Job Discussion Forums

Andy123 · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 206

At present, it is not a good time to come to Vietnam. Inflation is up, work is slow, wages are down and of course the new visa and work permit issues.

It is no secret that there are too many new schools and teachers here. Ss enrollment is down due to the economy and the Viet Kieu relatives tightening their belts.

I have friends who have completed all their paper work for a work permit and their schools either sit on the paper work or don't know how to process it correctly. One small mistake can result in your paper work getting rejected.

The real test will be the weeks before Tet and the two months afterwards. The schools will be deader than a door nail. I think we are going to have an exodus of many people at this time. Unfortunately, many of my friends have been living high off the hog for many years working as much as they like. Most have saved no money and live paycheck to pay check. I foresee many of these people calling home and asking for a plane ticket home.

If one is young, adventurous and flexible it can be a great place to visit/work. I think the days of teaching on a tourist visa are gone. This may all blow over but I don't think it will.

Trust me, the schools are well aware of this and will use it to their advantage. I have never heard so many stories of no pay, short pay or delayed pay in many years. To be honest, it is mostly short pay stories.

The schools think that you should be grateful to be employed making such a good wage so be a good boy and take what I give you.

What ever one does make sure you have a reserve so you can take care of yourself for a couple of months. Living pay check to pay check in the third world is not adventurous it is stupid.

DeanVN · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 6

"At present, it is not a good time to come to Vietnam." You right, Andy123.
The reason is the new school year having come in the end of August.
The school children often come to English schools in the end of May and learn English there during summer holiday when they don't need to go to their schools and pay their time for extra learning.
When the new school year coming they need come back to their school and pay most of their time for the school. They must go to school from Monday to Saturday. If they go to school in the morning, they need to have extra learning in the afternoon at their school teachers'. Almost of their school teachers want them to learn at their home (like tutoring): Maths, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, English... and homework which they must do in the evening. So most of them don't have time for their English schools.
In other hands, if it's the time their parents need to pay a lot of money for the new school year so they don't have enough money for English schools.

It's often that in May, June and July many English schools don't have enough native teachers. so they call for teachers any way. They promise to pay good salary and benefits. But it's the time you go off from September. When they don't need you, manythings maybe said.

So it's not the good time to go to Vietnam to get a teaching job now. If you get some offers, be careful to take it. Check every term of the offer carefully.

If you want to go to VN to teach, wait until "after" Tet (the Middle of February) as Andy said: "The real test will be the weeks before Tet and the two months afterwards."

Tanker · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 72

kattate · Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Sydney, Australia

It's now summer 2010, so are things looking up in Vietnam? Has the market picked up at all?

Very keen to hear your updates! Smile

inky · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 283 Location: Hanoi

Actually, it's the middle of winter 2010. With the Tet holiday around the corner, things are very slow. It should get busier in the spring, March and later.

kattate · Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Sydney, Australia

Oops, duhh Kat, didn't even think of the difference in seasons!

Sounds like March/April might be a good time to head over for the CELTA and pick up a summer job?

inky · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 283 Location: Hanoi

I would say most definitely that that's a good plan.

kattate · Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Sydney, Australia

Thanks inky Smile

I would have to say that you are the most helpful person in this forum, by far!

wasted_ace19 · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Posts: 41

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

Hi I'm a teacher who has worked here for 1 year now and has a Degree CELTA etc. and a work permit.

If you meet the criteria for a WP then there is nothing to stop you coming here and quickly finding a job. Please don't be put off by the doom and gloomers.

I can't offer any direct jobs myself but I can assure you there are many schools looking. Be choosy and make sure you are clear you want them to process a work permit for you and give you stable hours.

It might not be the first school you work for but there are many schools now that are towing the line due to the tightening regulations.

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

Oh to the people telling everyone that everything is awful here I would like to ask a question....

If all the schools have dwindling numbers how come we are growing and finding more students every month and finding our classes to expand rather than contract?
Is this Hanoi in contrast to HCM?

wasted_ace19 · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Posts: 41

Good to hear- I expect a barrage of responses to the contrary to now appear, followed by more in support. It just goes round and round.

Are you in Hanoi or HCMC, benE? Are you a DOS?

wasted_ace19 · Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Posts: 41

ah sorry just read ur last post again. youre not a DOS.

kattate · Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Sydney, Australia

Actually wasted_ace, it's because I found him to be very helpful.

It sounds like the job situation is pretty much like it is at home. I would never expect to just rock up to a job interview in Sydney, be the only applicant, and score a job for 9am the next day. And I'm talking pre-recession too - job hunting has never been particularly easy. So I'm not really expecting to be able to just show up in Vietnam and do the same.

I am, however, set on my dream to be a teacher (worksheets get me giddy - don't ask!) and will take the required course to get there. I'm sure there will be set-backs, and I certainly won't be the only person going for the one job, but I'm pretty positive I'll get there in the end.

But please do keep the advice (and both sides of the coin too) coming so that newbies like me can make informed decisions on what to do. Smile

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

I'm in Hanoi

I won't deny if you've been here a while and you have been working at 3 different schools with questionable qualifications then the place has become much harder to work in.

Outside of the work permit 3 month renewals for a business Visa cost around $200-$250 from what I have heard.
When you get the work permit they will cost $110 per year.

The work climate has changed here so make sure you find a company willing to support you.