Language school and K–12 jobs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Low living costs, friendly students and some of the best food in Asia, with jobs from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta. Here's what each role pays, who can apply and how the work permit works.
We recruit for three established employers in Vietnam, from language schools in Ho Chi Minh City to a K-12 school group in Hanoi. Our partners help with your work permit, and our service is free for teachers.
Language schools · Ho Chi Minh City
80+ teaching sites · Young learners to adults
You'll need: a degree and a TEFL (you can apply while studying). No experience needed. 9-month renewable contract.
See the job and apply
K-12 schools · Hanoi
Hanoi · 90+ campuses · 16 to 19 teaching hours a week
You'll need: to be a native speaker with a relevant degree and 2+ years' teaching experience. A teaching licence is preferred.
See the job and apply
Language schools · Nationwide
9 cities incl. Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang · Ages 6 to 16
You'll need: a degree, a TEFL and fluent English. Evening and weekend schedule.
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Get Vietnam job alertsMost foreign teachers in Vietnam work in one of two settings. Language schools are the usual first job; K-12 schools pay more but want experienced, qualified teachers.
| Feature | Language schools, Ho Chi Minh City | K-12 schools, Hanoi | Language schools, nationwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | USD 1,000–1,500 a month, plus bonuses | From USD 2,000 a month net | Net hourly rate, plus bonuses |
| Housing | Furnished housing or VND 5M a month | Included | 5 nights on arrival |
| Hours | Full-time, with paid overtime | Weekdays, 8am to 5pm, 16–19 teaching hours | Evenings and weekends |
| Students | Young learners to adults | Early years to high school, up to 24 per class | Ages 6 to 16, about 16 per class |
| Contract | 9 months, renewable | 12 months | 12 months |
| Experience | Not needed | 2+ years | Not needed |
| Best for | First-timers who want city life | Qualified teachers who want school hours | Choosing your city, starting soon |
Figures are from our partners' current job details.
Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, and families see English as the key to their children's future. Language schools, bilingual schools and international schools have expanded rapidly to meet demand, especially in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
For teachers, that means plenty of jobs, students who are keen to learn and a cost of living low enough to save, travel and still enjoy city life. Vietnam doesn't offer the free housing and flights of Korea or the Gulf on every job, so read each package carefully, but your salary goes a very long way.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's biggest job market for English teachers.
Vietnam's low living costs mean even a starting salary feels generous. Many teachers save a good chunk of their pay and still travel around Southeast Asia in the holidays.
Monthly salary on our Vietnam programmes
A month's rent for a studio or one-bed in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi
A bowl of pho or a banh mi from a street stall
Most motorbike taxi rides across the city with Grab
Up to 24 days a year on some contracts, plus Tet holidays
Many contracts pay a bonus when you finish your year
Here's an illustrative budget for a language school teacher in Ho Chi Minh City with the VND 5M housing allowance, renting their own studio. Your numbers will depend on your city and lifestyle.
| Take-home pay, after tax | about USD 1,400 |
| Housing allowance (VND 5M) | about USD 190 |
| Rent for a studio apartment | USD 350 |
| Utilities, phone and internet | USD 65 |
| Groceries and eating out | USD 300 |
| Grab rides or motorbike rental | USD 50 |
| Weekend trips and travel | USD 150 |
| Going out, gym and hobbies | USD 120 |
| Left to save | about USD 555 |
That's roughly £400 a month, before any completion bonus.
Vietnam isn't the top-paying market in Asia, and on many contracts you'll pay your own rent. What you get instead is a very low cost of living, a relaxed pace and a fantastic place to start a teaching career.
Experienced, qualified teachers can move into K-12 and international schools, where pay starts from around USD 2,000 a month and housing and flights are often included.
Arrive with around USD 1,000–1,500 to cover a rental deposit, your first month and any document costs until your first pay day.
Vietnam's work permit rules set the basics. For our language school roles you'll need:
No Vietnamese needed. Not TEFL qualified yet? See the courses we recommend for Vietnam.
Allow one to three months in total.
An online interview, sometimes with a short demo lesson, then a contract.
Your degree, TEFL and criminal record check need to be legalised for use in Vietnam. Start early, as this step takes longest.
Your school advises on the right visa to enter on and meets you at the airport.
After a local health check, your school applies for your work permit.
Once your work permit is approved, you receive a residence card, so there's no need for visa runs.
A TEFL is required for the work permit on our language school roles, and it's what gets you through a demo lesson with a class of lively young learners. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
£133£279
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
from£63
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
Good to know: your TEFL certificate is legalised along with your degree for the work permit, so choose a provider whose accreditation can be checked. Aiming for K-12 or international schools later? The Ofqual-regulated 168-hour Level 5 TEFL (£239) is at the same level as CELTA.
Our Vietnam roles stretch from the capital in the north to the Mekong Delta in the south. Each city has a very different feel, climate and cost of living.
Fast, loud and endlessly energetic, with the most jobs, the biggest expat community and year-round tropical heat.
The capital: lakes, old quarter streets, French colonial buildings and four distinct seasons, with a cooler winter.
Beaches, mountains and a slower pace in central Vietnam, with lantern-lit Hoi An just 45 minutes away.
Growing cities next to Ho Chi Minh City, with lower rents and the big city a short ride away.
Floating markets, rivers and rice paddies, where you'll be one of only a few foreign teachers.
Seaside Vung Tau and coffee-growing Buon Ma Thuot, for teachers who want a quieter, more local life.
Morning coffee on a tiny plastic stool, pho for breakfast, motorbikes everywhere and weekends in Ha Long Bay, Hoi An or the mountains of Sapa. Vietnam gets under your skin fast.
Contracts in Vietnam vary a lot between employers. Wherever you apply, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Only a work permit and temporary residence card let you teach legally. Avoid jobs that expect you to work on a tourist visa.
Ask whether the salary is before or after tax, and whether it's a fixed monthly salary or an hourly rate with guaranteed hours.
Legalising documents, the health check and the work permit all cost money. Ask what the school reimburses.
Check whether housing is provided or paid as an allowance, and how much a deposit will be if you rent your own place.
Language schools often teach evenings and weekends. Make sure the schedule suits you and your days off are written down.
Sign-on, location and completion bonuses usually depend on staying the full contract. Read exactly when they're paid.
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Most English teachers in Vietnam earn USD 1,000 to 2,000 a month. Language school roles typically pay USD 1,000 to 1,500 plus bonuses, while K-12 and international school roles for experienced, qualified teachers start from around USD 2,000 a month net. Housing or a housing allowance is included on some roles.
Not legally. A work permit for English teachers in Vietnam requires a bachelor's degree, along with a TEFL certificate and a clean criminal record check. Every Vietnam job we recruit for asks for a degree.
Yes, for most roles. Language schools in Vietnam generally require a TEFL certificate for the work permit, and some accept applicants who are still completing one. K-12 and international schools usually look for a teaching licence or relevant degree as well. See the courses we recommend for Vietnam.
Yes. Living costs in Vietnam are low: street food costs a few dollars and a studio apartment in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi typically costs USD 300 to 500 a month. On a USD 1,500 salary, many teachers save USD 400 to 700 a month while still travelling regularly.
Some employers in Vietnam accept fluent non-native speakers with a degree and a TEFL, especially language schools, while K-12 and international school roles usually ask for native speakers. Check the requirements on each job before you apply.
The main school intake is in July to September, ahead of the new school year. Many language schools hire all year round, with starts in almost any month.
Allow one to three months in total. Your degree, TEFL and criminal record check need to be legalised for use in Vietnam first, then your school applies for your work permit and temporary residence card. Our partner schools help with, and contribute to, the cost.
No. Classes are taught in English. Ride-hailing apps, card payments and translation apps make daily life easy, and some employers, including our nationwide language school partner, offer free Vietnamese lessons.
Pick the job that suits you and apply in a few minutes. Our service is free.
We currently have the following programs available in Vietnam
