Job Discussion Forums

[Buffalo Boy]

If you loved Vietnam back in the good old days but were looking for somewhere to move onto now, where would you go?

[just noel]

[nkminh]

[mcsensei]

Im curious about the old days in Vietnam. I've been here about a year.

Is it the teaching situation which has changed that makes you want to leave or the inflation, govt regulations? Or all these things?

I'm curious as to whether the teaching teaching situation in Saigon/VN used to be much better.

Any thoughts?

[Buffalo Boy]

It used to be much better. It gets worse all the time.

I came at the end of the good old days. For example, I wasn't here when ILA was a good place to work, but I know people who talk about that.

Jobs were plentiful and lucrative by local standards. The students were great, smart and eager to learn. Most are still like that, at least the ones I teach.

Schools treat the teachers worse than they did. It's getting more like Japan and Korea where they see you as an expendable asset to wear out before they replace you with a fresh face. Hourly rates are actually going down. Full time contracts with holidays, health insurance, bonus? Had them, but haven't seen them lately.

I don't know if things have changed or if it's just that I'm noticing it more, but I pick up on a lot more hostility towards foreigners lately. Not the overcharging, but open aggression. I've seen some pretty inflammitory articles in the media lately, and that's just the stuff that gets translated into English. Times are tough and people are looking for an outlet.

[TimkinMS]

[lucreziaborgia]

I left VN a few months ago for the reasons you've mentioned and also after 5 years decided I wanted a change. Now, I wish I hadn't left but rather stayed and coped with the changes. I'm in Saudi Arabia and believe me, VN seems like paradise compared to here - in every way.
I am thinking of returning in a few months and will live in a city smaller than Ha Noi or HCMC.
I think ESL jobs everywhere are the same due to the global economic problems coupled with increased expectations in developing countries.

[motown]

[Buffalo Boy]

Thanks lucreziaborgia that's very useful info for me. In my darkest moments I thought about Saudi Arabia and was even offered a position there

I'm actually living outside of HCMC now myself. I find the living conditions a lot more pleasant, but the school I work at is a bit more rough and ready than what I'm used to. There are more schools opening in smaller centres as the HCMC market becomes saturated though and I'll wait and see if that benefits me or not. Introducing modern concepts of language teaching to students, and modern methods of management to managment is a bit of a challenge in provincial Vietnam though.

[lucreziaborgia]

The money is not all that good if you weigh up the disadvantages.
Vacations are in the lap of the gods.
As with the rest of the world, the KSA is taking advantage of the economic downturn which means living and working conditions are not necessarily what were promised...

[lucreziaborgia]

Motown, I had a great time in VN and memories of it keep me going here.
My working life in HCMC and Ha Noi was satisfying in every way. As well,
VNmese society, history and culture has a richness that makes the difficult times possible to endure. I had many frustrations in VN but they were short lived as something amusing always happened that 'got me out of my foul moods'. I like VNmese people - warts and all. They are a complex and challenging. It is the only country where I have felt completely at ease even during difficult times. I let the many irritations get the better of me hence I left on the justification that I needed to experience another culture. I did my research but nothing prepares you for the reality of the situation I'm in. I have around a thousand photographs of VN that remind me that I had a life before this...

[inky]

It's still here, you know!

[Porlestone]

Buffalo Boy and TimkinMS make some good, accurate and honest points up above. Much could be written about how the Vietnamese change their tone once they get their hands on a little power and the pendulum swings in their favor.

Lucrezia, don't spend much time looking over your thousands of photographs of vn. Put them behind.

[lucreziaborgia]

Porlestone, It's similar to the end of an affair; you have a period of grieving and usually rebound into the arms of a less attractive prospect
until your heart mends.