Teaching English in Vietnam – Requirements, Jobs & Salary
Overview
Booming economy, café culture, coastal freedom —Vietnam’s rocket-fuel demand for English lets teachers cherry-pick roles: public-school classes in Hanoi, IELTS prep in Ho Chi Minh City, or beach-side language centres in Da Nang. Live large on ₫15 M: serviced flat, artisanal flat-white (US $2), and street-food dinners for US $1.50. Six- or twelve-month contracts suit digital nomads, while 30-day motorbike visas let you ride the Hai Van Pass on school breaks. A welcoming expat scene means trivia nights, co-working hubs, and weekend trips to Ha Giang or Phú Quốc.
Core Requirements
- A Non-immigrant work visa (usually category LD) lets you enter once; it is converted to a 1- or 2-year *Temporary Residence Card* (TRC) after your Work Permit is issued.
- Employer sponsors the **Work Permit** with the Department of Labour; approval in ≈ 10–15 working days once all papers are in (after a *foreign labour usage approval* ≈ 30 days pre-start).
- The TRC allows unlimited exits/re-entries and is renewable in-country (typically aligns with your contract up to 24 months).
- *Local hires:* Vietnamese citizens teach under domestic rules and do **not** need a foreign Work Permit or visa.
- A bachelor’s degree in **any field** is legally required for an ESL Work Permit (source: International TEFL Academy).
- The diploma must be notarised **and** consular-legalised by a Vietnamese embassy/consulate (VN is *not* in the Hague Apostille Convention).
- Attach a certified Vietnamese translation to the legalised copy for the Work-Permit dossier.
- Law allows 5 + years of *verified* teaching experience *in lieu of* a degree, but it’s rarely accepted and most employers still insist on a degree.
- Mandatory: **120-hr TEFL / TESOL** (or CELTA) *unless* you hold an Education degree or a government teaching licence.
- Licensed teachers (or Ed majors) are exempt from TEFL and qualify for better roles (international schools usually ask 1-2 yrs experience + licence).
- Non-native speakers must show a degree in English/Education **or** IELTS/TOEFL proof *plus* TEFL. Work Permits are generally restricted to *native-level* English speakers—near-native fluency must be proven.
- Provide a **home-country national Criminal Record** issued ≤ 6 months before the Work-Permit application; notarise, legalise, translate to Vietnamese.
- If you’ve lived in VN 6 + months, add a local *Police Check No.1* (Department of Justice).
- Any serious offense (esp. involving children or drugs) = automatic Work-Permit refusal.
- Typical age band for new Work-Permits: **22 – 55**. Over-55 approvals are rare and assessed case-by-case.
- Full hospital health check required: physical, blood tests, chest X-ray (TB), drug screen. Cost ≈ ₫2–3 million; results in a few days.
- HIV is *not* routinely tested for Work-Permits. Bring chronic meds + doctor letter; declare any existing conditions.
- **Offer signed →** Legalise degree & police check (1–3 wks) → Employer secures Work-Permit Approval (2–4 wks) → Receive visa approval letter → Apply for entry visa / e-visa → Fly to VN → Health check + local police reg (1 wk) → TRC issued (1–2 wks).
- **Up-front cash:** ₫35 000 000 (≈ US $1 500) covers visa fees, 1–2 month rent deposit, and first-month living costs until payday.
Hiring Periods
| School / Employer Type | Main Intake | Secondary Intake | Year-Round / Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | May – July | Nov – Jan | High turnover → plenty of last-minute ads in Aug & Jan (for immediate starts after holidays). |
| Public School | Apr – Jun | Nov – Dec | Hire in late spring for September term. Smaller second intake if a teacher leaves mid-year. |
| Private School / Bilingual | Oct – Feb | Mar – Apr | Often recruit 6–9 months ahead to secure visas; some mid-year openings around March. |
| International School | Oct – Jan | — | Aligns with global job-fair calendar; offers typically issued very early for August start. |
| University | Oct – Dec (CVs) → Apr/May offers | Nov (rare spring intake) | Longest lead time; hiring for Sept starts. Spring semester hires only if replacements needed. |
| Language Center / Training School | Mar – Apr & Aug – Sept | Jan – Feb | Year-round rolling hires, with peaks before summer and after Chinese New Year. |
| Private Tutoring | Jun – Sept (summer break) | Jan – Feb (winter break) | Rolling demand; families seek tutors during school holidays (winter and summer). |
Popular Locations
Quick Facts
- Commercial hub – 9 M residents
- Scooter kingdom & GrabBike rides
- ESL pay: ₫20–40 M; IELTS & corp. classes up to ₫45 M+
- Café culture: 3rd-wave espresso for US $2
Climate Snapshot
Tropical monsoon: hot & humid all year (24–34 °C), dry season Dec–Apr with blue skies, andrainy season May–Nov featuring dramatic 3 p.m. showers that clear within an hour.
Weekend Getaways
- Vũng Tàu: 2 h bus – closest beach & seafood.
- Mỹ Tho / Mekong Delta: 1 h 45 – floating markets.
- Mũi Né: 4 h train – sand-dune sunrise & kitesurfing.
- Phú Quốc: 50-min flight – snorkel weekend.
Monthly Cost Snapshot
- Rent (1-bed Thảo Điền): ₫10 M
- Utilities + Internet: ₫1 M
- Groceries & eating out: ₫6 M
- Grab rides + buses: ₫0.5 M
- Total survival: ≈ ₫17.5 M
Why Teachers Pick Ho Chi Minh City
Pros
- Highest VN salaries vs. cost of living
- Endless cafés & global food scene
- Large expat & digital-nomad community
- Direct flights across ASEAN for cheap
Cons
- Traffic & scooter smog
- Humidity 80 %+ much of the year
- Visa rules change frequently—stay updated
Salary Estimates
Click a row to pre-fill the salary calculator below. The midpoint is used if you’re in “Exact amount” mode.
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Australian Dollar (AUD)
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| Item | Range (VND) | Range (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Private school | ₫20,000,000 – ₫40,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Public school | ₫15,000,000 – ₫30,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Language center | ₫18,000,000 – ₫40,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Kindergarten | ₫15,000,000 – ₫30,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| International school | ₫60,000,000 – ₫100,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| University | ₫20,000,000 – ₫35,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Private tutor | ₫200,000 – ₫800,000 / hour | N/A / hour |
Cost of Living
Use the cost of living calculator to estimate your potential monthly expenses and savings.
Click on a salary above or enter one manually to calculate your expenses depending on which area you're interested in.
Select a currency
Australian Dollar (AUD)
Select a location
Click on the table rows to include/exclude items from the monthly expenses calculation.| Item | Range (VND) | Range (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city centre) | ₫10,000,000 – ₫15,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Rent (1-bed, outside centre) | ₫7,000,000 – ₫10,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Utilities (elec + water) | ₫1,000,000 – ₫1,800,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Internet (100 Mbps) | ₫200,000 – ₫350,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Mobile phone plan (4G) | ₫100,000 – ₫200,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Groceries (basic basket) | ₫6,000,000 – ₫8,000,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Meal (cheap restaurant) | ₫40,000 – ₫80,000 / each | N/A / each |
| Bus pass | ₫200,000 – ₫300,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Gym membership | ₫400,000 – ₫800,000 / month | N/A / month |
| Total Living Expenses | ₫0 / month | A$0.00 / month |