by Ray Riches*

Many young and middle-aged people get up every morning, sit in traffic or on a train and dream of an adventure travelling through Asia. Many decide teaching could be a means to fund the adventure of a lifetime and every year, over 50,000 foreigners move to Việt Nam to teach English.

However, teaching English is not as easy as it appears from the outside.

Over the past decade or so, the Vietnamese Government has set many parameters around the delivery of English learning in schools and language centres. These rules have greatly affected who teaches English and how it is delivered across the country.

For many years, going back to the 1990s, teaching English across SE Asia was known as a 'Backpacker's Paradise' where travellers would be hired, mostly illegally, to deliver some form of English communication to young people across the country.

A foreigner teaches children in Bắc Giang Province. Photo sgd.bacgiang.gov.vn

Clearly, the skills of the teachers and their motivation to deliver structured learning came under close examination. As a result, the Government of Việt Nam passed a number of decrees to set minimum standards for the industry.

Thankfully, this ended the free ride of many non-registered businesses that thrived on giving local learners a 'white experience'. The focus was on anyone who was Caucasian and it placed little importance on their skills, training or even their native language.

In recent years, however, the skill levels of teachers coming to Việt Nam have greatly improved. Small language centres have failed to attract foreign teachers, and the entire industry is working more within the guidelines of the Government, which has made it better for everyone.

Now, to get a legal position as an English teacher in Việt Nam, you must have the following:

1. You need to have a sufficient level of education.

While it is said that you must have a degree in any subject, the actual wording allows for relevant education and experience. This means you must be able to prove that you are of a sufficient skill level to teach English in Việt Nam.

2. You are required to have a teaching certificate.

Teaching certification can take a number of forms. Most popular with regular language center teachers are certificates including CELTA, TEFL and TESOL, but there are a number of other certificates that are also recognised in this area.

3. You require a work permit.

A work permit is a two-year approval from the Government to give you a licence to work in Việt Nam. When applying for this permit, you will be required to supply a range of evidence to show your skills and experience and you will most likely need to take a medical examination.

A work permit lasts for two years and is attached to your employer. Should you change your employment, you will be required to apply for a new work permit.

This work permit is also essential for you to obtain a two-year TRC (Temporary Residence Card), which is needed as your visa to stay in Việt Nam longer than 90 days.

If you are still outside the country and want to move to Việt Nam, it is advisable to do all the searching and try to gain employment before you arrive in the country. This will make the legal processes a little easier if you are able to begin the applications for your work permit and TRC before you arrive.

In addition, it is advisable for you to use a visa agent to obtain the legal documents for you to live and work in Việt Nam. While it costs a little more, the advice and support are invaluable when it comes to doing the right thing when applying for your permits.

Depending on your level of skill and where you want to work, there are a number of places you can search for work in Việt Nam as a teacher. From social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, to the websites of major schools and language centres, you won't need to go too far to find someone wanting the services of a qualified teacher in Việt Nam.

The major cities are the most common destinations for foreigners because they have good support services and it is where most of the jobs are located. For the more adventurous, you may find work in regional centres, but it is often lower paid and a little less secure than some of the jobs in the bigger cities.

Foreign teachers should have certain certificates to be able to work in Việt Nam. Photo baoquangninh.vn

There is one point of concern that all newcomers must be aware of when coming to Việt Nam for the first time. There have been, over the past decade, a few examples where dishonest operators have opened language centres and had to close due to financial or regulatory concerns. In these rare cases, foreign teachers have lost their salaries, with some not getting paid for up to three months before the closure of the business.

The best way to ensure that your future employer in Việt Nam is legal and working morally with the community is to get references on social media before agreeing to work at any location. Likewise, payment for services may vary greatly between businesses, so make sure your promised salary for teaching is within the accepted limits for the role.

Essentially, native English speakers with qualifications in teaching will be offered higher hourly rates over non-native speakers with similar skills. SE Asian speakers of English, like Filipino teachers, will be offered a rate almost half of that of Western native English teachers.

If you are ready for an adventure and you have a love for seeing people succeed, then teaching English in Việt Nam might be a life-changing experience for you. Take on the adventure and ensure you comply with all the regulations, and your experience in Việt Nam will be one that will be carried in your heart for a lifetime.

Việt Nam really does deliver 'Timeless Charm'. VNS

*Ray lives in HCM City and works as a teacher and freelancer. Apart from teaching, he is a keen runner and bicycle adventure rider. He has visited many parts of the country by bicycle and loves the smaller parts of this beautiful country. After ten years in Việt Nam, Ray has a love and passion for the smaller things and enjoys sharing his experiences with people all over the world.