Previously, Vietnam Teaching Jobs published articles about updating the salary of expat teachers in Vietnam before and after the epidemic. In this article, we will bring the latest information on the predicted average salary for teaching English in Vietnam.

Related articles:

How to negotiate your salary in Vietnam?

Documents to teach in Vietnam legally

What you need to start teaching English in Vietnam

If you have never taught English before, this article will be a good start for you. Although many people think that to qualify to become an English teacher in Vietnam, one needs a relevant bachelor’s degree or an English language focus, the truth is that it is not a thing at all. mandatory event.

On the contrary, other factors such as pronunciation, grammar background, passion for teaching, and ability to work with children, … are very important things to start teaching English in Vietnam.

Conditions to become an English teacher in Vietnam

• Bachelor’s degree, or more than 5 years of teaching experience
• Be a native of the UK, – United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or South Africa. If you do not meet this criterion, you will need to earn your teaching certificate (TEFL, TESOL, CELTA) and other English certificates such as IELTS or TOEFL,…
• Previous teaching experience.
• Love children or have classroom management skills, communication skills, communication skills, presentations,…

>>>Read more: Which documents do I need to teach English in Vietnam legally?

>>>Read more: Teaching English in Vietnam: The Complete Guide & How to Get Started?

Average salary when teaching English in Vietnam

Vietnam is an ideal place for you to start your English teaching career while experiencing life in a country with many beautiful natural scenes. Because the cost of living is quite low, the salary you earn can help you live extremely comfortably.

With this average salary, you’ll also give yourself plenty of time to travel and explore the nooks and crannies of this beautiful country, while also participating in fun, authentic local activities. 

The salary for an English teacher in Vietnam in 2023 can range from 27 million VND ($1100) to 51 million VND (2200$) per month. Nearly a year after the pandemic, English centers and schools have gradually recovered financially and in revenue, so the average salary of expat teachers has also been raised.

There are a few factors that affect your salary. Schools located in larger cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi will offer higher salaries and benefits than schools in the province. The more experience and qualifications you have, the higher your salary will be. Finally, different types of institutions and institutions offer different salaries and benefits. Here are a few examples of salaries at some teaching places in Vietnam:

Salary and benefits package when teaching at a public school

Teaching at a public school in Vietnam can often be an exciting experience for new teachers. Even if the workload is not too high, the large number of students in a class will make you feel a bit overwhelmed. However, some people argue that this makes teaching much more enjoyable.

Students in Vietnam are very respectful of their teachers and some classes can have 50 or more students. This can be a challenge for teachers who are used to small classes, especially if they are not yet effective with maintaining the interaction and participation of a large group of students. When teaching at these places, teachers are entitled to a salary of 1500$ – 2000$/ month when working during the day, 5 days a week. Public school teachers are also entitled to paid leave. Typically, high schools require teachers to have a diploma or standard teaching credential like TEFL if they have no prior experience in the industry.

>>>Read more: Teaching in Vietnam: Schools vs. English centers

Teaching English in Vietnam salary and benefits

Salary and benefits package when teaching at a private language center

This is where the majority of English teachers choose to work and stay. These teaching jobs are often quite popular, especially in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, simply because of the large demand for English learning by students in these places. Large centers often have strict requirements for teaching certifications such as TEFL or TESOL. However, most of the time they allow you to get in first and at the same time acquire this certificate for a certain amount of time.

You can still get a job at an English center without previous teaching experience, as long as you meet the other criteria they set. Language centers are mainly for children after school, and the most common age group is 5-16 years old. Classes at the English center usually take place in the evening or on weekends, roughly outside office hours.

These centers are often chosen by foreign teachers because they provide excellent training and support to staff. Depending on the number of hours worked, you can earn a salary from 1150$ – 1800$/ month.

Salary and benefits package when teaching at a private language center

Salary when teaching English at an international school in Vietnam

International schools are where children of well-to-do families in Vietnam attend. The fees of these schools are always from high to quite high, so the salary of the staff here is also proportional. These schools have smaller class sizes, as well as excellent environments and facilities. These schools often let their students follow an international program, quite like schools in the US or UK.

Getting accepted to work at international schools is not always easy. The requirements for foreign teachers to start teaching English here are also much stricter than in other places, no matter how big a center or public school is. They often prefer candidates with extensive experience and solid expertise. If you meet these criteria, you will have a salary from 1900$ – 2300$/ month and be able to enjoy other attractive remunerations that are designed exclusively for their employees.

Salary when teaching English at an international school in Vietnam

Salary when you are a university lecturer in Vietnam

Although universities in key cities will often want Vietnamese teachers with advanced degrees and experience, many universities still choose to hire foreign English teachers. Here, students are more conscious and focused on learning so the teaching experience will be very different. Working time is during the weekdays, and the salary will range from 895$ – 2200$/ month depending on your workload and responsibilities.

Salary when you are a university lecturer in Vietnam

Teaching English in Vietnam: Private tutoring

If you don’t like the above jobs and are a freelancer, try private tutoring. You can go to a student’s house or to a coffee shop to teach English, and charge by the hour. Some teachers often choose to do these part-time jobs in addition to the hours they have at English centers or other schools. The price of tutoring by expat teachers by the hour ranges from 400,000 – 1.4 million VND/hour ( 15$ – 60$ /hour).

If you are good at promoting yourself and being able to accept the instability of income sources, this could be a great choice. Whether you’re doing this as a side job or full-time, you still have the opportunity to earn a really good salary while teaching English in Vietnam with a private tutor.

The best places to teach English in Vietnam

The best place is the one that makes you most comfortable financially, opportunistically, and in terms of work environment, and will depend on your personal interests and goals. Here are a few of our suggestions:

• Ho Chi Minh City: This is Vietnam’s largest city and a popular destination for first-time expat teachers to Vietnam. It has countless teaching opportunities because people here have a great need to learn and use English.
• Hanoi: As the capital of Vietnam- also a great place to soak up the local culture.
• Da Nang: This coastal city is located in central Vietnam, famous for its golden sands and splendid beaches. Many people choose Da Nang as their destination to live and work because of the low standard of living and extremely beautiful nature with the perfect blend of mountains and sea.
• Ha Long Bay: known for its stunning natural beauty and a popular destination for tourists. There are many opportunities to teach English here, especially English for tourism.
• Nha Trang: This coastal city is located in the South of Vietnam and is also one of the places that attract a lot of tourists. More and more teachers choose to stay here when coming to Vietnam to live and teach English, and the number of English centers in Nha Trang has also increased significantly in recent years.

Where to find ESL Teaching jobs in Vietnam?

If you are urgently looking for a teaching job in Vietnam but do not know where or how to apply, you can take a look at our website: https://vietnamteachingjobs.com.

There are plenty of teaching positions in Vietnam that you may like (both full-time and part-time) with attractive benefits such as accommodation and transportation allowance, a high salary, an approachable and friendly working environment, etc. Make sure that you create your resume and upload your CV and documents so that you can apply for the job easily

In addition, you can join some groups for expats on Facebook here to get more detailed information about the reality of the Vietnamese lifestyle and culture, or click here to learn about the cost of living in one of the most vibrant city in Vietnam.

The post The average salary for teaching English in Vietnam in 2023 appeared first on Vietnam Teaching Jobs.

What’s life like in Vietnam in general?

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing export markets in the world and has grown at an impressive rate since it was opened to foreign investors in 2015. Both real estate buyers and multinational corporations are trying to take advantage of this country’s rise.

Along with this expansion, we have seen rapid price increases in major cities like HCM and Hanoi . Property prices have skyrocketed in central areas, and at the same time we see obvious changes in areas with a high concentration of tourists and expats.

Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

Even so, before stating that living in a place is expensive, you should analyze your general lifestyle. Adding an extra car or room to your apartment can make a big difference.

Living as a single is not that expensive in Saigon. You can easily survive on a budget of $1,000 a month if you are willing to share an apartment and cook at home from time to time. You might even save some money.

However, you should also keep in mind that the country has some of the most expensive international schools in the world when compared to general costs of living and salaries. So if you are an expat moving with your family, make sure you confirm what costs your company will cover.

Although Ho Chi Minh City attracts most foreigners, prices are not comparable to the rest of the country. The third largest city Da Nang is 30% cheaper on average when looking at rental rates and general cost of living.

Cost of rent, food, transportation and more

If you live in Ho Chi Minh City, you will spend much of your salary or savings on rent. Although the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center is 9,140,028 VND (400 USD) nationwide, you will have to pay 10,839,415 VND (471 USD) in Ho Chi Minh City.

It is expensive compared to more developed cities, such as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, where prices are on a similar level.

Rent in Ho Chi Minh city

Rent in Ho Chi Minh city

If you want to live in a 3-bedroom apartment in Vietnam, you will have to pay an average of 20,004,997 VND (869 VND), while the amount will rise to 25,167,339 VND (1,094 USD) in Ho Chi Minh City. If you decide to live outside the city center, you will save around 30%.

Food in Ho Chi Minh city

Food in Ho Chi Minh city

Vietnam is famous for its good food, with excellent cuisine of its own. Besides, there are also many influences and inspirations from French cuisine. Did you know that Vietnamese people love to eat baguettes filled with vegetables, meat, spices and pate? You will not have to pay more than 1 USD for one.

Meals in inexpensive restaurants usually cost 50,000 VND (2 USD) on average, but can reach as high as 70,000 – 80,000 VND. Normally, when you go out for a three-course meal, you will spend an average of 400,000 VND (17.3 VND) in Vietnam. The price rises to 450,000 VND (19.56 VND) in Ho Chi Minh city.

Alcohol is cheap, at least the beer. A can of cold Tiger or Saigon beer costs as little as 20,000 VND in restaurants (0.86 USD). Note that there is also no need to pay a tip, but restaurants sometimes add separate VAT and a service charge.

Transportations in Ho Chi Minh city

One drawback of living in Vietnam is that not even the major cities have efficient public transportation (yet). They are building subways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and we expect the works to be completed in the next few years.

That implies that you will have to buy a motorcycle or go by taxi. If you go by taxi a couple of times a day, it will be a lot of expense. That’s why I recommend you to buy a bike or download the biggest taxi app in Southeast Asia: Grab.

Transportations in Ho Chi Minh city

No need to book a car if you use Grab, you can also book scooters and you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.

You will also need a SIM card if you move to Vietnam. The fees are lower and you can easily get by on 80,000 VND per month (3.5 USD). Two of the most popular service providers are Viettel and Mobifone.

One thing you will notice is that utility rates can be high, at least for electricity. Foreigners often pay up to 100 USD a month for electricity, even in 2-3 bedroom apartments. I have noticed that the electricity rate tends to increase if you cook a lot. Also, don’t forget to turn off air conditioners when you’re not home, as they also tend to increase costs.

To save your cost of living in Ho Chi Minh city

If you want to reduce your cost of living in Ho Chi Minh city, below are some recommendations:

Buy a scooter or grab bike: You will save a lot of money if you buy or rent a scooter instead of taking a taxi everywhere. The second cheapest option is to go by Grab-bike, as you book a scooter instead of a car.

The transportation system is not very developed in Ho Chi Minh City and most foreigners cannot travel by bus. Another option is to go on foot or by bicycle. However, keep in mind that there is a lot of traffic and it is easier to get around by scooter.

Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh city

Shared apartment: the apartments are large compared to Hong Kong and Singapore. You can share a nice flat of 80 square meters in a new building for 700-1200 USD per month. It is common for foreigners to share a flat in Ho Chi Minh City. The good thing is that you will often have access to cleaning services, a gym and a swimming pool.

Avoid the expensive bars: there are many bars and restaurants where you can eat and drink for much less than in the elegant bars and pubs with terraces in the center. If your budget is limited, I recommend you go to a local Vietnamese.

The post Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam appeared first on Vietnam Teaching Jobs.

As a general rule, the largest and most developed cities, such as Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Hanoi, tend to be a little more expensive than the rest, especially when it comes to rent, leisure and food.

The cities with the most foreigners are Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Can Tho, Hai Phong, Dong Hoi, Phu Quoc and Quy Nhon.

Now that you have the basic information, let’s see in detail what is the cost of living in Vietnam.

Cost of living in Vietnam

Rental Price in Vietnam

Depending on the cities these prices will also vary but, as a general reference, we could say that the minimum rental prices in Vietnam in 2020 are the following:

• Room in Shared House from €150 per month.
• Studio or Apartment (± 55m2) from €300 per month.
• 2 Bedroom Apartment from €450 per month.
• 3 Bedroom Apartment from €550 per month.
• House with 4 or more rooms from €800 per month.

NOTE: In order to legally rent a home to a foreigner, the property must have a fire certificate (PPPC). These prices are based on the facilities and the location of the house.

As a foreigner you only have the right to use apartments or condominiums. The purchase is restricted exclusively to Vietnamese.

Cost of living in Vietnam: FOOD

Most people in Vietnam usually cook breakfast and dinner at home but often eat out so this section covers both options.

How much does it cost to fill the shopping cart in Vietnam?

Filling the shopping basket in Vietnam costs about €200 per month per person. This is buying in local markets or in the supermarket chain VinMart, consuming mostly local products and limiting imported products to 10% of the cart.

This includes food, drink, personal hygiene products and cleaning products.

If products imported from Europe, Oceania, Africa or America are purchased, the price of the basket can easily triple.

You can check some famous supermarket’s websites in Vietnam to see the price for yourself. The currency is VND.

How much does it cost to eat out in Vietnam?

In Vietnam it is quite common to eat out very often. Both street food outlets and local restaurants offer delicious dishes at very affordable prices. Vietnam also has good international restaurants but these are usually quite expensive.

• Street Food Plate from 20.000 VND per plate
• Lunch at a local restaurant from 30-50.000 VND per plate
• Burgers from 125.000 VND per person.
• Korean or Japanese restaurant from 300.000 VND per person.
• Expensive International / Vietnamese Restaurant from 1.000.000 per person.

Cost of living in Vietnam: Transportation

To get around the big cities in Vietnam you basically have 3 options:

Grab: An Uber-type application that will allow you to move around the city by motorcycle or car, as you prefer. Its prices are affordable and it is a safe way to move without inconvenience. You can download the app for Android or iPhone.

• Average Motorcycle Price: 15.000 VND/km
• Average Price by Car: 30.000 VND/km
• Bus: Buses are fast, comfortable, cheap and represent the most sustainable public transport option which only costs around 5-10.000 VND.

Motorcycle: The most popular means of transport among locals. Remember that you must have a valid international license and local insurance to drive a motorcycle in Vietnam legally.

• A 2nd hand motorcycle is from 5 million VND
• A New Motorcycle from 15 million VND
• A new bike is from around 2 million VND

Bicycle: Once you have got used to the traffic and the Vietnamese climate, you can venture out to try this option, which in addition to moving in a totally emission-free way helps you stay fit.

Cost of entertainment in Vietnam

In this aspect, Vietnam has everything: From almost free beers to exclusive clubs where you can spend all your money in one sitting. These are some of the prices related to leisure:

• Soft drink from 15.000 VND
• Vietnamese Coffee from 15.000 VND
• Beer (Bia Hoi) from 5.000 VND
• Bottle Beer from 10.000 VND
• Music Festival Ticket from 400.000 VND per day
• Cinema with popcorn and drink from 200.000 VND per person
• Ice Skating from 150.000 VND/ person
• Water Park from 100.000 VND/person
• Street attractions for children from 15.000 VND /trip
• Karaoke from 200.000 VND/hour per room
• Massage from 200.000 VND /hour
• Spa Circuit (Massage + Sauna + Hydromassage) from 300.000 VND /hour

The cultural/musical leisure offer in Vietnam is still not very wide, especially outside the big cities. But even so, the number of concerts and festivals increases in quality and quantity every year.

Hopefully this article has provided you the information you needed about the cost of living in Vietnam. See our other articles about health check and insurance in Vietnam to know more about health-related issues when coming to the country.

The post Cost of living in Vietnam: a complete guide appeared first on Vietnam Teaching Jobs.

1.It’s compulsory for foreigners to pay social insurance

It’s compulsory for foreigners to pay social insurance

The latest social insurance regime for foreigners working in Vietnam is specified in Decree 143/2018 / ND-CP by the Government, issued on October 15, 2018 and the Law on Occupational Safety and Health on compulsory social insurance for foreign workers.

In which, content about subjects participating in social insurance is specified in Article 2 of the Decree. Accordingly, foreigners are working in Vietnam must pay compulsory social insurance when they meet all 3 following conditions:

+ Have a work permit, practice certificate or practice permit issued by the competent authorities in Vietnam.

+ Having signed a labor contract with a minimum term of 1 year or an indefinite term contract with the employer in Vietnam.

+ Still at a working age, not yet at retirement age (60 years old for men, 55 years old for women).

+ Reaching the retirement age according to the regulations on the retirement regime.

+ Participating in signing and negotiating many labor contracts with many organizations, – then you only need to pay for social insurance in the contract with the first organization/ company. 

2.The rate of social insurance payment for the foreign worker

+ From December the 1st, 2018, the rate of social insurance payment is based on the employee’s salary for participation in social insurance:

Employers contribute 3% to the sickness and maternity fund and 0.5% to the labor accident and occupational disease insurance fund.

(the retirement and death fund are not required). The total amount is 3.5%. Foreign workers are not required to contribute to the above funds.

+ From 1/1/2022, the rate of social insurance payment based on the salary fund participating in social insurance is as follows:

Employers contribute 3% to the sickness and maternity fund, pay 0.5% to the labor accident and occupational disease fund and 14%

to the retirement and death fund. The total amount is 17.5%

 + Foreign workers contribute 8% to the retirement and death fund. The total percentage of employees’ compulsory payment is 8% for this period.

The rate of social insurance payment for the foreign worker

Note:

+ The regulated salary for paying social insurance for foreigners includes salary, allowances and the additional amounts. The maximum insurance premium salary is equal to 20 times of base salary.

+ Insurance premium salary does not include benefits and bonuses under the Labor Law.

3.Procedures

Basically, the procedure for paying social insurance premiums for foreign citizens working in Vietnam consists of a number of forms similar to those used for domestic workers. However, if you are a foreigner working in Vietnam, you need to note some regulations.

For foreign workers:

+ Declaration of participation, information of social insurance and health insurance adjusted in accordance with the form TK1-TS and only use this form for participants who have not been issued with a social insurance number or when there is any change of information.

+ When filling in information, the data such as full name, country and gender must be written according to the international phonetic sound.

+ Attached personal documents issued by a state agency must be translated into Vietnamese and have valid certification as prescribed by Vietnam’s law.

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Schools versus English centers

1. Where to work?

You might assume that the last option seems to be the most ideal, which is true, however the higher benefit always comes with greater responsibility, which means it will involve higher expectations from parents,  meetings and feedback. The International Schools with CIS standard even set the bar higher with pages of requirements on expertise, qualifications as well as degree. So that’s why today we will only discuss the pros and cons of teaching at the first two options, as we mentioned before.

2. What to know about teaching in Vietnam?

The first difference between these two institutions is the flexibility of the working schedule. Public/ private schools usually only ask you to teach in a few periods (1 period = 45 minutes) on a daily basis (usually daytime), and you can always have some rest or go somewhere in your spare time/ right after classes, while English centers often have much denser teaching hours. You will also be assigned as the teacher in charge of several classes, which range in different ages and levels. Along with longer hours of lesson preparation, you will also have to keep a close track with your student ability and performance.

However, English centers always make sure that your working process and teaching experience are as comfortable as possible. Facilities (in medium and large centers) are always ensured to be advanced. Their professionalism is also a big plus, not to mention that the small number of learners also make your lessons be deployed in a more diverse and complete way compared to teaching in the large-sized classes of 30-40 students like in public schools.

3. How to adjust your teaching style to different working environments?

A. Teaching in Vietnam: public/ private schools

From my personal experience, teaching at schools in Vietnam is quite inconvenient compared to teaching at English centers. For classes at schools in general, the class size is, in most cases, the major challenge for teachers. You can barely play games or do physical activities indoors due to the lack of room, and somehow the big number of students also seems to be giving you troubles. So here are some advice on how to deal with a large-sized class as below.

• Learn all their names. It’s a difficult task but it’s crucial to make sure not to show them any signs of you being suffocated or overwhelmed by the situation. It would be a great idea to tell them to create a name tag for themselves, which works both ways as they can have some fun while making them.
• Try to speak loudly and keep the instructions short
• Utilize pairwork and teamwork activities to have a better management over them

Followings are some suggestions of games for teaching at private/ public schools

• Board games- students are often into games, especially games that they can play with other students in class. Find some printable games to advance your student’s experience and practice in the classroom!
• Word association games- this game is able to be conducted no matter how many students you can have in one group. It will get even more exciting when you set a timing rule while playing.
• Chinese whisper game- a really fun game that is easy to be paired with any types of practice within the classroom. You don’t even have to make the students sit in a group by turning around whatsoever, as this game is generally played in rows from back to front.
• Group presentation- a classic form of team work that plays an important role of any child’s practical skill development.
• Snowball fight- in case, for some reasons, you haven’t prepared ideas for practice activities, this game would be a life-savior. Let them have some fun throwing paper balls around and answering questions/ making a sentence, based on the information inside the balls.

You can also check out other articles of us to find more teaching tips and classroom tricks to better engage your students in the lesson here.

B. Teaching in Vietnam: English centers

If you want to be fully committed to the career of teaching English in Vietnam, a language center is where you belong. However, there are numerous English centers from the professional to the ‘’so-called’’ ones, so make sure you do some good research on them before considering being a part of it. A quality English center consists of these criteria below

• Good facilities including air-conditioners, a projector, white board, toys and tools (for kid classes), a computer, a teaching assistant, good sets of table and chairs, mattresses (in case you need space for some physical activities), nice wall decorations, and a sufficient source of teaching supplies ready to be used
• Transparent payment and bonus policy, it doesn’t have to include lots of benefits or perks, just make sure that you always know who to speak to or what department/ individual is responsible for whatever the problems that may occur regarding the above matter
• Good management system both online and offline
• A quality working office machinery set such as a printer, scanner and good storage equipment.

Another significant feature of a good English center can also be spotted by the recruitment criteria and the feedback people make about them on online forums and discussion groups. A good center would have a high-standard in hiring their teachers since they have to maintain their reputation and education quality. Nevertheless, you can also find out about what those centers are really like by joining online communities and threads about teaching English in Vietnam, so that you can have the most genuine overview of them before taking up a teaching job in Vietnam.

The post Teaching in Vietnam: Schools vs. English centers appeared first on Vietnam Teaching Jobs.

As the demands of studying English in Vietnam becomes higher, thousands of foreigners come here every year to be English teachers. In this article, we will tell you more about the difficulties in finding English teaching jobs in Vietnam and how to solve these problems, based on the experiences of many teachers who have been working in Vietnam’s education field.

1. Visa and Work Permit:

All of the visitors traveling to Vietnam for the first time will be required to have the correct type of visa organised before they arrive. If you plan to get a job in Vietnam for more than 3 months, you will also need to have a work permit. To obtain a work permit, your employer will apply at least fifteen days prior to the work start date to the provincial Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. The process of issuing a work permit usually takes up to 10 business days.

Key things to note in relation to the visa and work permit:

• You must have both a visa and a work permit to be able to work legally. If you important to note that your previous record is checked each time so if you have broken any entry laws such as illegally overstaying your visa etc., it is very unlikely you will ever get anything more than a tourist visa in the future
• Your employer in Vietnam must apply for your visa to get you into the country and then apply for the work permit.
• The process of obtaining a vis and work permit is very complicated and time consuming so do make sure that all the paperwork is correct so that you can get it right the first time.
• Due to the cost of the visa and work permit, it is recommended that a contract of at least one year is obtained to offset these expenses.
• Because they are so difficult and expensive ($$$$) to get, foreigners should note that any contract less than 2 years is probably not worth considering to come all the way here in Vietnam.

You will need a work-permit to get an English teaching job in Vietnam

2. Labour Contract

• Local labour laws consider all labour equal. Other than job specifications, social insurances and immigration requirements, foreigners are otherwise equally considered in the eyes of the Labour Code of Vietnam. The Labor law is very important in Vietnam and is often referred to – make sure that you take the time to read the English version.

• Getting things in writing is very important in Vietnam from simple things like asking parents to sign that they have dropped off their child to signing that they have read an information booklet. This is also true with contracts so rather than simply reading it through quickly you should take the time to study each aspect in detail. If there is anything that you are not happy with then get it changed in writing rather an only orally – this is not legally binding and will mean nothing.

• Please note that although you may consider your contract a confidential document, the contents will probably be disclosed to others. This is simply a cultural norm and has no malice.

3. Take the time to research the background of your employer.

Yes – this is not an error – check your employer. Make sure the company is real, make sure the shareholders are real, make sure the address is real, make sure the company registration is real. Make sure the person talking to you is real.

• “Come on, it cannot be that bad.” Yes, it can be. It has happened badly before. You don’t get to read them openly online is due to the courtesy of expats to be politically correct, going with the flow with the local culture. So how to know?

• The best way to check out the background information of your employer is to join “closed” Facebook groups which focus on English teaching jobs for expats in Vietnam. Open groups that can be found are often infiltrated by the employees who want to whitewash their own tracks or provide negative comments regarding their competition.

• With a real closed group run by 100% expats you will find lists of employers/companies that are blacklisted for non-payment of salaries, as well as information regarding those who do not keep to their contract conditions and those who use the contract/ /permits/visas against you as an expat. If you find your employer on that list for any reason at all, you should seriously reconsider the offer or start serious negotiations so that you have more immediate upfront terms so that if do go wrong then you will have money saved and housing will have been paid in advance etc.

• It is important to note that for many companies your employer (or the CEO/Gen Dir/MD/boss) is NOT the legal rep listed on the firm’s registration official papers. This can cause legal difficulties if things don’t go well and you wish to take legal information so do check out the company prior to signing a contract as much as possible.

• Just remember, in Vietnam, the company legal rep is the recognized legal person to conduct transactions such as the signing of ALL contracts pertaining to the business. So as long as the signatory on the contract is not the legal rep on the VN business registration certificate, it should ring a loud alarm bell for you to relook into all the above points.

You should check the background of your Employer very carefully before applying.

4. PAY / WAGES / SALARY AND TAXES

Even though you are not a permanent resident of Vietnam you are still required to pay your taxes in full. This is staggered and related to your income – so the higher the income the higher the tax rate.

For many reputable companies the HR will take care of ensuring that your taxes are paid on a monthly basis and will work on the end of year tax forms on your behalf.

However please make sure that you are aware of the following:

It is fair to say everyone works for their wage and salaries. You must pay your taxes. It is common to have an employer do a withholding on your income tax due and settle it on your behalf. But I have seen the lack of experience in handling such matters by “HR managers” who are obviously none the wiser and could not be bothered. So please do know that there are things to note:

+ If your payment on the contract is stated as “Net of Taxes and Social Insurances” then you can have that pay fully without further deductions. Your employer will deal with those tax payments and insurance contributions.

+ In the above event, YOU MUST ASK FOR THE ANNUAL FINALISATION RETURNS REPORT FOR YOUR INCOME TAXES. This is very important. Especially if you are at the end of your contract and returning home or even crossing to another employer. You should note that you may be asked to produce this document should your name be flagged up for tax problems at the customs and immigration both in Vietnam and your home country.

+ DOUBLE TAXATION filing, you will also need the above report to file in your home country to avoid a second round of tax on your income. It is still better to hold a paper official document that says you have been a compliant taxpayer than having none.

+ YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO A TAX REFUND. Laws and regulations in Vietnam change very often and it can happen in your favour depending on how transparent your employer is. If your employer withholds your tax payments at the highest tax brackets and contributes at the top tier of insurance contributions, then there is a chance of refund at finalization. Why ? this is due to a max cap of such contributions stated by law. And if there is such a refund, it will be done after the annual finalization tax report is completed.

+ Having children affects your rate of tax quite dramatically so make sure that you make sure that your employer knows that you have dependents and that you would like this to be on the tax forms.

+ You can don’t ask about this report and if allowed, this refund will be conveniently “overlooked” by employers or HR… if it does not get paid to you because you left the company then it has to go somewhere…that will be left to you to find out. Or not. It is your money after all.

+ Severance Benefit. YES, expats do get them. As long as the contract ends amicably without extension. You should be paid a severance allowance of 50% of your stated monthly salary for every 12 continuous months of work completed prior to departure. This is a mandated payment by law. Not all companies declare this to their employees yet still declare it to the tax authorities so do make sure that you let your company know that you are aware of this law.

5. Where to apply for the right English Teaching jobs in Vietnam?

You do not have to go to Vietnam and apply directly before you start looking for your English teaching jobs. Instead you can carry out a lot of research and try to secure work prior to leaving. The first thing to do when searching for work in Vietnam is to check out the prestigious job sites such as Vietnam Teaching Jobs. This is a well-established company who have provided thousands of teachers with a decent job. Moreover, is in partnership with many well-known and quality schools and English centers such as VUS, Apollo, ILA, Amslink, YOLA, EIV Education, etc.

You may also find English teaching offers on social networking sites such as Facebook where you can join in groups dedicated to Vietnam. LinkedIn is also a professional social network that is also very useful for finding English teaching jobs.

Using The Vtj Website To Secure An English Teaching Post

Vietnam is an ideal place to teach English, not only because it is relatively easy to gain a post, the work is adaptable and the students are enthusiastic but also because Vietnam is an amazing place to explore – from the literature, food markets and motorbikes to the incredible diverse landscapes across the country.

If we have wetted your appetite to start a new adventure – to get away from the dull and dreary 9 to 5 then take a look at www.vietnamteachingjobs.com to gain an insight into the wide variety of wonderful jobs that are just there waiting for you.

Alternatively, simply email us at: info@vietnamteachingjobs.com and we will help start you on the path to a new adventure in Vietnam.

The post The Difficulties When Finding English Teaching Jobs In Vietnam appeared first on Vietnam Teaching Jobs.

Why do the salaries of teaching abroad can vary so much from place to place? How can you ensure a fair salary when you start teaching in a new country? How can you ask for a promotion if you think it is time? This article will answer all the questions for you.

How much do teachers make abroad?

The answers to this question are limitless! At the top end of the scale, teaching abroad can pay a salary that allows you to save money and have a decent life; on the other hand, at the lower end, many teachers have to live on a limited budget and they have to work for multiple schools to make ends meet. Your salary mainly depends on your teaching destination.

Therefore, it is important to consider your motivations before you choose where to go. Are you looking for a cultural experience, a chance to make money, or a mix of both? If a high salary is a priority for you, you can quickly narrow your search down to destinations that fit the bill, such as the United Arab Emirates or Japan. If you want to experience the cultures and traditions, you will have to accept the average teaching salaries in that area.

It is crucial to consider the potential salary in context. A seemingly low salary might actually stretch further than you think depending on the city’s living expenses.

How do I know if I will make enough money to teach abroad?

Firstly, you need to do some research on the average salary of where you expect to go. It would be easier if you ask directly the school administrators when you have an interview with them (It is possible that you may only know where you will be placed after the job offer has been made). 

Next, you should Compare your potential salary to the cost of living to fully understand how your monthly payments will translate in real terms. Also, take into consideration whether the school provides housing, health insurance, and airfare for their teachers.

Furthermore, you will need to define how “enough money” looks for you. Obviously, you have to pay for essentials but you also want to spare some money for your own interests. 

Going beyond that, you should think about what kind of lifestyle you want to have overseas. What do you see yourself doing on the weekends? Will you take trips to the nearby cities? Will you need to fly home at any point?

Finally, get yourself a list of options and compare so that you can see which destination will fulfill your desire. 

How do I know if I’m getting a fair salary?

Once you’ve worked out whether your salary will be workable in the country you’re going to, it’s time to take a closer look at your contract.

Here are some things to look out for:

• Will your salary only pay you for classroom teaching hours or does it also cover other tasks such as lesson planning, report writing, watching students at break times, etc.? Checking with your the school administration can help you get an overview of what your weekly responsibilities will be.
• Do you agree with all the clauses in your contract? Make sure that all the clauses benefit you otherwise you will not receive any privileges. 
• If you want to supplement your income, take a look at whether your contract allows you to work for competitors, or provide private or online tutoring.
• How does my contract compare to others? Take a look at the standard salary for teachers in the country where you are working and what kind of benefits teachers are usually given to see the differences and similarities. 

What can I expect to be paid with my education and experience?

This really depends on where you plan to teach. Some organizations have clear pay scales (such as South Korea’s EPIK program) and others do not.

It is obvious that teachers with a qualification such as TEFL or TESOL certificate will receive a higher salary. Teachers with a teaching license or bachelor’s degree in education also have more opportunities in teaching at international schools, where salaries are generally comparable with what you would be earning at home. A master’s degree will even do you better! 

A good first step is researching what the average salary bracket is and place yourself in that bracket based on your teaching background. Then, bring up any experiences and qualifications when you interview with the school administrators and ask them about the pay scale. 

How can I negotiate a raise in my salary?

I don’t think I’m being paid enough. How can I negotiate a raise?

Negotiating salary

This seems to be easy but it is actually a hard task: how do you ask for a higher salary? Should you even try? To put it simply, yes! Not being paid what you are worth is demoralizing and infuriating; however, negotiating a higher salary can be easier than moving to an entirely new school. In fact, some would say it’s worth trying to negotiate your salary, even if you are unsatisfied with it because there is no harm in asking.

Asking questions

Having said that, how you ask is crucial. Some cultures might consider it is rude if you ask for a higher salary before you sign a contract with them. Others expect you to haggle a little over the details of your contract. Whatever your relationship with your school is, you need to be polite, friendly and choose the appropriate moment to bring up the subject under any circumstances. Also, doing some research about how salary negotiations are typically approached in this particular country will help you become more comfortable when asking.

Hiring process

If you try to negotiate a raise during the hiring process, it is best to wait until you have been offered a job. Make sure you know the average salary for teachers in the area to give you an idea of how far to push your negotiations and remember to bring up any experiences or qualifications you have.

Another technique you could try during the hiring process is to seek out other job offers in the same country or city. Letting your current employers know that you are in demand from schools that pay higher wages will push them to pay you more.

Post-hiring

If you want to renegotiate after being employed, you need to show your strong performance and prove how you are qualified for a higher salary.

Rather than putting too much pressure on yourself, be patient, and think of the first negotiation as a way to open a conversation. If your first request for a raise is refused, ask what criteria would make them agree to a raise in the future. Then, put a time frame in place so you can go back in 2 to 6 months, with all the criteria they ask for and make your request again.

Beyond money

Another aspect you could consider is negotiating for something other than cold, hard cash. Your school might not be in a position to pay you more but maybe they could increase your benefits by offering extra holiday days, a nicer apartment, or other privileges. Thinking beyond money could result in a win-win negotiation for you and your school.

Working for great schools

Finally, it is obvious that everyone aims to work for schools that prioritize high qualities. Seeking out employers who strongly invest in their school’s value will let the school administrators know that it is worth investing in good teachers.

Choosing Vietnam as a teaching place is a good decision for foreign teachers. Vietnam is not only an easy-to-develop, low-challenging environment, low cost of living but it is also a place with many cultural and traditional aspects to explore.

If you are still wondering about a reliable address to apply for teaching, visit Vietnamteachingjobs.com – our website specializes in providing jobs for foreign teachers in schools and prestigious centers in Vietnam! Or send information to email: info@vietnamteachingjobs.com for the fastest support!

Source: teachaway.com

The post TIPS FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS: HOW TO NEGOTIATE SALARY? appeared first on Vietnam Teaching Jobs.

You’ve made the decision that you want to teach English abroad somewhere and the possibilities of location are endless, so why choose Vietnam? It’s one of the questions we ask in our interviews as everybody has a reason for wanting to teach here. The majority of answers include previously travelling here and word of mouth through friends/forums. This article explores some of the best reasons why teachers love working in Vietnam and why it is one of the best international teaching hotspots in the world.

The opportunities

Vietnam is still a developing country where the amount of English speaking people are still relatively low in comparison. As a result, there has been a sharp rise of English classes in recent years that develop a need for native speakers to lead the next generation forward and to continue the development in Vietnam. University students and millennials are realizing the importance of learning English to fulfill their own goals of being successful and to further their own career which resultantly is creating the demand for more teachers.

Teachers are not just limited to teaching children or students either; there are a growing number of internationalized companies in Vietnam that use English in their day to day operations. This has created more opportunities in corporate classes as well as tutoring for specific personnel.

The salary prospect

It is very difficult to ignore the potential earnings of those teaching in Vietnam. A full time role here can easily bring between $2000-$3000 per month for native English teachers, with part time/ cover work ranging between $18-25 per hour, which for most, meets or exceeds their homeland wages. A full time role here can be as little as 25 hours a week, with part time roles being an option on top of full time work. The amount of expats has risen five fold since 2004 and for those travelers who look for some short term work before continuing their travels can often find themselves temporarily living here to fund their next adventure.

The price of living

The cost of living in Vietnam compared to the salary prospects is very low. Of course it will vary in price all over Vietnam, but for HCMC you can rent a modern, hotel-like apartment with a swimming pool and amenities from as little as $300 a month. Most expats I have met eat out for every meal as it almost works out cheaper  – a Banh Mi can be found for as little as 10,000 dong with some other local Vietnamese dishes starting from 25,000 dong, just over a dollar.

Day-to-day expenditure such as fuel, data for mobile phones and public transport can also be picked up very cheaply in comparison to other countries. Many people are able to save half their paycheck (or more) from teaching whilst still living a comfortable life.

The scenery

Outside the teaching bubble, Vietnam has so much to offer as a country. From breathtaking landscapes, incredible food and culture, the Vietnamese way of life, there is always something to love about Vietnam for everyone.

The students and the teaching!

There’s a different mentality in Vietnam that I have not seen elsewhere. Children as young as 3 can speak English at the same level as a natively English speaking child. It is taught as a core subject in public school with some international schools only teaching in English. At the other end of the scale, University students can actively be seen trying to make friends with westerners in parks and touristy areas just to practice their English. The outlook of University students in Vietnam compared to those back at home in the UK is astounding; they look forward to classes, raring to improve their English skills, there is a real sense of passion from the students that make teaching out here far more rewarding.

Teachers are able to express their creative ability without feeling the stress of being regulated by OFSTED or similar examining bodies. Whilst TEFL/TESOL/CELTA courses offer guidance and material, teachers are able to experiment with learning techniques to find the best one to suit them and the class they are teaching.

Of course, I am biased towards Vietnam as I really enjoy living here, every day is different. The toughest decision for those who have decided to come teach here is where to teach.

The post Why you should choose to teach in Vietnam? appeared first on Vietnam Teaching Jobs.