FAQs - Vietnam
Curious about teaching in Vietnam? This detailed FAQ covers everything from how much you’ll earn to where you’ll teach, what to pack, and how we support you.
How much does it pay to teach English in Vietnam? How much can I earn?
A full time contract requires you to work +- 80 hours in the month and will normally pay between $1200 USD – $1400 USD* (32 – 36 million Dong) per month. If you want to increase your salary you can easily pick up extra classes at your language center.
* May fluctuate due to exchange rate volatility.
Safety in Vietnam
Moving to another country to live and work is a big step and we realize that safety can be a concern.
Vietnam is generally a very safe country to live and travel in. Our teachers (both men and women) report feeling safe and accommodated during the time they lived in Vietnam.
The roads can seems quite chaotic at first and it takes a while to get used to the seemingly incomprehensible traffic laws.
Once you get used to it, however, you’ll realize that people drive quite slowly in the cities and are very careful on the roads. If you’re on a bike, take it slow and weave with the traffic and you should be just fine.
If you’re taking buses intercity, make sure that you’re travelling with a reputable bus company. Chat to us if you need any assistance or suggestions.
How are the authorities?
The police in Vietnam can seem intimidating, especially because of their military attire and history of militant culture.
Don’t be put off though! Authorities will be very helpful towards foreigners, as long as you are sticking to the law.
Safety Tips
- Be cautious with eating food that has not been cooked as fresh fruit and vegetables can be washed in tap water which might make you sick.
- Don’t drink tap water.
- Be alert and keep your valuables in a safe place, especially in a particularly touristy area.
24/7 On-the-ground Support
Our on-the-ground support staff provide you with personal assistance throughout the duration of your teaching experience.
You can rest assured knowing that any queries will be answered such as emergencies, travel options, translation help, culture shock, legalities, or school queries.
Someone is on hand.
Is English spoken in Vietnam?
In the major cities most people will have a basic understanding of English.
Are teachers in high demand in Vietnam? Why?
Teachers are in very high demand in Vietnam. In the past decade, Vietnam has experienced massive economic growth and a booming middle class, which has created a large market for English education.
Many Vietnamese parents understand the importance of English education for their children and this has led to a great increase in the amount of language centers and foreign teachers in public schools in Vietnam.
In order to attract teachers and meet this demand, schools in Vietnam offer very good wages, especially considering the low cost of living in Vietnam.
Do students have to learn English in Vietnam?
Almost all students will take English with Vietnamese English teachers for some time in public schools, but most students will not come in contact with a foreign teacher.
How long does it take to get a TEFL/TESOL certificate in Vietnam?
We have a four week program with one week of cultural orientation and a three week long in-class TEFL Course.
Refer to the TEFL/TESOL Accreditation section for more information.
Do schools in Vietnam accept Online TEFL/TESOL certificates? If no, Why not?
Online TEFL/TESOL certificates are not generally accepted for public school nor for most language centers in Vietnam.
This is because most schools in Vietnam do not believe online TEFL/TESOL provide a high enough standard of training and the private language schools in Vietnam are quite expensive for parents, pay very well, and have higher expectations.
There are limited exceptions to this and we consider those on a case-by-case basis.
We offer an internationally accredited in-country TEFL/TESOL course that thoroughly prepares students for teaching English in Vietnam.
Refer to the TEFL/TESOL Accreditation section for more information.
What are the expected tax deductions from your paycheck? Does is differ from school to school?
Teachers are taxed at two different rates in Vietnam.
The first rate is 20%, which is the tax rate for those in process of obtaining a work permit and until they are considered a resident.
Once teachers have resident status, the typical tax rate will be from 5-15%, depending on the teacher’s salary. Schools will handle all teacher tax matters.
Where will I be placed teaching English in Vietnam?
We can place teachers in: cities, satellite towns around cities and you can teach Kindergarten, Primary (elementary and middle) or High school.
Refer to the Teaching Placements section for more information.
Our blog post on placements teaching English in Vietnam explains placement options in more detail.
Do schools pay you a fee/portion of my salary? If so, Why?
No, TravelBud and our partners DO NOT receive a portion of the teacher’s monthly salary.
After teachers are placed at a school, they will sign a contract directly with that school, not an agent or any third party.
The school pays the teacher directly. The amount the teacher will see on their contract is their salary, with taxes being the only deductions.
What is the big difference between language schools, private schools, government schools and varsity?
The two types of schools in Vietnam are language centers and public schools.
If teaching at a language center, teachers will work weekday evenings and daytime hours on the weekends, as these are schools students go to outside of their regular schooling.
Teachers will have one or two weekdays off a week, as well as a lot of free time during the day on the other weekdays.
Class sizes will be smaller, with averages of between 10-15 students. Lessons are typically 1.5 to 2.5 hours long.
If teaching in a public school, teachers will work daytime hours during the week, with weekends off.
Classes will be shorter averaging around 40 minutes with 30-40 students.
In both types of schools, teachers likely have around 20-25 teaching hours per week.
Some teachers will also have the opportunity to teach in both public and private school settings as part of their contracts.
How long are contracts for Teaching English in Vietnam?
Contracts are for 1 year and are renewable if you want to stay on in Vietnam.
What do I need to budget for?
Please review the budget section on this page thoroughly. We provide useful breakdowns to help you budget.
How many days off do I get?
You’ll have numerous travel opportunities with 20 days vacation plus all public holidays (for 12 month contracts) to explore and weekend getaways from the major cities are cheap, feasible and easy to plan.
Our support team will provide you with a detailed breakdown of your days off so you can plan your epic adventures!
Read our Vietnam blog posts to read about our alumni’s experiences teaching English in Vietnam.
What is the main religion in Vietnam?
Vietnam is made up of a number of religions with the majority practicing Mahayana Buddhism.
Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism are heavily intertwined. This Wikipedia article has detailed information to review.
Will I get picked up from the airport?
When you arrive in either Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, you’ll be fetched from the airport and taken to the shared accommodation which TravelBud organizes for the duration of your Cultural Orientation and In-Class TEFL/TESOL course.
Can I be placed with my friend or partner?
Yes, we can place you in the same town as your friend or partner. You might be teaching in the same school or in nearby schools, depending on the availability of jobs.
What if I am unhappy with my job? Can I be placed somewhere else?
If you are unhappy and there are clear reasons why the job is not working out for you, TravelBud will place you in a different job.
We have strong relationships with our partner schools and our applicants are generally very happy with their placements.
We are also available 24/7 to chat about how things are going and will check in with you throughout your adventure.
What is the dress code for teaching?
Dress code is smart-casual – collared shirts for men and conservative for women.
How are the authorities?
The police in Vietnam can seem intimidating, especially because of their military attire and history of militant culture.
Don’t be put off though! Authorities will be very helpful towards foreigners, as long as you are sticking to the law.