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Teaching English in Vietnam

Hopefully heading to Vietnam in March 2011, I am a first time traveler and have heaps of questions! Feel free to give me general tips and info!

13 years ago, October 14th 2010 No: 1 Msg: #121023 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

SO! I am female, 22, Australian and travelling solo overseas for the first time next year. I have a degree, and am doing a TESOL course in December so I am not worried about finding work/being qualified. However I do have some questions (in no particular order) like....

1. Are there hairdresser there like there are in say Australia, can I get my re-growth done?
2. Are there gyms etc (I am also a qualified personal trainer..!)
3. Having listened to a some of the "learn Vietnamese" language courses it appears a lot of them do not match up aka orange sounds different in 3 of them.
4. Is there a set dress code, e.g. will I be stoned for wearing short shorts?
5. How hard is it to organise a phone (sim card) and internet access?
6. How safe is it to travel alone for women?
7. Is there a particular airline that I should look at for travelling to Vietnam?
8. How bad is the water/food etc? A lot of what I've read has stipulated that the water should never be consumed, and everything should come out of a water bottle - even when brushing your teeth.
9. Does an international drivers license suffice there?
10. Anything else you think I should know? I realise I am barely scratching the surface of things I need to know so am open to information 😊

Cheers! Reply to this

13 years ago, October 14th 2010 No: 2 Msg: #121030 Delete Edit

Rat on the Road
Kris and Kate

B Posts: 1,411

Dear Michala,

I'll answer your questions in order:

1. It depends on what city you work in. In Ho Chi Minh City there are many westernized hairdressers that can do highlights.
2. Again, it depends on the city. In Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi there are international standard gyms you can go to. Look up 'Star Fitness' and 'California Wow' for examples.
3. There are different dialects of Vietnamese. Northern Vietnamese has different sounds from Southern Vietnamese. It's a really really difficult language to learn because of all the tones.
4. Do you mean a dress code for teaching or just for daily life. In rural areas you need to be more conservative with your dress code, but in cities it doesn't matter so much. My students wear some really short shorts! As a teacher you need to be smart at work. Most schools need you to wear a skirt or trousers and a top that doesn't show your shoulders. Proper shoes, no flip flops. It's important that you don't look like a backpacker at work.
5. Mobile phones are everywhere, as is the internet. Everyone has both. Many people in the big cities have iphones now.
6. Again, it depends where you are, and the time of day. It's a pretty safe country, the danger is of having your bag snatched or your wallet nicked.
7. Where are you travelling from? Why would there be a specific one to use?
8. You don't drink the water. Everyone has water dispensers in their houses/flats for drinking water. Personally we use the tap water to brush our teeth. It's a matter of preference.
9. Are you planning to drive a car here? I'd take a look at the traffic first. You would have to be mad. Most people ride motorbikes. Cars are very very expensive and as a foreigner you can't hire them.

Have you found a job here yet or are you planning to come and get a job when you arrive? If you get a job in advance, the company will help you with what you need to know before you come.

You need to have various injections before you come. Hep A and B, typhoid and tetanus that I can remember. Ask your GP.
Have you sorted a visa yet? Do you know what documents you need to bring to get a work permit?

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13 years ago, October 14th 2010 No: 3 Msg: #121075 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

Thank you Kris!

I was told the ex-pats were a well of useful information and you have just proved it!

In response to your questions, which are in response to mine...!

I am travelling from Australia, most airlines appear to go to Vietnam but there is in some cases quite a large discrepancy between fares for apparently similiar flights and I'm not entirely sure why this is. The people at Student flights will probably be able to help me with that one though.

I am not intending on having a car there, but did figure I would at some stage like to do a motorbike/scooter tour and figured I would need a license for that? It is not so hard to organise an international license. I don't know if I will be travelling afterwards (or where if i do) - just wanted to have my bases covered.

My gp was not as informative as I thought he would be, hence my appointment with the travelling drs clinic (this is more their area of expertise) I will make a note of what you have suggested though and be sure to check it out.

I am doing a Tesol course in a month and they are organising everything. I guess I am just jumping the gun a bit here in an attempt to be prepared.

From what you have said I will aim for a position in Ho Chi Minh City, or nearby.

As for clothing - is it better to wait to purchase clothing there, or should I bring it all over from Aus? I totally agree that it is better to dress professionally for a number of reasons, but with the weather (warmer than here) I was a bit concerned about walking around soaked in sweat!!!

If its ok, could you tell me a bit about your experience with teaching? what school you're at etc? You're the first person I have talked to from Vietnam!

Cheers,
Michala
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13 years ago, October 15th 2010 No: 4 Msg: #121088 Delete Edit

Rat on the Road
Kris and Kate

B Posts: 1,411

Hey

Jetstar do cheap flights from Oz to Asia, as do Air Asia and Tiger I think. No Frills but do you need frills?

If you want to drive a motorbike then eventually you need a VIetnamese motorbike license, although many people don't bother with this. If you have a motorbike license from Oz then it will help you. I don't know how much a driver's license would.

Bring clothing with you. Unless you are lucky enough to be teeny tiny like a Vietnamese girl, it won't be that easy to buy clothes here. Although you can have them tailormade cheaply.

You get used to the sweat!

As for our experience, check out our blog - it's all there. Reply to this

13 years ago, October 16th 2010 No: 5 Msg: #121131 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

Morning!

I would love to have frills, but no I don't need them - dang it!

I will suss out the license a little bit more than, if I'm not likely to be shot or quartered for driving around without one than I probably won't bother with the motorbike license.

Cheers on the heads up about clothes! I think my idea of teeny tiny isn't likely to correspond with Vietnam's version of teeny tiny!

Yay for sweat then eh!

I will suss out your blog! New to this blog/forum idea so didn't even think of it.

Thankyou for all your help. Reply to this

13 years ago, November 9th 2010 No: 6 Msg: #122622 Delete Edit

elviscong
elvis

D Posts: 14

Hey Michala,

It is very safe if you come to Vietnam. It is very easy for you to find a Language Centre in Viet nam so that you become an English teacher, Especially in Hanoi. I have alot of friends who come from Europe teaching English here. If you need more informations or more helps you can contact with me here,

Cheers,

Elvis Reply to this

13 years ago, November 9th 2010 No: 7 Msg: #122625 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

Hey Elvis!

Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated! I will have organised a job before I head over there, and hopefully accomodation etc as well. Is there anything in particular you think I should know before heading over there?

Yours sincerely,
Michala Reply to this

13 years ago, November 9th 2010 No: 8 Msg: #122633 Delete Edit

elviscong
elvis

D Posts: 14

Hey Michala,

There re alot of things for you to discover in Vietnam. But I would like you know 2 of them first.

1. Housing: You should be able to find a house for half of what you earn in a month Just guess ) . You cannot live with a member of the opposite sex who is a citizen of Vietnam without a marriage license. (This is also true about staying in a hotel room.) Sex isn't illegal, just spending the night. You will be offered a long lease, which the owner of the property will most likely break and you will be evicted after the owner sells the property to someone else. ( not true for every case! )

Arrival: Get a six month multiple entry visa from your nearest Vietnam Consulate-General. Also you will need a ROUND TRIP ticket to the country. You won't use the return trip portion and you won't get your money back However,you will find that one way trips cost the same as round trip tickets.

However, you should not worry about that. If you need me to help you to find accomondation, pls fell free to ask me.

Cheers

elvis
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13 years ago, November 10th 2010 No: 9 Msg: #122666 Delete Edit

Rat on the Road
Kris and Kate

B Posts: 1,411

You don't need a round trip ticket to get into Vietnam. You can enter with a single ticket.

It's very hard to get 6 month multiple entry visas now so you will probably end up with a 3 month one. Get as much as you can as they keep changing the rules here and for a while it was nigh on impossible to get a 3 month visa extension. If you can, get a business visa, but you will probably have to get a tourist visa and change it when you get here.

Housing is about $200-400 for a room in a shared house and $500 + for your own apartment in Hanoi and HCMC. Hanoi is slightly more expensive. That should be a lot less than half your wages. Reply to this

13 years ago, November 10th 2010 No: 10 Msg: #122670 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

Thanks for that!

Sure would hope that housing doesn't cost 1/2 of my monthly wage!! I am hoping to go to HCMC, and have my own apartment if possible.

Did your school help you set up any of your housing/visas?

Cheers to the both of you! Reply to this

13 years ago, November 10th 2010 No: 11 Msg: #122702 Delete Edit

Rat on the Road
Kris and Kate

B Posts: 1,411

We got our job from within Vietnam, so I think it's different. They organised our visas and our work permit but of course, from within Vietnam.

We used a housing agent to find a house. There are a lot here who deal with foreigners and act as go betweens between you and the landlord. You can also find adverts for housemates in many expat cafes.

I would suggest arranging housing once you arrive. You will be more famililar with the areas and how to get from your house to your school and how long it will take by different transport, via the one-way system etc. You also want to see where you are going to be living before you get here.

Most teachers stay in hotels for at least a month when they first arrive - to find their way around the city and decide where they want to live. There are lots of hotels around the backpacker area that rent rooms by the month. Reply to this

13 years ago, November 10th 2010 No: 12 Msg: #122738 Delete Edit

elviscong
elvis

D Posts: 14

You should not use a housing agent to find a house, because it will take you more and more money. Staying in a hotel is just a situation and plan for temporary, I think. Therefore, you should ask a vietnamese friend or your friends who living at Viet nam for a long time for help, it will be easier. It would be better if you live with a vietnamese family or a vietnamese friend then you ask them to help you find housing. That means you will be safer, more economical. Not only that you learn a lot more practical as well as culture and people of Vietnam.

Cheers Reply to this

13 years ago, November 11th 2010 No: 13 Msg: #122755 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

Ok thanks, I might aim for the hotel or backpacker lodgings for a month or so first and go from there. You raised many a point, I'm guessing housing in Vietnam isn't quite the same as housing here, esp as I'm more faimilar with the rules and regulations here.

Elvis you raised a point with share housing, may stick with housing with other ex-pats though, otherwise I think I will be completely overwhelmed.

Kate, where abouts are you and Kris?

Reply to this

13 years ago, November 11th 2010 No: 14 Msg: #122760 Delete Edit

Rat on the Road
Kris and Kate

B Posts: 1,411

Check the blog!!

Reply to this

13 years ago, November 21st 2010 No: 15 Msg: #123399 Delete Edit

littlewing
Cindy

B Posts: 897

Hey Michala

Just a word of caution about hairdressers - Id go to one at a "upmarket" hotel or shopping mall - I had my long red hair dyed while in HCMC at a little walk in place and pointed out the color on the chart I wouldve liked - similar to the shade it already was - after the blow dry it came out JET black. I was mortified and the hairdresser said "Ok, you same everyone else now"....took 3 bleach baths to get the black out - i think it was left over sump oil from the 1970s or something.

Re Gyms - as mentioned try the "chain gyms" unless you are into serious weight training - my partner is a bodybuilder and PT and found all the hotel gyms and star fitness gyms not up to standards you are used to in Aus..poorly maintained equipment, standard cross trainer, rowing machines, exercise bike & treadmill type stuff. Hotel gyms tend to be for the less serious fitness freaks but look fantastic. He found a really good gym with weights suited for his size and training regime in District One in HCMC up a little laneway. Have a look around, you would know what the equipment you need is and how to tell if it has been maintained properly Reply to this

13 years ago, November 22nd 2010 No: 16 Msg: #123412 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

Hey Cindy!

Thanks so much for the heads up about hairdressing! I'm not sure my hair would respond well to sump oil :S ! In the big scheme of things hair and its colour doesn't seem like a big thing, but my gosh to me it is! I will definitely look into it more when I am over there and will be sure to make an informed choice!

I was curious about the gyms, it seems that fitness appears to be a very westernized concept - everyone else seems to actually work hard enough in their jobs that they don't need to 'work out'. Crazy stuff! I was actually hoping to find a hotel gym, so once again thanks for the heads up. I am into cross fit so it may take me a little longer to find somewhere. This may sound odd, but I come from a 'Garden City' and we have parks etc everywhere, so there is always somewhere to run around/work out outside. What is it like over there? From all the photos and info it seems like its very built up and crowded so gyms are really the only option - is this true? Also did your partner look at doing any paid pt work over there?

Thanks heaps for your help, wishing you more safe travels!!! Reply to this

13 years ago, November 23rd 2010 No: 17 Msg: #123518 Delete Edit

littlewing
Cindy

B Posts: 897

Heya Michaela

The whole fitness concept is interesting..it is there all through Asia, just seems to be hidden and dedicated to a few enthusiasts. Im a west Aussie so I know what you mean by having the outdoors to keep fit in (I swim in the ocean daily before and after work and so does my partner before he goes to the gym) so when we are travelling he HAS to find a gym. We are ahmm, a LOT older than you (im 44 he's 52) and he is a relatively new to travel (we met just over a year ago on a beach in thailand where he was on his first Overseas holiday) but in that year Ive dragged him through 9 countries so he has learned to mimic weight lifting and point to his muscles (hes 6'4) to hotel staff and tuktuk or taxi drivers to get his point across when English is limited. Weve ended up in some real backwater industrial areas where he has found gyms with serious weight/resistance set ups (although grimy and dingy usually) everywhere we have travelled.

He hasnt looked at working there (we both have jobs here and can only do month on month off at a time escapes) but got mistaken for a famous wrestler in Cambodia so did a lot of showing off/ exhibitions of weights and somehow managed to find an 82 year old former Mr Universe living in the Phillipines to train with for a day. We did discuss the idea of him doing some PT work for expats mainly when we take a year off though. You may find clients within the expat community and word of mouth may get you some work - I think its a great idea 😊

Happy Travels 😊

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13 years ago, November 24th 2010 No: 18 Msg: #123548 Delete Edit

Rat on the Road
Kris and Kate

B Posts: 1,411

There is a company called Saigon Personal Trainers. I have only seen Vietnamese staff so far, but I guess they might employ foreigners. Reply to this

13 years ago, November 24th 2010 No: 19 Msg: #123555 Delete Edit

mkate
broccoli

B Posts: 23

Hey Cindy!

Hahahah I think I will have to have a read of your blog, that post just made me laugh out loud quite a few times!
It seems finding a gym might just be an adventure in itself!

Thanks Kate, I will definitely keep it in mind once I'm over there. Guess I'll pick up the language pretty fast that way... PT's do a lot of counting haha!

Cheers to you both!
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