Teaching English in Vietnam - English Teaching Jobs & TEFL Certification

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. With a TEFL certification and a four-year degree, 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.

While most job interviews for teaching English in Vietnam are conducted in person, some are completed in advance over the phone and via e-mail. English instructors in Vietnam are responsible for airfare and housing expenses. Most teachers live in apartments recently vacated by previous teachers, and many room with coworkers. Contracts typically last 12 months with jobs available to teach business professionals as well as children.

A generous salary affords those teaching English in Vietnam to live comfortably while saving $200 - $600 per month. English language schools in Vietnam offer approximately 20 to 30 hours of work per week, allowing for plenty of time to travel and explore. Major cities for teaching English in Vietnam include Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

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:

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.

About International TEFL Academy

Founded in 2010, International TEFL Academy (ITA) is a world leader in TEFL certification for teaching English abroad and teaching English online. ITA offers accredited TEFL certification classes online and in 21 locations worldwide and has received multiple awards and widespread recognition as one of the best TEFL schools in the world. ITA provides all students and graduates with lifetime job search guidance and has certified more than 25,000 English teachers. Our graduates are currently teaching in 80 countries worldwide.

Teaching English in Vietnam FAQs

Do I need a degree to teach English in Vietnam?

To teach English in Vietnam, make sure you understand what is and is not required:

Required:

A four-year college degree
A TEFL certification
Understanding of the types of English teaching jobs that are available
Savings for start-up costs

Not Required:

You do not need to be a native English speaker, but 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.

What is the salary for teaching English in Vietnam?

Teachers can expect to make $1,100 - $1,500 USD per month in Vietnam. With the cost of living being so low, you 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.

What are my job opportunities for teaching English in Vietnam?

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.

English teachers in Vietnam can expect to find jobs year-round with most English teachers interview on the ground and in-person.

What type of visa do I need to teach English in Vietnam?

To teach English in Vietnam, you will arrive in the country on a tourist visa. Your tourist visa will be valid between 15-30 days but can be extended upon arrival if need be.

Once you have secured a job from interviewing in-person, your tourist visa will then be converted into a Work Visa.

Recommended TEFL Courses for
Teaching English in Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam TEFL Course

What's included 👇

In-Person 4 Weeks, Full-Time
Accredited by the Australian International College of Language - Meets/Exceeds All Industry Accreditation Standards
University-Level Instructors
Lifetime Job Search Guidance
12 Hours Live Practice Teaching
Classes capped at 15 students

Find out more

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam TEFL Course

What's included 👇

In-Person 4 Weeks, Full-Time
Accredited by the Australian International College of Language - Meets/Exceeds All Industry Accreditation Standards
University-Level Instructors
Lifetime Job Search Guidance
12 Hours Live Practice Teaching
Classes capped at 15 students

Find out more

Part-Time Online TEFL Course

What's included 👇

170-Hour Online Certification
11 Weeks Part-Time
OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation from TQUK
Live Office Hours with Your Instructor & Peer-Participation with Classmates
Lifetime Job Search Guidance
20-Hours Live Practice Teaching

Find out more

Why Our Alumni Love Us!

I got TEFL certified because I knew it would allow me to live abroad and see more of the world. I did a lot of research on TEFL companies and quickly saw that ITA has one of the top tier programs. Along with the quality of their certification, I was impressed by the lifetime career guidance and the huge alumni network they have. The TEFL training gave me the confidence to enter a classroom and teach a room full of excited students. There are lots of expats living in Hanoi which makes it easy to make friends. I met my closest friend here through ITA's Vietnam alumni Facebook page!

I took ITA's In-Person Chicago TEFL Course. I’m always striving to make a difference in someone’s life, whether that be teaching or some type of volunteer work. The idea to work abroad seemed enticing. My parents left Vietnam during the war. They fought for freedom, economic opportunity, and a chance to start new again. In doing so, they spent little to no time in the country they grew up in. I choose Vietnam because I wanted a chance to “make up for lost times” with my family members, to get a better understanding of my roots.

At home, I felt like I was stuck in a rut. I was unhappy with my work-life balance and I desperately needed a change. After doing some research, I learned that by getting TEFL certified and teaching English in Vietnam, I’d be able to work much less than I did back home while still being able to save quite a bit of money. I now teach English in Ho Chi Minh City and I absolutely love seeing the smiles on my students’ faces every single day. No matter how stressed I may be and no matter how badly I think my lesson is failing, I try to think of my students and their genuine optimism.

TEACH ENGLISH IN VIETNAM

About Teaching English in Vietnam