Job Discussion Forums

[chipy66]

i know several VK teachers who are doing quite well for themselves here, making the going rate for teachers and not being hassled much at all by the locals or the government. The ones i know have little problems living here and love it. There is a huge VK population in the city. If it was as bad as some people in this thread make it out to be i doubt they would all be here.

[slug93]

i agree.. there's alot of VK here in VN.. many are in EXPAT corporate position or have their own business. I've notice that VK have an edge in the business sector in VN due their/our understanding of language, culture(SOME), and many have connection thru our family. At the minimum, a VK family in VN will have a decent relationship with the local police and some govt officals.

For VK in business, if they're in business for awhile(they probably are MODERATELY successful), they will have develop some good to excellent contacts in VN. THose contacts make life alot easier.

BUT in the TEACHING field, VK do face a SLIGHT uphill climb. Due to VN society not considering VK TRULLY a foreigner.. just a VN living in a foreign country, even if you're born OUTSIDE of VN.. they still think this. SO this has a slight negative effect in the ENGLISH teaching field. Heck, many students in my classes are always alittle suprise to find out that i'm from the US! and that i speak english perfectly!

One thing I've notice was during my job hunting period, most schools would not call me back after i've dropped off my resume. A HIRING director(AMERICAN) at one school told me that schools/parents PREFER non-asian looking foreign teachers. It's a perception thing. To his credit, he said that if when I was ready to teach to come back and he'll find me hours. Just like any job hunting process, GETTING the interview is half the battle, if you can get that initial interview WITH the hiring director. Then you(qualified VK) will have a GOOD shot at getting hired.

[nkminh]

http://www.vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Phap-luat/2007/04/3B9F4CE4/

In case you don't read Vietnamese, the article is about a murder committed for no reason, but the murderer saw a VK as an eyesore. It happened in a restaurant in district 5, HCM City.