Job Discussion Forums

bigsandy99 · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:31 am Post subject: Unusual situation?

I am in what might be considered an unusual situation. I am a teacher that needs to move to Vietnam because my Vietnamese fiancee can't get a K1 visa to come here. I will need a job and comfortable housing for the two of us within two months of arriving in Vietnam. To make matters worse, when I leave might not be totally up to me as the organization I work for now is unraveling fast. Does any one have any suggestions that may help me in my quests?

ChuckECheese · Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 216

What's your request?

Are your requests following?

1. Need a Job in Vietnam? If so, you need to check out the sticky thread "What you need to bring to Vietnam".

2. Need a nice place to stay? If so, you just need to bring some money with you to rent an apartment or a house ($5,000 - $7,000) and to support yourself and your fiancee for a few months until you find your self a decent job.

UpScope · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 82

Wow, not sure what sort of housing Chuck is referring to...... plan for a month stay at a guest house for the two of you being around 400 - 600 USD per month, that will be the basics and will be fine while you seek longer term accommodation.

Most teachers pay between 300 and 400 a month for shared housing and for a place of your own for two people you should plan to pay around USD 600-700 per month.

If you haven't already gotten an ELT qualification, look around, two quality course here, Celta at Language link and Celta at ILA. There are others as well like the teach international course.

If you already have teacher registration from the US then teaching gigs at the international schools are about but given the new year is commencing most will be full, although you may get some temp type work.

Joe Dolce · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 30

When you say you are a teacher, are you qualified to teach at international schools or are you a TEFL teacher? If you can teach at international schools you should try to get hired while you are abroad because there is usually quite a big pay differential between local hires and foreign hires. If you are a TEFL teacher it is best to come here first and look for work.

Contacts for international schools here

http://www.english-schools.org/vietnam/

For TEFl schools try

http://www.mekongesl.com

Comfortable housing should be about $500 - $700 per month. Depends what you want really.[/url]

blateson · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144

do not accept a basic room in a guest house for over $150 a month -- bargain even lower if the room is extremely basic or other drawbacks such as share bathroom or no TV, etc.

speaking of which, i am appalled to see that even crummy guest house operators are quoting room prices at $375 for a room to $600 a month for a studio. some of the above prices listed in this thread are unfathomable and nonetheless could be the people helping local landlords quote appalling prices.

Joe Dolce · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 30

Blateson, The numbers we are quoting aren't to boost rents. I rent so why would I want to do that. The OP said he wanted "comfortable housing" for himself and his fiancee. People planning to get married aren't usually interested in guest house rooms or sharing a house. I was quoting the going rate for a nice 2/3 bedroon house or a decent sized apartment.

The OP also says he is a teacher which could mean an international school job with a salary of $2500 to $3500 a month plus perks so what I quoted wasn't silly money. I know of teachers paying $120 each for a house share and teachers who pay $700 for big new apartments or houses with gardens. It just depends on their needs.

Danaa · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 40

Mr Wind-up Bird · Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 196

If your fiancee is VNese and already living in HCMC, she should be able to find a house no problem, and will get a cheaper deal than you would!

This advice applies to anyone looking for good accommodation here - get a Vietnamese person to look in the local newspapers and 'phone around to get an idea of price first. When we got our latest house, my wife negotiated them down from $800 to $550, then only let slip she was married to a foreigner once the contract was signed Laughing

Blateson:
As with anything in Vietnam, the first price quoted is always going to be 20-33% more than the price you should end up paying. Sure, many guesthouses are quoting $400 a month, but they won't always get it!

ChuckECheese · Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 216

Why bother coming to Vietnam if you're going to be living in a $150 per month shiat hole (most likely with out an aircon)?

If the OP is considering a nice place for himself and fiancee, he should consider getting a nice apartment or muti-level house for at LEAST $500 per month. To rent an apartment you are required deposit (usally 1 or 2 months worth) and first month's rent.

Mr. WUB's advice is good one. Take his advice and let your Vietnamese fiancee do the shopping and negotiating. You'll less likely to get ripped off.