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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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 Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:14 am Post subject: |
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| generalgiap wrote: |
I am very aware that Hanoi is a different than HCMC. In fact, I consider it a different country. However, generally it's the same issues regarding the Vietnamese people in both the north and south, it's just more pronounced in the north. For example, the Vietnamese are indirect communicators, they also withhold information for thier own benefit, sometimes cheat foreigners and other Vietnamese, loss of face is an issue, generally not very open to new ideas, focus on the short term not long term govt officials can be difficult to deal with etc etc.
In fact, when I have to travel to Hanoi, I find it quite interesting to see these differences. But the interesting part tends to fade quickly and can't wait to get back to HCMC!
Regarding obtaining WP and RP, of course it's more difficult to obtain in Hanoi based on logic and common sense. However, if one gets the WP
in Hanoi, it's nothing but rubbish to state that they have to fly out of Vietnam extend their visa during the duration of the WP.
Regarding obtaining the RP in Hanoi, I believe the Sergeant that it is difficult for teachers.
A-Z, not to be disrespectful, but I have read your posts and I hear the same thing over and over again but you have done nothing about it.
I have no sympathy. Let me give you some free advice, first move to HCMC, if you can't do that, fly to HCMC, get the WP and the RC from by working at a reputable school or through other ways. After that, fly back to Hanoi and live happily there after with your new 2-3 year RP. |
No offense taken -
The General is 150% correct on that if YOU ACTUALLY HOLD A VIET NAM Work Permit, then you DO NOT need to fly out of Viet Nam every three months - North, South or wherever.....
Would I like to reside in The South??? YOU BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR....it'd be an absolute cakewalk compared to what it's like residing and teaching up here.....
Well, I tolerate it simply because with as many difficulties as there are in The North, it isn't OVERRUN with T�y (the vast majority of them can't hack residing and instructing up here), I have a large, firm and stable client base up here, and a few other reasons!
Thank you very much for the advice, General, and I sincerely DO appreciate that, but I do (after MUCH headache and heartache AND A LOT of ca$h) have my work permit......just warning others who are pondering venturing up here about the great time  that I and a couple other people I know have had attempting to obtain the Work Permit and Residence Permit in The North.... |
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AngelinaShu
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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Hello!
Did any one use visa on arrival from www.myvietnamvisa.com ? Is this a valid agency? Should I watch out for anything? or can any one recommend a better agency to receive tourist visa to Vietnam ? |
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DNK
Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 236
Location: the South
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| Can't you just get a visa on arrival without using an agency when you touchdown at an airport here? I mean, I got a letter or something from an agency when I did a run (renewed just fine recently through a different agency (the first did appear to be a bit of a ripoff upon further inspection))? |
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AngelinaShu
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| DNK wrote: |
| Can't you just get a visa on arrival without using an agency when you touchdown at an airport here? I mean, I got a letter or something from an agency when I did a run (renewed just fine recently through a different agency (the first did appear to be a bit of a ripoff upon further inspection))? |
Apparently one must to have a visa confirmation letter and once you land you can receive the real visa. Canadians have to have a pre approved letter before arriving
So i am wondering if any one used myvietnamvisa. and whether it worked well or not. |
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kurtz
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 518
Location: Phaic Tan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:29 am Post subject: |
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| AngelinaShu wrote: |
| DNK wrote: |
| Can't you just get a visa on arrival without using an agency when you touchdown at an airport here? I mean, I got a letter or something from an agency when I did a run (renewed just fine recently through a different agency (the first did appear to be a bit of a ripoff upon further inspection))? |
Apparently one must to have a visa confirmation letter and once you land you can receive the real visa. Canadians have to have a pre approved letter before arriving
So i am wondering if any one used myvietnamvisa. and whether it worked well or not. |
This isn't a travel website but I'll help you out. I've used that website in the past, it's legit. You pay a fee, get emailed to you a visa approval letter, you take that with you, two photos and before checking in you go to the visa office, show them your passport and letter and they'll get you to fill out a form, pay more money for the visa and then you're right. Don't expect a multiple entry visa even if you tick it as the one you want. |
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kurtz
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 518
Location: Phaic Tan
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:35 am Post subject: |
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| I'm not too sure what all the fuss is about here. If you work at a good school, don't they do 100% of the legwork? Are people here freelancing or working multiple part-time jobs? I found the entire work permit thing very easy, just coughed up some notarized copies of my degree and CELTA, health check, crim check and presto, 3 year work permit and a multi visa good for a year. |
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inhanoi
Joined: 22 Oct 2011
Posts: 165
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Same here. The school did it all, and they either paid for everything (including the health check), or they reimbursed me (notarizing, copies). |
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Rabbit81
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| kurtz wrote: |
| If you work at a good school, don't they do 100% of the legwork? Are people here freelancing or working multiple part-time jobs? I found the entire work permit thing very easy, just coughed up some notarized copies of my degree and CELTA, health check, crim check and presto, 3 year work permit and a multi visa good for a year. |
Kurtz,
You are correct - but to a limited degree. A very narrow degree.
There are only a small, small, number of schools that will do this. (I won't name them.)
They are big chain schools. Fair enough.
There are some very well organized schools in Hanoi and HCMC that are worth working at - but they only offer part time, yet consistent hours of work.
Then there are the bad schools, mom & pops, and honest but very small schools.
Only the big chains 1. can afford to sponsor a work permit and 2, provide the hours.
Therein, is the dilemma.
I know a LOT of teacher with ALL of the required documents for a WP, but they cannot get one.
1. If they do it on their own, it may not be done correctly.
2. They may be over-charged 5X the price (like my friend).
3. It may not even be valid, as there are a lot of WP scam agencies operating now.
Not everyone wants to work at, or can work at, ILA, VUS, or Language Link in Hanoi. |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Rabbit81 wrote: |
| kurtz wrote: |
| If you work at a good school, don't they do 100% of the legwork? Are people here freelancing or working multiple part-time jobs? I found the entire work permit thing very easy, just coughed up some notarized copies of my degree and CELTA, health check, crim check and presto, 3 year work permit and a multi visa good for a year. |
Kurtz,
You are correct - but to a limited degree. A very narrow degree.
There are only a small, small, number of schools that will do this. (I won't name them.)
They are big chain schools. Fair enough.
There are some very well organized schools in Hanoi and HCMC that are worth working at - but they only offer part time, yet consistent hours of work.
Then there are the bad schools, mom & pops, and honest but very small schools.
Only the big chains 1. can afford to sponsor a work permit and 2, provide the hours.
Therein, is the dilemma.
I know a LOT of teacher with ALL of the required documents for a WP, but they cannot get one.
1. If they do it on their own, it may not be done correctly.
2. They may be over-charged 5X the price (like my friend).
3. It may not even be valid, as there are a lot of WP scam agencies operating now.
Not everyone wants to work at, or can work at, ILA, VUS, or Language Link in Hanoi. |
PRECISELY.....
I had gotten into a debate with another poster a couple of months ago about HOW the work permit process works ("works"??!??) up here.
What this individual failed to realise is that your mom&pop schools with 200 or so students CAN STILL AFFORD to obtain a work permit for a T�y instructor in The South......
....up here, only your Apollos, your ILAs and a couple of others can afford to and actually do the work permit. Hell, even V.A.T.C.'s Hai Phong outlet was (they still might be?) doing some dodgy deal where their instructors would hand over their passports and, magically, a week later, a 3-month visa extention stamp would be stamped on their passports.
Glad I got mine through connections I have......The North is a s----y place to freelance....unless ya really enjoy trips to Bangkok every three months. |
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kurtz
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 518
Location: Phaic Tan
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:30 am Post subject: |
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Ignorance is bliss.
For those abroad reading this; get yourself into a good school that gives a work permit, if the hours aren't big enough for you, tutor/2nd part-time job and it's all good.
If you don't have a degree or a decent teaching certificate, maybe Vietnam (or ESL) isn't for you unless you want to fly out of the country 3-4 times a year which works for some but I couldn't deal with that crap. |
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inhanoi
Joined: 22 Oct 2011
Posts: 165
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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AthruZ: "doing some dodgy deal.."
Again, there is no need for this. As kurz says, sign a full time contract with a legitimate school, if you want to earn more then take on some tutoring. If you don't have the credentials then move on to another country.
Word is that a large number of "schools" in Hanoi were shut down last week in a serious sweep by DOET officials. So the employment options in Hanoi have narrowed. |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| kurtz wrote: |
Ignorance is bliss.
For those abroad reading this; get yourself into a good school that gives a work permit, if the hours aren't big enough for you, tutor/2nd part-time job and it's all good.
If you don't have a degree or a decent teaching certificate, maybe Vietnam (or ESL) isn't for you unless you want to fly out of the country 3-4 times a year which works for some but I couldn't deal with that crap. |
Emmm-kay.....come on over and try it!
Like the major school/centre that drops the ca$h to PAY for your Work/Residence permit (usually ONLY on a 20+hour per week contract) is gonna allow you to do privates on the side....ummmm-hummm.......
| inhanoi wrote: |
AthruZ: "doing some dodgy deal.."
Again, there is no need for this. As kurz says, sign a full time contract with a legitimate school, if you want to earn more then take on some tutoring. If you don't have the credentials then move on to another country. |
See above....
NOT TOO SURE if either of you are aware of the hối lộ (bribe) cost for a Work Permit for either - a school or a freelancer up here (prolly never hadta pay for your own) - but it generally goes between $750USD and $1200USD in The North.......
....soooooooooo, after dropping that amount for your Work Permit - a major school/centre is NOT going to put into the contract that there WILL BE NO OUTSIDE GIGS FOR YOU, THE TEACHER???
....and they DO pop that into the contract....and I have a friend who was employed at one of these major centres/schools who DID ignore that clause.....
....she got released from her contract and was told that ".....it's best that you leave Ha Noi....."
But, hey.....if you say so......
Last edited by LettersAthruZ on Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:40 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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Point being that, yeah, if you lock into a contract with one of the large schools/centres in The North that pays you enough to live in Ha Noi....by all means - take it and go with it!
But certainly don't expect to be able to do privates or freelance outside of your contract......
....words gets around! Truss me on this one - I had gotten warned on this MYSELF.... and as mentioned above, a friend of mine (who worked at a different school) got the can for taking private tutors..... |
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kurtz
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 518
Location: Phaic Tan
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:04 am Post subject: |
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You're losing control a bit A-Z.
I work for a biggie, they know full well I and several others moonlight on the side. It's only an issue if you can't cover for sick teachers.
I've also heard things are getting tough here in regards to work permits. Apparently there are guys from the Dept. Edu going to all the schools and making life very hard for those employing teachers without work permit. |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 1:03 am Post subject: |
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| I've also heard things are getting tough here in regards to work permits. Apparently there are guys from the Dept. Edu going to all the schools and making life very hard for those employing teachers without work permit. |
As I mentioned before, Viet Nam will become (or already is) the next Korea, in that they will be unable to attract a sufficient number of foreign teachers which will lead to a rise in dodgy recruiters.
This is all due to negative attitudes and the backward logic of thinking that if we drive away all of the people who actually want to live in VN by "making life hard", then we'll be flooded with the best teachers the world has to offer.
What VN and other countries need is a clear, consistent and transparent work permit/visa policy as well as familiarization with the concept of incentives i.e making themselves more attractive to those who have the qualifications and experience to choose where they live and work. Otherwise, they simply cannot compete. |
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