Job Discussion Forums

[Cachai]

Hey Guys,

Just a quick one... I'm a CELTA qualified teacher language graduate who'll have about one and halfs year experience both at home and abroad and is looking for an eastern adventure! Im stroking my chin at Vietnam...

Are you guys enjoying it out there? I heard the Vietnamese are super friendly and lifestyles good! Anyways cut a long post short is it better to sort out a contract before or book a flight and dive in! Do they have any salary scales i.e. expected salary versus education and experience. Just so I know what money I should be getting! Are there any links?

One quick question how much on average do you spend a week on food and rent? Any replies would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks and hope you're having an amazing time out there!

[fischerles_hump]

Alright mate,

I'm going to keep this short as I am shattered after work but if you have any questions then message me. You could probably wait until you get here before sorting out a contract but you could arrange face to face interviews with a few school before you leave home, that way you can save time when you are here. You need to sort out a visa before you arrive but that lasts a month and is easily renewed. If you are employed by a decent school then they will sort all that out for you. To work legally you need to bring your original teaching and university certificates and also a police clearance check to show that you are not a criminal, you'll also have to have a health check once you are here.

Life is indeed good in Vietnam, excellent food, excellent people, low cost of living and hard-working students. The big cities aren't for everyone as the traffic freaks them out but if that's not a problem then you should really consider it, or else work outside of HCMC and Hanoi. Rent is about $400 a month and street food is less than a $1, a pizza or a curry (there are some great Indians in HCMC) is about 2 pounds hope this helps.

[Blade]

[Cachai]

Thank you very much for your words of wisdom!

Its very much appreciated. I've got about 6 wks before criminal background check comes back to me so plenty of time look for work and sort out a position.

Thansk again.

[lizarddoctor]

Seems like a risk to some, but diving in and doing your research before you get here is highly recommended. There are hundreds of employment options that only hire face to face if you want to teach in VN, but only a very select few hire over the internet. Even if you get the contract offer over the net, I would still recommend that you come here first and look at them first, in addition to other places to give you some comparisons in pay, facilities, travel time required, and hours scheduled. That contract should still be good after a week of getting familiar with the city first.

As hump had mentioned, get your paperwork in order before you come as it is a terrible headache to get it done afterward. Also, get your docs translated into VNese through your local VNese embassy or consulate before you come also since that turns out to be another terrible headache if you try to do it here and don't really know where to go (and speak VNese already). You're biggest 'weapon' to landing some real good employment when you get here is to get a cell phone asap. You will be suprised how fast it rings when you get a little networking in.