Job Discussion Forums

booty · Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 94

I've been working in Eastern Europe for over 3 years now, and I'm thinking of moving on.
A person recently recommended Vietnam to me. What is the pay like if I work for an organisation like ILA? Is it a good local salary, which is enough to live on and save some money? (I'm not taling about loads, but enough to save for travelling)
Are there any schools and/or places to be avoided??

mickeyrex · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 65

Hi booty---I, for one, would interested in hearing about your experiences teaching in Europe. As far as ILA goes, the people I know that work there make $13 an hour.

just noel · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 168

UpScope · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 82

ILA pays ok for VN, USD 14 is the bottom of the scale, and the top of the scale is USD19 and if you add in supplements for exams and so on then the rate doesn't look too bad.

Better rates can be had around town at other places like RMIT and ACET but the breaks in the semester dent you big time. Shop before you buy though, weigh up what it is you want. If you have had that sort of experience in Europe you are very employable.

bobo_bt · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Where is the best place to find teaching vacancies in Vietnam? I've tried searching the net but I don't really find all that many

UpScope · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 82

Have a look around the site you are on; http://www.eslcafe.com/joblist/

Also, try tefl.com; http://www.tefl.com/

Daves and Tefl are the two most comprehensive ELT job listings.

bobo_bt · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Cheers, those are the 2 that I check most of the time. I was planning on staying in Korea for another year but I quite fancy going to someplace like Thailand/Vietnam.

just noel · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 168

huxter · Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 41 Location: Hanoi

Having worked in Korea myself and being aware of the security it offers (accommodation, flights, severance etc), it seems daunting jetting off into the unknown but that's without the doubt the best way to secure an ESL job in Vietnam. In Hanoi at least, you'd be very unlucky not to find work after only a day of touring the schools. Everything else tends to fall into place.

Good luck!

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

The site for the OP: http://www.mekongesl.com/

bobo_bt · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

I'd love to hear from people that are either working in Vietnam now or have done so before. Where did you work? / Which part of the country would you recommend? I am working in Korea at the moment, and perhaps I am deluding myself but I hope that I will have a better lifestyle in Vietnam and hopefully a bit more time to myself. Also, what sort of salary should I be looking for? I have only 1 years experience and have also recently gained a 120 hour TEFL certificate.

I would really appreciate any infomation you feel would be helpful.

UpScope · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 82

Lifestyle....... access to affordable gyms every day, language lessons that cost next to nothing, martial arts, cooking, some good book stores, sports clubs, tennis courts, massage lounges, badminton clubs, soccer and squash and a free set of steak knives. I mean really, there are not many recreational services that are not here, that one can't indulge in.

I haven't even begun on the restaurants and affordability of alcohol, lifes' mainstays.

Rents are cheap,housekeepers are cheaper and all you do is relax. The place is made for the eternal ex-pat. It is up to the individual as to how much is enough.

Don Lorenzo · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Toronto, Canada

Upscope,
Can you or anyone else give some exemples of how much one should expect to pay for rent in Vietnam for a 1 bedroom appartment in a safe area, centrally located? Nothing fancy just a safe and cozy place.

Also, is there furnished appartments available in Vietnam? If yes, how much more is the premium for that? Again, nothing fancy, just the basic.

Thanks.

UpScope · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 82

Apartment; you can pay anything from 200 to 350 for a standard sort of place, and upwards of 1000 could easily be found as well. Apartments of the Vietnamese type are plentiful as long as you can handle a little noise and a few random knocks on your door. Bills amount to nothing, just a blip on the radar.

Most people live in share houses where you might pay around the same amount of money and live in a 3-6 story place, roof top garden and all the normal trappings.

Nearly all of the places here in Vietnam are furnished, as long as you like the odd wooden lounge, and i mean wooden, then you will be fine.

caramel · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 57 Location: London

Hello Booty! I will let you know how things go in Vietnam!! Wink