Job Discussion Forums

misssapphire · Joined: 10 Jul 2015 Posts: 32

Hi all

Is a salary of 31,755,000 VND gross per month enough for an average lifestyle in HCMC? I'm not a big party person or drinker but do want to be able go out a bit, save a bit and travel a bit.

Any rough ideas of costs would be great.

I've tried to find some info on here but to no avail.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 7:38 pm Post subject:

It would be adequate for a single person (i.e. no dependents) doing what you described. The issue of money gets discussed on this forum pretty regularly. I suggest trying again by doing a search for "money", "savings" in key words for the Vietnam forum and, I promise, you will have more hits than you can shake a stick at.

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

To add to Welsh, it looks adequate to me. Maybe a little on the low side though.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

Definitely on the low side for working in HCMC... How many hours are they asking you to work for that?

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 7:51 am Post subject:

As others have said, it's on the low side for HCMC and Hanoi, but, the original question was whether it was adequate for the circumstances described, and it is. As to whether it's a decent deal will depend largely on the hours. An entry-level teacher (with degree and respectable TEFL certificate) should be looking at $17-$20 US per teaching hour with little in the way of 'desk-warming'. Anyone can do the math from there. If it is for a salaried, full-time position (i.e. around forty hour week on site with twenty or so hours teaching) in Saigon or Hanoi then, in terms of pay, it is very inferior to the better entry-level TEFL jobs out there in the two major cities.

misssapphire · Joined: 10 Jul 2015 Posts: 32

Yes it's full time with 73 teaching hours a month.

No housing (apart from 10 nights on arrival) or flights over but visa is covered.

So I should think again?

What companies pay more?

Thanks everyone

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 11:05 am Post subject: Re: ..

misssapphire · Joined: 10 Jul 2015 Posts: 32

in HCMC.

I have CELTA and 2 years experience (France, UK, Australia - all ages and levels). Basic medical is included.

Argh decisions decisions....

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 11:38 am Post subject:

Sorry, just edited my post as I noticed you mentioned HCMC originally, but you beat me to it by posting again. Please read my above post again and my advice is that you should be able to do better elsewhere, without having to work those hours, and that you should apply for jobs when you arrive in VN. Good luck!

kurtz · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 518 Location: Phaic Tan

misssapphire · Joined: 10 Jul 2015 Posts: 32

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: ..

misssapphire · Joined: 10 Jul 2015 Posts: 32

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend, the rolling eyes were at ILA who are supposed to be one of the better schools you said. A little harsh - I have been researching a lot and appreciate the help, it's all a little overwhelming - different opinions and advice.

I can't find the answer to whether I have to be in school 40 hours per week or not even after reading the contract. Hopefully just as you said - teaching, prep and a bit of admin - I have emailed the school for an answer regarding this.

I am grateful for all advice.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: ...

I'm With Stupid · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 432

73 hours a week will be the contracted hours, but in reality, you'll probably be doing 20-24 hours teaching a week most of the year, and some people even do up to 30 hours a week during summer school. The pay will go up pro-rata obviously, but they have a weird bank of hours system, so you might not necessarily get overtime pay in the month you do it. They operate a bank of hours system where you don't start getting overtime in your paycheck until the cumulative hours worked is +40 hours. Then at the end of the contract, your balance is paid in one lump sum.

Presumably a nice little earner for them with the interest, but I think it was done to stop people leaving them with a massive tax bill, which can happen in Vietnam, if you leave before halfway through the year.

So yeah, it says 73 hours, but assume you'll be getting more hours and money than that most of the year.

Oh and another little trick is that you holiday pay is worked out according to the 73 hours too, not the hours you actually work.

They're a decent enough company. Gone a bit downhill recently with the massive expansion and a lack of qualified people to run the new centres, meaning that managers are now hugely overstretched. But they'll pay you on time, have good resources and give you a lot of freedom about your teaching.

Oh, and you have to go to workshops for two hours a month in your first year and one hour after that, which you're not paid for.

As for costs, 4-6m for a room in a shared house/flat. Probably another 2m for all your bills. A million or so for a motorbike (but buy if you can). After that, it's just your food and drink, which can be as cheap or expensive as you want. If you eat locally, you're probably looking at 100-200k a day, eating out, delivery or takeaway for every meal. This will give you an idea of Western food prices.