Teach English in Vietnam

Schools in Vietnam usually provide accommodation, though this may be shared accommodation with other teachers. Teachers may be reimbursed for airfare. Employers may contribute 50% to teachers’ medical insurance or the full amount.

Teaching salaries vary across Vietnam, with bigger cities offering higher salaries. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are where you are likely to find teaching positions with the highest salaries, while smaller cities like Da Nang offer lower rates of pay. 

Bear in mind that teaching salaries in Vietnam are reflective of working hours. A lower salary generally means fewer working hours. So you’ll have plenty of time to supplement your income with private students if necessary.

Vietnam is cheap as chips! Or should we say, cheap as pho?

Living in Vietnam costs $700 and $1,000 a month. Because your biggest expense is likely to be your accommodation, you can choose your living situation to suit your budget.

In 2022, Hanoi was the most expensive city to live in in Vietnam, followed by Quang Ning, Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang. Conversely, the Mekong Delta region – including the cities of Can Tho and Cai Be – was the cheapest. 

Saving money in Vietnam is relatively easy, if you don’t splash out on luxury getaways every weekend. English teachers report to save an average of ₫10 million ($450) a month. Private tutoring is big business in Vietnam, as is online teaching, both of which allow you to top up your salary.

Our top tips for saving in Vietnam:

•  Join Facebook groups in your community. These groups can be a source of cheap second-hand furniture or household appliances (if you need), or even jobs.
• Share accommodation. It’s common for TEFL teachers in Vietnam to share accommodation with other teachers, and it’s a great way to save money.
• Buying or renting a scooter or motorbike is a cost-effective option in Vietnam if you are staying in the city long-term. But if you find the traffic a bit overwhelming, the Uber alternative is a Grab bike, which is also a cheap option.

Finding a teaching job in Vietnam is a very straightforward process. Teaching positions are posted regularly online (be sure to check out our Jobs Board) and in relevant Facebook groups.

But before you start applying to teaching jobs, make sure you are qualified with a relevant TEFL qualification. We recommend a Level TEFL 5 course to make sure you are fully prepared. A Level 5 TEFL course teaches you everything you need to know about teaching English as a foreign language – and it looks good on your CV too!

If your TEFL qualification is from an internationally recognised and reputable TEFL course provider, employers respond quickly. It won’t be long before you’ll be psyching yourself up for an interview. With that out of the way and once your contract is signed, your employer will help you sort out your visa and flight tickets.

Alternatively, some teachers prefer to fly into Vietnam (with a TEFL certificate in hand, obviously) and pound the pavements to find a teaching position. Because of the overwhelming need for TEFL teachers in Vietnam, it won’t take long to find your perfect teaching post.