Job Discussion Forums

[DNK]

How many hours a week does the average $350/mo local work (and my anecdotal hearsay confirms yours regarding pay)? I'm under the impression that typical local wages are $1.50-2.50/hr when you adjust the salaries to the hours worked (in A/C-less, dingy, open-air, noisy, cramped workplaces).

And what about benefits (excluding the workplace)? Some of the better schools have them, and they aren't negligible.

20:1 is still a large overstatement, but 8:1 may be more accurate for hourly once prep time is accounted for. In US terms, that's like making $160/hr (at what, 10% tax?). I would say that's a good wage regardless of the fact it's only worked 20-25 hours a week. I suppose we're the professional consultants of Vietnam then...

I also think 30+ hour weeks are more common than is being said, especially taking into account privates. I know at least a couple teachers doing 35 just at the school right now (more around 30-33), and another that was over 40 when we talked back in March or April. That's what they've claimed, at least, and I see no reason to doubt them. I've done about a month this summer at over 30 without asking for it. Definitely not the norm, 35+, but also not non-existently rare either.

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Just checked the web again and the US State Department, for 2010, set the annual per capita income of Vietnam at $1,168. That's pretty much the number I went on. However, it just occurred to me that that figure will include citizens who are not working. True, the unemployment rate here is small (but there also seems to be plenty of kids around) and most people seem to work much longer than the regular 40 hour week, but the 20:1 figure that I gave, as others have stated, would be wrong. Sorry everyone! Having said that, I do know that it is very possible for an unqualified teacher to earn, under the table, $20,000 a year or more while teaching less than an average of 25 hours a week. What the correct ratio between the illegal TEFLer/citizen is, I'll leave to others to say as I think I should probably take a break from statistics for a while .

[isabel]

The wage for a Vietnamese worker is between $50-$150 US a month. If you are talking about average, you are accounting for doctors who may make upwards of $500 a month. $500 is considered a damned good wage. Now if you consider that family lives on the $50-$150, you can see that if you, as a westerner, live wisely, you can save a good deal here.

Inflation has been bad, but food is still cheap. A beautiful guest house, with utilities, daily maid service, laundry, etc. included, in one of the best districts is a splash out at $400 a month.

I read all of the scare stories about Vietnam here on the board before coming. I wanted to be here, and have been here a year now, and love it. I save a lot of money and have a good time. I work hard, but life is so much easier than it is for folks back home these days. I am grateful.

[bobpen]

$400 a month is still paying too much... Unless you've got a hot tub w/minibar in there or something.

I will however agree with your $50 to $150 pm wage for the average saigon/vn worker.

[LettersAthruZ]

[haller_79]

They must sense something about you.

[isabel]

Service here is funny. It is either all or nothing at all. You can go into a restaurant and have 3 or 4 servers hovering over you at all times.

The fact is, the wages are incredibly bad. What exactly is the motivation to quit what you are doing and help that white guy who probably won't buy anything anyways? Even if he does purchase, it won't mean a dong extra in your pocket. I find most of the Vietnamese I come in contact with to be incredibly good-natured, given the circumstances. Either there is an incredible high level of collective amnesia, they are amazingly forgiving, or, most likely, exceedingly pragmatic.

I believe that where ever you are, if you can't like the locals and treat them well, move on. It is their country, and they don't deserve abuse from arrogant outsiders.

[bobpen]

[DNK]

Dunno about this wage thing. What I've picked up from students and odd local friends has put the average closer to $300/mo (I know, selection bias). One local I know is going through the job search process right now, and most of the jobs she's looking at are in the $300-400 range, and the jobs she's worked before have been likewise save one (that she constantly complained about due to it being heavily underpaid at $150/mo). Now, she has a degree (fwiw), but if a fairly recent grad can pick up $300/mo jobs with relative ease, I can't imagine the average is going to be $100-150, even if there's a large segment that makes that or less.

That said, I'd rather compare my salary to equivalent workers, rather than the people sweeping the streets. That means decently-educated college graduates with a few years of experience and office/teaching jobs. I'm sure my salary versus CEOs here isn't a high ratio, and I'm sure 20:1 versus the trash-women is low-balling myself, but I guess neither is a demographic worth comparing oneself to in this case.

[isabel]

[partymop]

Wow, people seem pretty jaded about teaching in vietnam but I guess thats to be expected from an esl forum. The worst things are said about korea but I'm leaving here with nothing but good things to say of my experience here, so to each there own.

So what I'm gathering, correct me if im wrong, but the best thing for me to do if i want to work there for six months is just show up on a tourist visa, get a place to stay in the area I want (likely HCM city) and then just look around for work? Get a proper work visa later or dont?

[DNK]

Sounds about right. Come here on a 3mo tourist visa, see if you like the country/city enough to live in it long-term first, pound the pavement, string along tourist visas or get a work permit later.

The italicized point is a fairly important one. HCMC isn't the most livable place on Earth, and I've heard worse about Hanoi. There are other cities, but there's a reason the vast majority of posts/posters are discussing the two big ones.

[isabel]

I absolutely love Vietnam, but I am not unrealistic about what to expect.

I haven't lived in Hanoi. Most people I work with have and they much prefer HCMC. One can have a fairly easy life here and still save money. The food is great, and the climate is too- if you like tropical.

I also quite like Korea- but I like Vietnam more. The only country I would never return to is Saudi Arabia.

[haller_79]

[haller_79]