Job Discussion Forums

jrizbriz · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:48 am Post subject: Help! VIETNAM VS. THAILAND

Hey guys,

My partner and I are currently based in Thailand. We both have approx. 6 months teaching experience, working with children. I have a TESOL, B.A. degree and a British TEFL certificate. My partner has a British TEFL certificate, an online TEFL certificate and a BA degree. I've worked in a government and a private primary school, for a 2 month internship and one semester respectively. My partner has worked for one semester in a government secondary school.

We've been job-hunting for the past 2-3 weeks, looking for a one-semester contract in a primary school in either Bangkok or Nakhon Si Thammarat. We have a few options (1 semester contract with a secondary school in BKK with a well-known agency, possibility of a primary position in Nakhon with a smaller agency and the possibility of a primary school position in BKK through two other agencies, one of which offers extra after-school classes for additional earnings.)

We both have two solid job offers in Bangkok but we want to save 10,000-15,000 baht a month ($282-$423). With the salaries for these jobs (34,000-37,000/month), this doesn't seem feasible once we factor in accommodation, transport, food & some kind of social life.

SO we're now considering Vietnam. We've read a lot about higher wages (around $20/hour for language centre work, or $1200-2000 a month in a public/private school) and the low cost of living, and it seems like a better option for saving money. However, we're concerned about timing. We gather that the next public/priv school term starts in February, and we need to be earning ASAP. Therefore, we're looking at finding language centre work.

Can anyone offer advice about how quickly you can find work, assuming we put the effort into visiting many schools in person with CVs, and schools we should target?

Any info muchly appreciated, as we're trying to decide whether to stay in Thailand, or take the leap to Vietnam!

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

Here is an old forum post of mine (two years ago now) of my arrival to the country.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=104369

I visited about 15 schools with my CV, ranging from language mills to "proper' international schools. About half of those offered me an interview within a month. Make sure you buy a SIM card and have an unlocked cell phone before arriving! Or just pick up a cheap Nokia or Samsung phone for 200,000 VND ($10) and make due for the time.

Biggest schools are VUS, ILA and AMA. The first two are decent enough workplaces from what everyone describes and the teachers I've met from each are okay folks.

Your plan sounds feasible but be sure that cost of living is rising, rents in nicer parts of town are not cheap. Go equipped with some screw you money while you job hunt. Also, while you're thinking of $1200-2000 out the gate, keep in mind that more likely you're looking at $1600/mo and less than that while your language mill starts giving you hours.

jrizbriz · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:55 am Post subject:

Thanks very much for your reply and the link- a very useful thread!

Encouraging to hear that you were offered interviews from about half of the schools you contacted Smile

Having done some online research, it looks like VUS and ILA are hiring currently so we'll be applying to them.

Can you recommend any cheaper parts of HCMC to live in?

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

Districts 5 and 3. But I lived in 7 and have no regrets.

jrizbriz · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 3:32 am Post subject:

Ok, noted. Also, this isn't a huge factor as we're not in a position to be choosy with jobs on the basis of this, but in your experience, what were you offered in terms of holiday? How easy was it for you to get time off? (I have family coming to visit in December.)

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

My job was rather unique in that it wasn't quite a language mill. I had about a week or two of vacation (more accurately, break from going to the office since I had to design the lessons from scratch!) every eight weeks on full-time salaried contract. The salary was modest - about $1600-1800, but it was more than enough to keep me fed and having fun. I never had an issue with needing to ask for vacation since I would just time my festivities around my scheduled breaks.

Most language mills will suck your Saturdays, Sundays and evenings but keep your mornings rather free. Frankly, I would not expect these mills to really care about your schedule and expect any vacation to be unpaid.

jrizbriz · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 4:07 am Post subject:

Ok, it's always good to be mentally prepared for these things! Thanks again for your help, we're making all the arrangements to make the move to HCMC on Friday!

Dream_Seller · Joined: 01 Feb 2014 Posts: 78 Location: China

I recommend you consider what is more interesting to you? In Vietnam you can work every day of your life if you want but you also could anywhere else teaching English if you want to. To be brief I expect you to have a job in 1 day here but not be able to save until after 1 year, after you settle down here and find a decent place to live, work etc. And yep....be ready...your about to pay about 2-3x the value of everything. It took me many moves to find a decent place to live that was reasonable.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

It is certainly possible to make more $ in VN, but most likely you will be on hourly wages rather than a salary. So, what you actually earn will depend on the number of hours that you are given, which can fluctuate greatly.

Wages in Ha Noi are higher than Sai Gon but the weather can be damp, cloudy and cold.

To compare the two countries in a nutshell:

Thailand = relax and have fun, Viet Nam = work and get bored

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

Never lived in Thailand but I wouldn't describe it as getting bored at all. You have to actually meet people and explore. It's certainly not as wild as I've heard Thailand is but "boring" is a word I don't think I could use. Especially now as the economy has revved up and companies are throwing bigger events. I also found my Vietnamese coworkers to treat me more as a colleague and equal than I hear about most Asian countries treating their foreign staff.

EFL Educator · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 988 Location: Cape Town

Vietnam is boring and the people are rude....Thailand is exciting and the people are friendly...and you get paid in Thai Baths!!!! Very Happy

kurtz · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 518 Location: Phaic Tan

You're looking for a one semester job in a primary school. I assume you're looking at language centre work in Vietnam for a similar time period. Given your savings target, I think you will save practically zero when flight costs are added up, as well as apartment finding, getting fleeced in a new country and miscellaneous nicknacks that might have to be bought.

Stay in Thailand.

EFL Educator · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 988 Location: Cape Town

To The OP,

By all means DO stay in Thailand...and hopefully you will save some Thai Baths too....as well as enjoy life in the Land of Smiles!!! Very Happy

jrizbriz · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 6:17 am Post subject:

Thank you to everyone for your responses.

We are now in Ho Chi Minh. We sent off several online applications before our arrival and both have interviews with some reasonably well-known language schools lined up. We will visit more schools in person this week with our CVs.

Can anyone tell me which types of school/specific language schools generally organise work permits for employees? How long would you need to work at a school in order for them organise this? Is it more common for language schools to not bother with work permits? Also, what is the cost? I read on the following blog that it can cost £500 (approx. $770), but have read on some job adverts that certain language centres will sponsor employees' work permits. I have looked through other related threads, and searched on Google, and am struggling to find a definitive answer.

http://www.ourbigfattraveladventure.com/2014/10/16/whats-like-teaching-english-vietnam/

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276