Job Discussion Forums

[phobic 888]

First I would like to say hello to everyone, and thank you all for everything that you contribute to this site. My question is hopefully a simple one.....I recently got my TESOL cert. and was planning on coming to Hanoi in January. However after reading other forums, and talking to a few people who sounded like they knew what they were talking about, I have been advised to wait until atleast February to travel. Susposedly this is due to the Tet festival. Apparently there are next to no schoold open and therefore I would find it hard to find a job. In fact one person recommended to me to not to Vietnam at all stating that because of the economic situation it is getting increasingly harder and harder to find a job there. This is where I get a little confused. Some say go and some say don't. I would have just applied for a job at an international school but I do not have a BA or any degree for that matter. So I have a dilemma, and hope the members of this website could help me make my decision. Any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[jirikiman]

Tet holiday this year is early--it starts Jan.18 if I am correct. All schools are closing classes, naturally, and winding down. Hanoi in Tet is a ghost town--block after block of locked down shops and restaurants. Last Tet I was going hungry and when I did find a place, the prices were three times normal. There won't be anyone at the schools to interview you until after Tet. and, because of the global recession, you can expect wages to drop--after all if you have dozens, even hundreds of applicants from Western countries knocking on the door, you'd be an irresponsible director to offer $16 an hour when they'll happily sign for $12. Good luck.