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kbaileyoakes
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 12
Location: Yeosu, Republic of Korea
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 Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: Anyone gone from Korea to Vietnam? |
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I'm sure someone has.
I am wondering about a few things. I am currently working at a hagwon in Korea. I work from 2 pm to 10 pm Monday through Friday with a 20 minute lunch break and one prep hour. In the course of a year, I get two five-day vacations, and all national holidays off.
Comparatively, what are the average working hours like in Vietnam typically? How many days of vacation does the average teacher get? I know this information will vary by school, but I am just wondering about averages.
Also, what is the typical salary vs. cost of living? In Korea, I am able to pay my bills (basically just student loans back in the US and water, gas, and electricity here) and support both my husband and myself on my salary. Would that be possible on the average teacher's salary in Vietnam?
Thanks! |
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tefl peasant
Joined: 09 Oct 2010
Posts: 132
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone gone from Korea to Vietnam? |
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| kbaileyoakes wrote: |
I'm sure someone has.
I am wondering about a few things. I am currently working at a hagwon in Korea. I work from 2 pm to 10 pm Monday through Friday with a 20 minute lunch break and one prep hour. In the course of a year, I get two five-day vacations, and all national holidays off.
Comparatively, what are the average working hours like in Vietnam typically? How many days of vacation does the average teacher get? I know this information will vary by school, but I am just wondering about averages.
Also, what is the typical salary vs. cost of living? In Korea, I am able to pay my bills (basically just student loans back in the US and water, gas, and electricity here) and support both my husband and myself on my salary. Would that be possible on the average teacher's salary in Vietnam?
Thanks! |
I taught in Korea for 3 years in Seoul. Went to another country for one year, and then VN.
The cost of living in VN depends on your life stlyle, understandably.
If you have students loans, I'd stay in Korea. Just my opinion and I am sure others may disagree. |
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I'm With Stupid
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: Re: Anyone gone from Korea to Vietnam? |
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| kbaileyoakes wrote: |
I'm sure someone has.
I am wondering about a few things. I am currently working at a hagwon in Korea. I work from 2 pm to 10 pm Monday through Friday with a 20 minute lunch break and one prep hour. In the course of a year, I get two five-day vacations, and all national holidays off.
Comparatively, what are the average working hours like in Vietnam typically? How many days of vacation does the average teacher get? I know this information will vary by school, but I am just wondering about averages. |
The working conditions in Vietnam sound better to me. 20-24 contact hours is about standard. You prep in your own time, and your salary is based purely on contact hours (unless you're on call or on level testing duty). Classes are typically 2 hours long, including a 15 minute break in the middle (which is paid). I think 20 days paid holiday is about normal. Contract completion and re-signing bonuses are standard. Lunch breaks are over 2 hours (although in reality, most teachers use half of that for prep). Having said all of this, I've never worked in Korea, so I don't have any real comparison to go off. I just know that it would take a hell of a lot of money to get me to accept a job with a 20 minute lunch break.
| kbaileyoakes wrote: |
| Also, what is the typical salary vs. cost of living? In Korea, I am able to pay my bills (basically just student loans back in the US and water, gas, and electricity here) and support both my husband and myself on my salary. Would that be possible on the average teacher's salary in Vietnam? |
Vietnam has a decent salary to living cost, but the key question is whether it's going to offer the absolute funds necessary to pay off a loan. You may have a bigger percentage of your wages left at the end of the month than most other countries, but that's not much use for a student loan. But yeah, I think you should be able to support two people on a full time salary. Your rent will be no different from a single person, for a start. |
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kbaileyoakes
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 12
Location: Yeosu, Republic of Korea
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:14 am Post subject: |
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I probably should have specified that between the two of us, we only pay about $150 a month on our student loans, and that one of mine is nearly paid off, which will drop this down to about $100 very soon.
With that information, I should be okay, right? |
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VietCanada
Joined: 30 Nov 2010
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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| I worked in Korea for 5 years and now I work in Vietnam. I find it easier here. In fact the lessons I learned in Korea have been very helpful. I get about the same pay and it's possible to live much more cheaply here with some sacrifice or appreciation of the local culture. There is quite the dichotomy here where prices are concerned. If you like travelling during vacations there are a lot more options here. Kind of like an Asian version of Europe in that way. |
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Kornan DeKobb
Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 242
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| VietCanada wrote: |
| I worked in Korea for 5 years and now I work in Vietnam. I find it easier here. In fact the lessons I learned in Korea have been very helpful. I get about the same pay and it's possible to live much more cheaply here with some sacrifice or appreciation of the local culture. There is quite the dichotomy here where prices are concerned. If you like travelling during vacations there are a lot more options here. Kind of like an Asian version of Europe in that way. |
Are we talking about the same Korea and Vietnam? Strictly speaking about salary, they may be close, but that is very strictly speaking. In Korea, privates go for $40-50/hr while in Nam it's $20-30. I used to double my salary with privates.
Also, Korea gives you housing, flights, medical insurance, pension, and bonus; VN gives none of them. OK, food's a bit cheaper in VN, and veggies and beer are a lot cheaper, but that's about all you've got to pay for in Korea.
And did I mention Korea is cooler and has skiing? Unless you are a beach fanatic, Sparkling wins, hands down. |
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VietCanada
Joined: 30 Nov 2010
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Kornan DeKobb wrote: |
| VietCanada wrote: |
| I worked in Korea for 5 years and now I work in Vietnam. I find it easier here. In fact the lessons I learned in Korea have been very helpful. I get about the same pay and it's possible to live much more cheaply here with some sacrifice or appreciation of the local culture. There is quite the dichotomy here where prices are concerned. If you like travelling during vacations there are a lot more options here. Kind of like an Asian version of Europe in that way. |
Are we talking about the same Korea and Vietnam? Strictly speaking about salary, they may be close, but that is very strictly speaking. In Korea, privates go for $40-50/hr while in Nam it's $20-30. I used to double my salary with privates.
Also, Korea gives you housing, flights, medical insurance, pension, and bonus; VN gives none of them. OK, food's a bit cheaper in VN, and veggies and beer are a lot cheaper, but that's about all you've got to pay for in Korea.
And did I mention Korea is cooler and has skiing? Unless you are a beach fanatic, Sparkling wins, hands down. |
Depending on your qualifications you can make $1800 to $3000+ a month with more perks than Korea offers. How about return flight paid and a return flight home over the holidays? I know people making $3500. This doesn't include privates which match or better Korea in some areas. I know people who won't work for less than $40/hr. I also know people teaching neighbourhood kids for free Saturday mornings. Privates or working hours for other schools is not illegal here in the same sense as Korea. Nobody hunts you for doing this.
You can live much cheaper here than Korea. Utilities are cheaper here and food can be insanely cheap. Schools can pay your taxes, no pension fees, misc. taxes or health deductions. This easily matches the rent you pay here.
My take home pay here is better than Korea. All costs considered I save more here. It's not dramatic but if you are a real skinflint it can be.
OTOH schools here take teaching more seriously than they do in Korea. Coming in hung over or persistently late from partying all night can get you fired very quickly. Your appearance and behaviour receive much more attention here. A tie is the norm.
Every place has it's good and bad. This place has good money possibilities but you must perform to take advantage. Korea is more relaxed but it is definitely more expensive for day to day expenses, fun, living expenses and risk when earning extra income. I found there is more pressure to spend in Korea.
Korea is definitely more friendly with regard to relations with other ex-pats.
Qualified teachers in particular can make a killing here.
Bottom line is that this place is different. It absolutely cannot be said that you save more in Korea. It depends on you and your qualifications. I can save more with ease compared to a hogwon. I have all kinds of vices. Korea is for kids. |
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Kornan DeKobb
Joined: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 242
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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| VietCanada wrote: |
| Kornan DeKobb wrote: |
| VietCanada wrote: |
| I worked in Korea for 5 years and now I work in Vietnam. I find it easier here. In fact the lessons I learned in Korea have been very helpful. I get about the same pay and it's possible to live much more cheaply here with some sacrifice or appreciation of the local culture. There is quite the dichotomy here where prices are concerned. If you like travelling during vacations there are a lot more options here. Kind of like an Asian version of Europe in that way. |
Are we talking about the same Korea and Vietnam? Strictly speaking about salary, they may be close, but that is very strictly speaking. In Korea, privates go for $40-50/hr while in Nam it's $20-30. I used to double my salary with privates.
Also, Korea gives you housing, flights, medical insurance, pension, and bonus; VN gives none of them. OK, food's a bit cheaper in VN, and veggies and beer are a lot cheaper, but that's about all you've got to pay for in Korea.
And did I mention Korea is cooler and has skiing? Unless you are a beach fanatic, Sparkling wins, hands down. |
Depending on your qualifications you can make $1800 to $3000+ a month with more perks than Korea offers. How about return flight paid and a return flight home over the holidays? I know people making $3500. This doesn't include privates which match or better Korea in some areas. I know people who won't work for less than $40/hr. I also know people teaching neighbourhood kids for free Saturday mornings. Privates or working hours for other schools is not illegal here in the same sense as Korea. Nobody hunts you for doing this. |
OK, then you pm me that $3000 job with return flights. With my advanced degree, I'm qualified.
VN still doesn't give housing. Korea deducts pension - then gives you back DOUBLE at the end of the year! Almost no one gets in trouble in Korea for privates. Maybe you can get $40 in VN after establishing yourself for 3-5 years. |
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VietCanada
Joined: 30 Nov 2010
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Kornan DeKobb wrote: |
| VietCanada wrote: |
| Kornan DeKobb wrote: |
| VietCanada wrote: |
| I worked in Korea for 5 years and now I work in Vietnam. I find it easier here. In fact the lessons I learned in Korea have been very helpful. I get about the same pay and it's possible to live much more cheaply here with some sacrifice or appreciation of the local culture. There is quite the dichotomy here where prices are concerned. If you like travelling during vacations there are a lot more options here. Kind of like an Asian version of Europe in that way. |
Are we talking about the same Korea and Vietnam? Strictly speaking about salary, they may be close, but that is very strictly speaking. In Korea, privates go for $40-50/hr while in Nam it's $20-30. I used to double my salary with privates.
Also, Korea gives you housing, flights, medical insurance, pension, and bonus; VN gives none of them. OK, food's a bit cheaper in VN, and veggies and beer are a lot cheaper, but that's about all you've got to pay for in Korea.
And did I mention Korea is cooler and has skiing? Unless you are a beach fanatic, Sparkling wins, hands down. |
Depending on your qualifications you can make $1800 to $3000+ a month with more perks than Korea offers. How about return flight paid and a return flight home over the holidays? I know people making $3500. This doesn't include privates which match or better Korea in some areas. I know people who won't work for less than $40/hr. I also know people teaching neighbourhood kids for free Saturday mornings. Privates or working hours for other schools is not illegal here in the same sense as Korea. Nobody hunts you for doing this. |
OK, then you pm me that $3000 job with return flights. With my advanced degree, I'm qualified.
VN still doesn't give housing. Korea deducts pension - then gives you back DOUBLE at the end of the year! Almost no one gets in trouble in Korea for privates. Maybe you can get $40 in VN after establishing yourself for 3-5 years. |
International schools looking for experienced teachers with teaching degrees give these benefits to lure teachers from their home countries. If you're qualified apply. You don't know this? I find it to be common knowledge here in HCMC.
No one gets in trouble for privates or working for other schools in their off time here. In Korea you can only legally work at the address on your visa.
VN doesn't give housing that I'm aware of but I know many teachers paying $200 to rent a two story house like me or less for less. OTOH some pay $500 or so for what amounts to a higher end furnished condo in NA.
I had about 10% deducted from my pay in Korea. That amounted to over $200. Cost of living is less here.
The catch is that this country expects a professional aspect from their teachers and you have to work at building your income through contacts, experience and hustling. Don't think you'll jump off a plane with your backpack and an English BA and automatically make more than you do in Korea. That won't happen. |
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Mr. Kalgukshi
Mod Team
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Posts: 6613
Location: Need to know basis only.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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If unlocked at some point in the future, this thread quickly needs to focus on living and teaching in Vietnam. If not, it will permanently disappear.
The Korean board exists for discussions regarding living and teaching in Korea. Separate registration is required.
From the top of this forum:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=83795
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=77552
Moderators on this board do not engage in public on board discussions. Messages directed to Moderators should not be posted here. The PM feature exists for this purpose.
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