Job Discussion Forums

[drpangloss]

Hey guys. I'm looking to move to Vietnam in September. I'll most likely come to HCMC, though I wouldn't mind Vung Tau or Da Nang. I don't want to go to Hanoi because I hate the cold...

Anyway, I'm doing ok in Cambodia--$20 an hour--but I'd like to make more in Vietnam. I've got a BA, a CELTA, 3+ years of experience, and good references.

So far I've sent letters of inquiry to RMIT, ACET, and the British Council. Can anyone recommend any places to work that I might be missing? I'm aware of ILA and Apollo and assume I'd be a shoe-in there, but I'd rather go for a top-of-the-line school if I can.

Any and all advice would be welcomed. Thanks!

[skarper]

You seem dangerously optimistic.

20 USD an hour is I think quite a high wage in HCMC. Many people do work for less than that (after taxes).

But you have the right profile for the better places so can hope to make 20USD or maybe a touch more which will come out at about 18 after tax.

Cost of living is higher in HCMC I imagine, and in Danang/Vung Tau wages and options for work are less.

ILA and Apollo can be funny - if you look too experienced/veteran they might pass you over and go for a wide eyed newbie. Lots about this in other threads.

Why Vietnam? What are you looking for here that Cambodia has not provided? If we have a better idea of your expectations then we can better advise you.

On the face of your OP I'd say stay put and build on what you have already achieved in Cambodia.

[deadlift]

[ExpatLuke]

I don't blame the OP. I wouldn't want to live in Cambodia either. If you like even more power outages and less structure and development than Vietnam it can be an adventurous choice. But you lose out on the beautiful beaches we enjoy here.

$20 per hour might sound ok if he's working enough hours. But most likely he's only working about 15 or so a week. That's only about $1000 per month optimistically. He'd be much much better off at RMIT or ACET.

[drpangloss]

Thanks for the replies. I want to move more for a change of scenery than anything else. Phnom Penh's alright, but it's not really turning my gears. I never meant to be in Cambodia for long but I got offered a sweet job as a dj when I was on vacation at Otres beach which I couldn't turn down. Then I had to come to this town to make actual money and...well you know how that goes. Phnom Penh is dirty in a very literal sense. I've still never gotten over that. I know Vietnam's not spotless either, but it's a fair sight better. The food in Vietnam is much better as well in my opinion. I've only seen Saigon and Nha Trang (to hell with Nha Trang) so my knowledge is certainly limited.

When I talked to ILA last spring before I moved to Asia they offered me a job over the phone at $23 an hour (in Saigon). I just earlier talked to a buddy of mine who's working for them in Vung Tau and he said he's making about $1500 a month, which is about what I'm making now when all's said and done. Doesn't sound too bad. The school I'm at (ACE) is owned by the same company as ACET, so I could see if any strings could be pulled in my favor.

So, in a certain sense I agree with your advice to stay put, and that's probably the most logical option, but I've got the itch. I'll be 28 in just over a week so I'm not thrilled about the idea of getting deeply involved with a town I'm not that into. Know what I mean?

[drpangloss]

I might add that Phnom Penh is really not that cheap, excluding rent, which I found surprising on first visit. I thought Saigon was much cheaper in general. Money seems to go way farther in Vietnam.

[skarper]

That's clearer all round.

You seem well set up and Saigon is very much the place to start as you have options if you dislike your first job or they are crooks. After 6 or more months you can maybe try for Vung Tau or DaNang. I've never heard of teaching jobs in Nha Trang - but it seems you don't like it anyway.

I don't really know what the question is since you have your bases well covered.

The only thing I would say is Vietnam is in decline despite the spin they put on it and the EFL market is shrinking, wages are falling and the good times are pretty much over. Visas can be a pain now - so I hear. 28 is a bit young to get married and 'solve' this problem....but anything can happen.

Depending what kind of place you want to live - rent in Saigon can be high, but I expect you'll go the shared house route and that can be reasonable. I couldn't do it again but I'm old and grumpy. If my roommate's girlfriend ate my cheese without asking I'd ...I'd....I'd....well you get the idea.

[drpangloss]

Dude, I understand. Eating cheese illicitly, especially here, deserves at least a solid spoon thwacking the forehead, if not twenty seconds of a cheese grater to the elbow. A brand new mini-mart opened right next to me and they had unlabeled cheese that I bought at a quarter of the price it should be; that was a glorious day.

My question was: are there any unmentioned schools that would be a good place to look? I sent another letter to ELI in Da Nang today for the hell of it.

[cb400]

I know you said no to Hanoi, but if money is your concern Hanoi is the place to be. Very easy to make 2000 + a month here with not much effort.

The reason is most foreigners hate it here (include myself recently) and the schools are desperate. Alot of the guys up here work hard for a year or 2 then take 6month-year off traveling and return to cash up.

Having said that the day to day stuff is more expensive here than HCMC, but you can make substantially more.

Just a thought

PS. Most people I know here would love to find something in Cambo for 20USD... the grass is not always greener

[Tigerstyleone]

[cb400]

Tigerstyleone:

If the guy want to come to VN then it is his choice. We don't need to attack anyone for decisions we have already taken.

Cheers

[Tigerstyleone]

Sure, its up to him, but if he wants out of Cambodia, is he really going to like Vietnam more?
Being under 30 gives him an edge in this business, and he could probably land a more desirable position elsewhere, but I don't care where he goes.

I do wonder, if you work really hard, couldn't you earn $1500 a month as a DJ instead of teaching?