers from home or a bar hosting trivia night to keep you on your toes. Internet is fast and getting around is easy. If you want an old school experience with less westerner, you can certainly find that in any other district in Ho Chi Minh as it’s a huge city with over 8 million people.
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Hanoi
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Life runs a bit slower up here in the north. Traffic is less congested, the city is a bit more international in terms of food and population, and the temperatures can get quite chilly in the winter. A foodie heaven, you’ll never run out of small food stands or decade’s old family restaurants to explore in Hanoi. Expats and teachers love the proximity of Hanoi to natural getaways such as Halong Bay and Sapa.
Da Nang
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Smack dab in the center of Vietnam is the mid-city of Da Nang. The most standout element of Da Nang is it’s coastal location right on the beach. Da Nang is much more developed than its counterparts with modern buildings, cleaner roads, and a class of wealthier Vietnamese. As a teacher, you’ll certainly find a community of teachers and a few expat families with kids to socialize with- just on a smaller scale.
Hoi An
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With brightly colored walls and lanterns hanging everywhere you look, it’s easy to see that Hoi An’s “Old Town” has historical and architectural ties to Chinese rule. This area serves the city center where you’ll find a collection of small-town restaurants, both Vietnamese and Western, along the river running through the town. Just outside the city you’ll find rice paddies and rural living where many Vietnamese run riverside guesthouses. You can also safely ride your bicycle or drive a motorbike to the beach nearby!
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The Low Down on Living in Vietnam
What's it like Living in...
What's to Love about Living in Vietnam?
Jobs can be very easy to find and work schedules are very flexible
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Visas are easy to acquire and give you generous periods to stay
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For teachers with no experience, you can still make a decent wage
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Food is extremely cheap and extremely delicious
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No shortage of expat friends or communities
What's to Dislike about Living in Vietnam?
Rent is relatively high in comparison to wages
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The Vietnamese language is a tricky one to master
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Driving in traffic tends to be quite a headache
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Market vendors can be quite aggressive when trying to make a sale
