HI there!
Sorry for the long post, I have a lot to ask (and will be so grateful for any advice or tips anyone can give!)
My boyfriend and I are travelling to Vietnam next August (2020) once I graduate to teach ESL in Vietnam. We are both currently studying to complete our TEFL courses, and both have degrees (Law and History). We are both White British and English is our first language. We have two options of doing so...
OPTION ONE
- Go through an agency, STA, who will sort out a teaching job for us and 5 months accommodation for approx £850. HOWEVER, this job only pays £550 p/m (approx $700). I know this is considerably low pay from what I've researched, as Ive seen other new teachers being paid $2000 approx. Will this way be easier though, as Im not sure how difficult it is to find accommodation and a job in Vietnam.
OPTION TWO
- Sort it out ourselves, get a job and apartment independently.
Im not sure which option is best, and Id really appreciate anyones advice!
Also - any opinions on where in Vietnam is best to do this if we did go with option two?
Thanks!
Ellen
How easy is it to get a teaching job in Vietnam?
Option two by a long shot. Finding a job is easy, so is finding a place to live. Dont pay an agent, they are basically scammers.
Where to start all comes down to what you are looking for.
.
..erm, hate to sound snarky, but does common sense apply here..? 
OPTION 1: Sure, pay someone else to take money from you
OPTION 2: Correct! READ, RESEARCH, REPLY, THEN; boots-on-the-ground,
turn up, prove your skills, THEN feel free to negotiate...
..works for me... 
.
Dito what colinoscapee said. Just bring your resume and start walking into any school your interested in. You can get steady jobs with better hours at the public schools but the classes are packed and equitment is usually outdated and doesn't work half the time. Also pay is lower in public schools but better than the scammer agencys offer. Demand is higher in middle schools and grammar schools. English centers and colleges are your best bet for higher paying jobs but the hours will likely be limited at the English centers. Colleges will offer good pay and good hours. Good luck. Welcome to Vietnam.
Thank you for your reply!
We are looking to work somewhere that is true to Vietnam (cultural etc) but would like to be near some beaches?
Where are the main spots for teaching?
colinoscapee wrote:Option two by a long shot. Finding a job is easy, so is finding a place to live. Dont pay an agent, they are basically scammers.
Where to start all comes down to what you are looking for.
Thank you for your reply!
We are looking to work somewhere that is true to Vietnam (cultural etc) but would like to be near some beaches?
Where are the main spots for teaching?
Thanks for your reply!
Yes, in reality this does seem the most logical answer! I just wasn't sure how difficult it would be, and whether as this includes accommodation it would be easier. These replies all seem to suggest its not! Thank you for your advice 
Many places will offer substandard accommodation or will give you an allowance to be used toward accommodation. You'll need to discuss this with each potentual employer and, I suggest, you have a good look at the place before you sign the contract.
Jump onto Facebook, there are numerous sites offering teaching jobs.
Agree with the advice given above. Even if an agency is legitimate, it's totally unnecessary to use one.
Since you aren't arriving for another year, you should be contacting the schools directly in order to gauge the level of demand and what your options are.
You can post your CV and view ads on https://www.expat.com here:
https://www.expat.com/en/jobs/social-teaching.html
Lots of ads here and you can post your CV if you want to:
https://vietnamteachingjobs.com
Or, just search online, for example:
69 language schools listed for Vietnam
https://www.eslbase.com/schools/vietnam
You should still remain cautious because some schools may also be a bit dodgy. Also, although there is a lot of demand (VN is now the 15th most populous country in the world: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society/201 … 50622.html), there is also a lot of competition as more and more people arrive with the idea of finding a teaching job.
So, although it is easy to get a teaching job in VN, it's a little more difficult to find a good one. Cities near the beach such as Da Nang, Nha Trang and Vung Tau generally have plenty of people there already looking for teaching work.
However, if you are good at teaching kids, then you should be fine. As I said, have a look at some of the ads and you'll have a good idea of what the market is like.
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