Vietnam- Promising Job Market for Foreign Teachers

As the Vietnamese economy continues to grow rapidly, it has created a high demand for foreign workers, particularly for English language teachers.

It is estimated that there are more than 74,000 foreigners working in Vietnam, but the figure may be much higher if it includes the number of foreigners who stay in Vietnam on tourist visas.  

In large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there are more than 50 English language centers which recruit foreigners language teachers. It is increasingly common to see advertisements for English language teachers  in newspapers

Better living standards often come with a buoyant demand for international education, ranging from Kindergarten to High School and University. While international schools employ highly qualified and experienced teachers, there is a growing demand for less experienced foreign teachers at English language centers, including those who have just completed short teaching courses, such as CELTA or DELTA.

It seems rather easy for them to find work as many of the large language centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, such as Apollo Center or Language Link Center, also offer such teaching courses.  

Another key factor which contributes to the increasing numbers of foreign language teachers is their relatively high income in comparison to the low cost of living in Vietnam. Drew Butler used to work in Ohio, USA. But his income was not enough to repay his university debts. So, in 2009, after having saved US$2,000 he came to Vietnam to take a CELTA course. 

After that Drew was employed as a teacher by Language Link and earnt more than US$2,000 per month. Due to the much lower cost of living in Vietnam compared with the United States, he was able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and save more than US$1,000 a month, which allowed him to repay his debts. Drew’s experience is common for many foreign teachers in Vietnam.

Foreign teachers are also attracted by the friendliness of Vietnamese culture and the sense of safety in big cities. There are a wide variety of social and cultural groups for foreigners in Hanoi, such as the Hanoi International Women Club and the Italian People in Vietnam Group, which support and connect the expatriate community.

As Vietnam’s economy continues to grow steadily, it is likely that the demand for foreign teachers will continue to grow. The combination of high incomes, low living-expenses and a friendly culture makes Vietnam an attractive destination for foreign teachers.

                                                                                                                                                      Khoa Le

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