Job Discussion Forums

tsotsa · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 11

Hi there,

I am a full-time NET teacher in Hong Kong working in a local school. My monthly salary is almost 40,000 HKD a month (USD$4800).
My boyfriend is currently based in HCM and would like me to join him there. He has spoken to teachers there (he is not a teacher) and was told I could earn about the same amount. However reading up on previous posts on this blog it doesn't seem like that is possible.
Any feedback? Am I mad to leave my current job??

Thanks in advance!

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

That would be a fortune in Vietnam. You are very unlikely to make similar money, BUT the cost of living is much lower than in HK too.

Mattingly · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 249

laconic · Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:15 am Post subject: Re: Worth it??

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

If you get an International school job, you might make 2/3 of that if you're lucky.

The thing is that it's probably ALOT cheaper to live here than in HK, so it's relative to what you want.

Green Acres · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 260

It depends on your qualifications, and if you can work in an international school. The benefits package is worth $4800, but they don't pay that much in salary.

Air fare, visa, housing, and some other benefits plus salary would be about 4800. Look into it.

If you cannot teach in an international school, then what they other posters have written in correct, and not even the best jobs in hcmc come near that figure, especially for FOB employees.

tsotsa · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 11

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate you all taking the time to reply!

If I may bother you with one more question, I am curious to know what you guys do in your free time? Outdoor activities, socializing...etc.
I have been to HCM twice but I have only really seen it through a tourist's eyes. Just trying to figure out what kind of lifestyle I could have if I moved there.

Thank you once again!

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

If you like talking over good food and a beverage, this is a pretty awesome place. Learning to play shuttlecock (Asian hacky-sack) and Chinese chess could be fun. Stopping in and getting measured for a shirt is cool. Taking day trips or weekends or whatever out to the country is awesome. Taking pictures, making shows, thinking about importing and exporting, checking out motorbikes, looking at (and talking to) girls wearing traditional dresses!, meeting kindred spirits, reading, giving 50k dong to a monk then having a conversation about whether it was a real monk, looking at shows in parks, walking and talking in parks, looking at apartments with a cool roof porch (let me know if come across one with garden, hang-out, potential), trying to reproduce the freakin' tones adequately, playing with kids and animals, gawking at how much stuff people load on motorbikes, lolly-gagging online, hitting a bookstore... it goes on and on. Personally, it works for me: just realizing again and again how blessed I am to be living amongst so many pretty women always is fun.

It's a big, crazy, crazy city. What do you like and want to do? You can do THAT here. You can create any lifestyle you want here on the salary we make. Just get your documents in order and get here when the time is right for you.

It's time for a Green Saigon and some curry... peace.

mickeyrex · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

OP--- you're making enough money to take a weekend visit. Once you do that, I'm sure you'll thank ur lucky stars you've an amazing teaching position in HK. Of course, this is just my 1,000 dong.

blateson · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144