Job Discussion Forums

tittletattle · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Hi guys,

So there's a possibility I might get a job offer from one or both of these institutes (fingers crossed). I just wanted to know, if I were lucky enough to get offered to both, which one would be best of the two in terms of best company to work for? (Staff treatment etc)

Also, whats life like for a foreigner in Danang?

One more question, let's imagine I get offered $1300 per month in Danang by one fo the jobs. How would this be compared to cost of living? Would it be comfortable? And is there potential to send money home? I realise that this slightly depends on lifestyle choices, but in general, let's say eating off the street, after accomodation with internet etc.

Thanks in advance!

saigon cowboy · Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 84

I think DaNang would be a great place to work. Nice people, very mellow, and a decent beach with clean water.

$1300 should be just right to get started.
The weather is beautiful at night in the winter with a cool crisp nip in the air.

I love DaNang but have never worked there.

mach114 · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 56

The only problem with Da Nang as the same with other towns besides HCMC and Ha Noi is when work runs out , as it sometimes does. There is no where else to go. You will probably have to move to keep your pay check steady. As much as people don't appreciate fly by night schools, in the big cities they can always be a source for extra hours or temporary employment until you find something better. In newer markets, like Da Nang these opportunities either don't exist or there are not very many of them. So, when the work season is down you either take a vacation or go somewhere else. It really depends on your goal, do you want to relax or make money?

Tanker · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 72

tittletattle · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Thanks for the info guys. I will only be going to Danang if I secure a contract there with a school, which obviously means I wil have a set number of hours and pay, so I assume this will be adequate to live on...?

Cat Attack · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

$1300 is a great salary for Da Nang. Most teachers that move from the big cities (such as myself) settle for lower pay per hour, and need to work at 2 or more schools to get suficient hours. Let's hope that ILA or Apollo offer you decent hours. I personally think Apollo would be beter than ILA based on what I've heard (but have no personal experiences with them). Apparently, ILA has some strange "hour bank" system with overtime. Not sure exactly how it works, but it's teacher's have complained about it.

As for the city, Da Nang is lovely. It has basically no nightlife, so if your after parties, don't come here. There are enough expats/foreigners to have friends. You can live in the city, but I find it rather dull and uneventful, so I live 2 minutes from the beach, but only a few minutes on motorbike to the city.

Food at the markets is ALOT cheaper than Hanoi in my experience. Try and use a market that is not in the direct centre, and you will really notice the difference. Fruit and vegetables are very cheap, plus street food is also cheap.

The beach is blisss, uncrowded during the day (unlike Hoi An beaches which are always crowded with tourists), and pictueresque being surrounded by mountains.

Some people like it here because it is a break from a big city, however some may find it boring. It's all up to the individual person I think.

owly jr · Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Ho Chi Minh City

I work for ILA and can report it's generally a great company to work for, save for an occasional lack of hours that some teachers complain about (although I haven't experienced this). The support and environment is great and the "dodgy hours bank" mentioned by the previous poster is not at all dodgy - it's simply a system to deal with the payment of overtime that allows one to be paid a minimum set salary a month (even if you take a lot of time off). In the end, you get every cent you've worked for and, in fact, the payment of all your remaining overtime (below 40 hours) at the end of your contract comes as a nice bonus to most who would otherwise waste all their money on booze each month! Smile

mcsensei · Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 31

From what I have heard, I would opt for ILA. I have heard that there are mgmnt issues with Apollo in Danang. And it seems that for whatever reasons Apollo is feeling the sting of the recession more than ILA.

denise76 · Joined: 10 Jan 2009 Posts: 8 Location: TBD

For what it's worth, I worked for ILA in 2008 - they fulfilled their part of the contract so I was pleased! (bonus payout, etc) Plus they have great support staff and resources. No complaints here. Some months hours were short but other months hours were plenty. In the end it all worked out. I would recommend them.