Job Discussion Forums

[therock]

I was planning on spending a year in Hanoi teaching English, I have had over 2.5 years teaching experience, no TEFL. What are the prospects in Hanoi for English teaching jobs??

Since I have had a year in China do Vietnamese stare at foreigners or do you feel normal? Oh yeah do the Vietnamese spit and while they are at it make the most disgusting noise?

Since when I come I will need to stay in a cheap hotel/guesthouse to start with, where are the good areas for cheap hotels? How much do they cost per night/week?

[passport220]

Hi rock. I will soon be in Hanoi as well. I hope you don�t mind if I piggyback to ask one additional question:

I can come mid November, or mid January. Is there an advantage in finding a job by timing my arrival for one month or another?

[therock]

Hi Passport,

From the research that I have done so far, November would be the better month to come to look for work. October is the best month! I think in January and February that have some kind of New Year festival and the schools close for this period.

Have you been to Vietnam before?? If so how about cheap hotels/guesthouse in Hanoi where are they located and how much do they cost?

[spycatcher reincarnated]

"Tet" or Chinese New Year will start around 28 January next year and most schools will close on or around this date for 2 weeks.

November is a good time to come, but from mid January on definitely is not a good time to come if you need to find work quickly.

Many posters seem to think that there isn't much work about in December and early January, but I seriously disagree with this.

A number of years ago nearly all the teaching here was to adults. The adult market definitely dries up the nearer it gets to Tet and doesn't really pick up until a week or two after the schools reopen.

These days, however, the children's market is a lot bigger than the adult market and they continue studying all year round (with the two week break for Tet).

Even though the demand is overall lower as one gets closer to the Tet period I would argue that the supply side (the teachers) probably falls more, thus there is still plenty of work around.

Many teachers finish their contracts or decide to go home for Xmas and most teachers that are thinking of coming to Vietnam would rather stay put and enjoy Xmas with friends than to go to a country and have Xmas with no friends. Then they think I may as well put off the trip until after Chinese New year.

Because of this there is plenty of work around right up until Tet. Saying this however, November is still a better option than January.

[passport220]

Hiya Rock, S.C.R.:

I have only been as close to Vietnam as Kampong Som, Cambodia. As you may know Cambodia has a large Vietnamese minority population. From what I have observed the Vietnamese do not have the same spit/hork/gag habit that the Chinese are infamous for.

It looks like I will have to skip taking a vacation and start looking for work in November. I plan on traveling overland from Thailand. I have yet to decide if I will pass through Cambodia and go via Ho Chi Minh City or cut across Laos on a more direct route to Hanoi. If I beat you there, I will be glad to pass on any accommodation recommendations.


Thanks spycatcher reincarnated your advice was just what I was looking for and your theory of how the market works makes sense to me. A million thanks!

Take care,
Pass

P.S. I hope my question on timing does not highjack your original post��� HEY, PISSSST�.take a look at the original post!

[passport220]

Hiya Rock:

I came across this thread that recommends The Crown Hotel at $10 per night.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=12486&highlight=vatc

Take care,
Pass

[therock]

Thanks passport for the link. The hotel sounds ok and at $10 a night its had to beat. I am sure there are all these good bargain hotels, but we might need to wait until we actually get to Hanoi to find them.

I to am looking at doing the overland route, but I am coming from China. I was hoping to catch the train directly to Hanoi. I got offered a position with SITC. But I have heard that this school should be avoided. They seem to take quite a bit of money out for tax, higher than most other schools. Maybe this should be a last resort school.

Where are you now?

[Mr Wind-up Bird]

You won't get so many stares in the big cities, or in tourist hotspots such as Hoi An, but head out into rural areas & you will be the centre of attention. Mostly it's polite curiosity, though occasionally some ignorant idiots will point, laugh & get their kids to gawp at you as well.

Not been to China but hocking up phlegm is a national pastime here as well - careful when you're on your motorbike Having said that, if you base career decisions on the unpleasant bodily functions of the locals you'll probably end up living in Greenland.

[zilotvn]

Hi all,

The lifestyle in Vietnam is so cheap but it is not easy to join.
Why? if you are an foreigner and you don't know much about Vietnam, you can be victims of swindles. I mean that when you go shopping, if you know the price it is no problem, if not, it is so hard for you to decide to buying something, because you will never bought it with real price.

I've been living here for 27 years so that I understand most of Vietnam people's lifestyle.

and more, You'd better looking for something useful information of Vietnam before you come here.

You can rent a flat of a Hotel and staying there for 10 days. So if you decide to live in Vietnam in a long time, you must rent a apartment.

Please tell me how I can help you.
send me a msg: [email protected]
I am so happy to help you:-)