Job Discussion Forums

Dr Disco · Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 4:13 pm Post subject: Privates in Vietnam / HCMC

Is it legal to teach privates in HCMC? Does immigration look the other way, or does it crack down on it alot? Can you advertise in papers without getting into trouble?

Heading to SE Asia next year and trying to determine what is up with making money there. I'm coming from Korea. Any otheres flee Korea to SE Asia out there? If so, how was the experience compared to Korea?

Also, though I know it's not legal, there must be away to get money out of SE Asia to North America. Anyone have any suggestions on this?

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Korea - more money, but more exepensive place to live..

Korea - possible to save more money than Vietnam...

Korea - pretty boring place to stay, because the Koreans don`t really care about you. You will have plenty of time to watch DVD`s and read books.

Vietnam - less money, but less expensive...

Vietnam - possible to save money but less than Korea....

Vietnam - More interesting than Korea, and the people a bit more friendly, but you are still a foreigner, and it will be still be difficult to connect with people, unless it involves a Vietnamese benefitting from your money or free English conversation......

Vietnam - much better food than Korea, at very affordable prices.

Decision time - Vietnam over Korea....

Dr Disco · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:54 pm Post subject:

Ditto on all points, from my opinion.

I'm going there in February, and I know the deal on Korea (or at least I know enough of it from living / teaching here).

What about the privates / legality issue for Vietnam?

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Just a word of warning on privates..

You can find privates easily, for example you will be approached by local University students in the Parks in H.C.M.C. and Hanoi.

However - be careful if someone "rats" on you, because Vietnam is a police state, and things can be uncomfortable if you deviate from the established rules.

Ghost remembers the signs in his hotel rooms - "no guests allowed in the room." "It is a serious offence to invite guests to the rooms."

You have been warned....

Having said that, many foreigners do it....but it's their call....

Dr Disco · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:50 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info. I had heard that some teachers advertise private ESL lessons in the papers. Still another person claimed that the immigration police don't care about that issue (as they do in Korea).

I know that in one work agreement that sponsored a visa for Vietnam it did mention that you could be fired for accepting ANY other work, but I'm not sure if that was because of business competition, the visa issue, or both.