Job Discussion Forums

Demonietto · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 50

Hi everyone!
I have been lurking the forums for a while, this is my first post to Dave's, and thanks for all of the helpful information! My girlfriend and I are currently in Chiang Mai, heading to S Vietnam next month to start teaching. I have been working here for 4 months. We would like to avoid HCMC if possible and have been checking up on Vung Tau. Being on the coast would be great, but I keep reading that it is an oil town. Is this just referring to company headquarters, or are there refineries in town, too? I've lived near them before and would like to avoid the toxic air. Our other idea was to try out Phu Quoc island, maybe work at a resort or the international school. Anyone on here currently living a tropical island dream? Thanks again!

Anh Dep · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 56 Location: Bangkok Thailand

You wont get much work on Phu Quoc, not much demand there. Vung Tau you will get work and no, there are no refineries operating here.

Demonietto · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 50

That's good news about Vung Tau. Fro what I've read, it seems like a nice balance of affluence and non-enormous city, with coastline to boot. Anyone out there in VT have any advice for settling in? We will start with the language schools, try for a regular school once the year starts again.

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

I don't think 'normal' public schools hire teachers directly. Maybe I'm wrong - often am! International schools of course do, but are either utter garbage or demand proper teaching qualifications and experience.

Vung Tau is nice if a little pricey I hear. You may have to serve your time in a HCMC sweatmill before settling in Vung Tau - demand is less and supply is higher there. Give it a shot by all means but don't be fixated on Vung Tau if it's not working out.

Tigerstyleone · Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 181

Anh Dep · Joined: 16 Mar 2013 Posts: 56 Location: Bangkok Thailand

Good job if you can get it, are you working through a school or did you find that job yourself.You posted that your school doesnt have health insurance, so I presume its a job through a school.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

If you want nice beaches you should come to Danang. They're the best I've seen in Vietnam. Vung Tau's water is much dirtier and has an unattractive, oily look to it.

Demonietto · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 50

How is the pay in Danang? Beaches are great and we love them, but our primary focus is putting our nose to the grinding wheel. We're hoping to bustle and pull in close to 3k each. Might just end up in HCMC and get out of town on the weekends.

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

Don't take these posts too seriously - some people have an odd sense of humour.

To be serious - the OPs should spend a bit more time reading past threads to get an up to date picture of the situation here.

If your heart's set on Vietnam then at least be prepared for the reality. It CAN be good but it takes a lot of effort - or a private income from overseas - to make a life here.

BTW - 3K USD each is rather far fetched. 3K between you is more like it especially at first.

If you're quailified school teachers with good refs 3K each is about right if you can get into an International School - but they demand a lot. Assuming you really pushed it and took every job offered you might make 3K in a good month but you will not have time for anything else and IMO it's unsustainable. You will also get ripped off once or twice and end up working a few weeks for nowt...which can sap your morale.

If you want to make reliable money try Korea. As a couple you will easily save upto 3K a month and get your severence plus flights paid and have medical insurance etc. It's not much fun though.

Vietnam is not (any more) the place to come for fast cash. It takes upwards of a year of hard slog to line up the well paid jobs and the overheads during that time will eat up any savings you might make.

Sorry to be negative but I think if you review other posters' recent comments it's the reality for most people here.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

3k is definitely not realistic in Danang. Its a smaller city with smaller pay, but also with smaller expenses. You COULD get 3k if you worked at 3 different jobs but as far as i know that's not entirely legal. Your work permit is only valid for the job it has printed on it.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

3k is definitely not realistic in Danang. Its a smaller city with smaller pay, but also with smaller expenses. You COULD get 3k if you worked at 3 different jobs but as far as i know that's not entirely legal. Your work permit is only valid for the job it has printed on it.

Oh My God · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 273

Tollerdanu · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 4

I spent some time in Hue and thought it was a good place to live.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

JSutt · Joined: 22 Jan 2013 Posts: 24

There are quite a few IELTS and TOEFL students who are studying in Da Nang because they say there aren't any good schools in Hue. There might be more work for basic conversational classes.