TEACH ENGLISH IN VIETNAM

About Teaching English in Vietnam

Breathtaking beauty and endless adventure, Vietnam has proven to be a premier market for English teachers seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience.

To teach English in Vietnam, most teachers will need TEFL certification and a bachelor's degree. Native English speakers are preferred. A criminal background check may also be required. The average salary for an English teacher in Vietnam is about $1,100 - $1,500 USD per month.

You can find jobs teaching English in Vietnam year-round, as it is an enormous and fast-growing market for teaching English abroad.  There are jobs teaching English in Vietnam in private language schools for both children and adults. 

Please note, a Bachelor’s degree is required in order to obtain a work visa. There may be limited opportunities to secure a job without a degree, depending on the school and its locations, however not having a degree will make your job search more challenging in this country. ITA does not recommend looking for a job without a Bachelor’s degree in Vietnam.

Teaching Requirements

TEFL CERTIFICATION

A TEFL certification is required to teach English in Vietnam. You do not need professional teaching experience but earning your TEFL certification will provide you with the training and qualification you do need to get hired. 

Teachers typically interview in-person in Vietnam, therefore, it is most common for students to take one of our TEFL course options listed below:

• 4-Week In-Person Hanoi, Vietnam TEFL Course 
• 4-Week In-Person Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam TEFL Course
• 4-Week Intensive Online TEFL Course
• 11-Week, Part-Time 170-Hour Online TEFL Course

Read more: What are the basic requirements to teach English in Vietnam?

NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER

You do not need to be a native English speaker to teach English in Vietnam, however, you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs. Citizenship from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa is highly preferred.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

English teachers need a bachelor's degree to teach English in Vietnam. Please note, your bachelor's degree does not need to be in education, it can be in any field.

TEFL Jobs in Vietnam

JOB TYPES

The most common job types in Vietnam consist of:

• Teaching adults or children in private language schools.
• Teaching children in public schools.
• Private tutoring both children and adults.
• Teaching Business English to adults.
• Teaching English Online.

HIRING & VISA

English teachers in Vietnam can expect to find jobs year-round. Most schools in Vietnam conduct face-to-face interviews, meaning you will need to be on the ground and in Vietnam to interview for jobs. Although rare, some schools will interview in advance via a video call.

You will enter Vietnam on a tourist visa which is typically valid between 15-30 days (but if needed, a tourist visa can be extended once you arrive in Vietnam). From here, your tourist visa will be converted into a Work Visa once you have secured your teaching job.

HOURS

English language schools in Vietnam offer approximately 20 to 30 hours of classroom work per week plus additional hours for prep time. This allows for plenty of time to travel and explore. 

STUDENTS

It is most common that your students will be children, adults, and business professionals. 

Salary & Cost of Living

START-UP COSTS

Start-up costs will range from $1,000 - $2,000 USD. These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in Vietnam until you receive your first paycheck and may include things like rent, apartment supplies, transport, groceries, getting your new local cell phone number set up, etc. 

SALARY

A solid hourly wage enables teachers the opportunity to live a comfortable lifestyle while in Vietnam. Teachers can expect to make $1,100 - $1,500 USD per month. It is common for teachers in Vietnam to also teach English online to supplement their income.

There are no flight or housing benefits/stipends provided so you will need to remember to account for accommodation or temporary housing for your first few weeks in your start-up costs until you find an apartment to rent. 

COST OF LIVING & SAVINGS

The cost of living typically ranges between $500-$900 USD per month.

English teachers in Vietnam can expect to save up to $600 USD per month. If you are hustling and taking on private tutoring lessons and/or teaching English online in addition to your regular teaching schedule, you may increase your ability to save.