Job Discussion Forums

[Bakunin]

Hello all of you Teachers in Vietnam.
I've just seen a couple of adverts for English teaching positions in Vietnam.
However, the salary amount wasn't mentioned, just "Competetive Salary'.
Well, I've never been to Vietnam so I have no idea about the cost of living.
What's a decent salary in Vietnam ? Enough to live comfortably and save a fair bit as well ?
At present, I'm teaching in China and earn around US $ 1400/month, but the cost of living is quite high.
The advert was for jobs in Ho Chi Min City, Hanoi and Vang Trau.
Any answers would be appreciated

[beetlil]

Salary is in line with experience.

New teacher.... about $1400/mth
Experienced..... about $2200/mth
Also depends on how much you want to work. If you're happy to work at a couple of places, you can get more. If you want to earn enough to live and relax and save a little, the above wages are more than enough and you don't have to kill youself to do it.
Lots of posts on here about living expenses.

[blateson]

The advertisement you read stating "competitive salary" is using typical flowery wording. Seems common in esl these days, woudn't want to actually specify. In my experience, I witnessed experienced, seasoned teachers with university degrees working full time (6 to 7 days a week) making about $1400 to $1500 max, before taxes, coming down to about $1200 after. The only way they could take that up to say the high teens or possibly 2 grand even would be to do the insane thing of working mornings five days a week at another school as well, leaving you in traffic hell.

Forget stories you see on the net of people making 3 to 4 grand a month. Full-time is as said, about $1300 or so after taxes. Part time is more like ~$1000.

[thomas123]

The consensus on here seems to be that net income of 1,000 to 1,500
USD per month is typical in Vietnam. So, it that a comfortable liveable level of income?

I have been offered a job in Hanoi with net (after taxes) salary of 1,700 USD per month. Based on my own number-crunching, it seems like a good salary. Sorry, I can't discuss the job itself. Any thoughts? Anybody know if Hanoi is less expensive, more expensive, or about the same cost of living as HCMC?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[chipy66]

if you work 30 hours a week you should easily clear $2000. Yes it is possible to pass 3..and even possibly approach 4 if you wanted to work a lot and had a couple privates

[anubistaima]

That depends on how you want to live. Do you plan on renting a place for yourself or would you share a house/live with roommates? How much do you go out/drink/smoke? Will you be happy eating local foods or will you be shopping at Western markets? All these things will significantly affect your monthly expenses.

[Sgn Boy II]

[Danaa]

[Sgn Boy II]

My comments assumed "cleared" meant take home pay, not "amount saved after all expenses". Of course "savings" will very greatly from one individual to the next.

For the record, my monthly expenses:
My private, furnished 2 bedroom apartment with a pool and tennis courts: $250
Other bills (gas, water, electric, internet): $50
Food: $200
Bike: purchased ($1,500 new automatic scooter)
Petrol: $20
Entertainment (beer, movie, DVD): $150

Still pretty darn cheap and not an option available in many other places. Of course, I am not within walking distance of central D1, but I have a high quality of life with a more than reasonable chance to save $1,500-$2,000 a month.

[just noel]

[Sgn Boy II]

I have no problem actually stating where I live. Conic Garden on Nguyen Van Linh. I know other expats living here (there are quite a few foreigners here - teachers, professionals, & retirees)...some pay more in rent and some pay LESS. It all depends on one's luck and negotiating skills.

So, now you have live in HCMC a long time and know where you can get a good deal! Hope it is useful!

Of course, this not the only place with such a deal. Again, one must being willing to do some footwork, but deals abound. I have seen people renting small villas (this yr and last) for $500. One hint on the cost of living here...learn to speak Vietnamese...it pays dividends (actually not only financially, but socially and culturally as well).

SB2

[wired]

so, when you say food is $200, what does that mean? Is that going out to eat every day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) or simply buying stuff at the market or whatever?

around how much is the internet service? speed? (i don't care much about great service, mostly curious about price)

entertainment: how did you come up with $150? (beer every now and then? movie every friday, etc?)


If God is willing, I'll be moving to VN in August (uncertain if HCMC or Da Nang yet) and I don't believe my salary will be very high at all, so I'm trying to gauge how much I'll need (I'm mainly concerned about food, and maybe some entertainment like salsa dancing every once in a while. Or, whatever the locals do.)

Thanks in advance! =)

[cheezmonger]

[surreycouple]

Been here 18mths and earn $2000 a month working 25hrs a week, paid holidays, TET etc. Top it up with 10hrs of privates @ $300 a week = approx $3.5k a month. I am done working by 6pm and dont work weekends.

Between myself and fiance we save $3k a month and spend 2 weekends a month in Nha Trang or Mui Ne. Hoi An this weekend, Mui Ne next weekend and Thailand the following week.

If you want to save and get the work its down to you, its easy to find work if you dont hang around De Tham and The Pham drinking or smoking weed between hours....

Just Noel you cant get out much or be good at negotiating - brand new 3 bed, 2 bathroom apartment, swimming pool, gym and tennis courts near Nguyen Van Linh - $400 a month, cheaper in the block but i wanted top floor so i can access the 4000sq m roof terrace! Get a bit out of D1 and there are lots of options...

[s10czar]

FYI:

I'm in regular correspondance with a local girl who is a Realator in HCM and she says $250/month in District 7 (where Conic Garden on Nguyen Van Linh is) is completely bogus.