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TEFL jobs in Vietnam: 2026 guide
Teach English in Vietnam: jobs, visas and pay
Vietnam is one of the busiest TEFL markets in Asia, with jobs all year, a low cost of living and some of the best street food in the world. Here's what you need for the work permit, what language centers and schools pay, what you can save in each city and where to find a job.
Accredited by OTCAC
Used for Vietnamese work permits
Free job support
30-second check
Can you teach English in Vietnam?
Answer three questions and we'll tell you where you stand and what to do next.
Do you have a bachelor's degree?Any subject, from an accredited university
Is your criminal record clean?You'll need a recent background check
Do you have a 120-hour TEFL certificate?Or are you planning to get one
Answer the questions
Your result will show up here.
Your checklist
What you need to teach in Vietnam
Vietnam has tightened its rules, and good schools now hire properly qualified teachers on work permits. Vietnam isn't in the Apostille Convention, so most documents need consular legalization. Native speakers are often preferred, but non-native speakers with strong English are hired too.
Required
Bachelor's degree, legalized
Any subject. Authenticate a copy in your home country, then have it legalized by a Vietnamese embassy or consulate.
Required
Criminal background check
A national check from your home country, usually issued within the last six months and legalized like your degree.
Required
120-hour TEFL certificate
Vietnam's rules ask foreign language teachers for a teaching qualification, and nearly every job advert lists a TEFL. Get it legalized too.
For the work permit
Health check
Done at an approved hospital in Vietnam after you arrive. Your employer will tell you where to go.
Required
Passport
Valid for well over a year, as your Temporary Residence Card can't last longer than your passport.
Often helps
IELTS or TOEIC score
Non-native speakers are often asked for a test score to show their level of English.
The visa process
Getting your Vietnamese work permit in 6 steps
To work legally you need a work permit and then a Temporary Residence Card (TRC). Your employer handles most of it, but you need to know the order things happen in.
- 1
At home
Get TEFL certified and legalize your documents
Order your background check and get it, your degree and your TEFL authenticated and legalized. This is the slowest part.
- 2
From anywhere
Land a job offer
Apply online or job hunt in person. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have the most interviews.
- 3
Before you fly
Get the right visa to enter
Your employer usually sponsors a business visa so you can start the work permit process. A tourist visa or e-visa won't do.
- 4
First weeks in Vietnam
Do your health check
Visit an approved hospital for your work permit health check. It usually takes a day.
- 5
2 to 4 weeks
Get your work permit
Your employer submits your documents to the local authorities and collects your work permit.
- 6
After the work permit
Get your TRC
Your Temporary Residence Card lets you live and work in Vietnam for up to two years, with no visa runs.
Don't work on a tourist visa or e-visa. Some schools still offer it, but it's illegal and can lead to fines and deportation for you. A good employer will always get you a work permit. Rules change often, so always check with your employer and the Vietnamese embassy before you apply.
Salary
How much do English teachers earn in Vietnam?
Pay depends on the type of school, the city and your qualifications. Here are typical monthly salaries for full-time teachers in 2026.
450k to 650k VNDan hour at most language centers, about $17 to $25
Often included
- Help with your work permit and TRC
- A contract completion bonus
- Paid Tet holiday at many centers
- Health insurance at bigger employers
In dollars, 30 million VND is about $1,140 at the 2026 rate of roughly 26,300 VND to the dollar. Housing is rarely included, but rent is low.
Savings calculator
What could you save each month?
Vietnam is one of the cheapest places in Asia to live well. Pick a city and a school to see what a typical month looks like after tax.
Where?
What kind of school?
Your lifestyle
These are rough estimates for one person. Your rent and spending will vary.
Salary0
Costs0
Left over0
RentTax and livingSavings and travel
- Studio or one-bedroom apartment
- Tax and insurance (estimate)
- Bills and phone
- Food (phở to Western cafés)
- Motorbike and Grab rides
- Weekends and fun
When to apply
The Vietnamese school year
Public schools run from September to May. Language centers hire all year, with busy periods before the school year and after Tet.
Public school year
Semester 2
Semester 1
Busiest hiring
After Tet
Back to school
Language centers
Hiring all year round
Best time to arrive: July to August, or just after Tet in February.
Tet: the Lunar New Year holiday in late January or February. Many centers close for a week or two, and it's a quiet time to job hunt.
Summer: June to August brings English camps and extra classes, a good way to start.
Where to teach
The best places to teach English in Vietnam
Hanoi
The historic capital, with lakes, old streets and four seasons. Lots of jobs and a big expat community.
Jobs
Costs
Da Nang
Beaches, mountains and a relaxed pace, with Hoi An just down the road. Fewer jobs, but a great lifestyle.
Jobs
Costs
Smaller cities
Hai Phong, Can Tho, Vung Tau and Nha Trang offer less competition, a real taste of local life and the biggest savings.
Jobs
Costs
Classroom and work culture
What it's like to teach in Vietnam
Vietnamese students are lively, curious and keen to practice their speaking, and teachers are deeply respected. Most language center classes are with children and teens in the evenings and on weekends.
Keep it active
Games, songs and speaking tasks work best, especially with young learners after a long school day.
Help with pronunciation
Vietnamese is tonal, so final sounds in English can be tricky. Lots of fun drilling helps.
Dress smartly
Smart casual is the norm at most centers. Keep tattoos covered in class.
Respect your elders
Age and seniority matter. Greet older colleagues first and stay polite and patient.
Teachers' Day
On November 20, students and parents bring flowers and gifts. It's a lovely day to be a teacher.
Xin chào
"Hello." A few words of Vietnamese go a long way with students, colleagues and street food vendors.
Staying safe
- Wear a helmet and take care in traffic
- Watch for bag and phone snatching
- Check air quality in Hanoi in winter
- Keep a copy of your passport and TRC
Find a job
TEFL jobs in Vietnam: recruiters and job boards
These are the places our graduates use to find teaching jobs in Vietnam. Many teachers also find work by visiting centers in person. You'll also get our full Job Support bundle with your course.
VT
Vietnam Teaching Jobs
Job boardA busy job board for expats in Vietnam, with jobs from kindergartens to adults and a document legalization service.
ApplyTV
Teast Vietnam
Job boardAn Asia-focused job board (the name blends "Teaching" and "East"), with Vietnam roles posted by schools and recruiters.
ApplyCP
Career Plus
RecruiterStarted in 2017 as a charity giving free English lessons to children in Hanoi, and now hires teachers.
ApplyEs
ESLbase
Job boardTEFL jobs worldwide and online, including Vietnam, with new jobs daily and job alerts.
ApplyST
Serious Teachers
Job boardESL jobs in over 40 countries, including Vietnam, all posted in the last 30 days.
ApplyLiLinkedIn
Job board
Plenty of Vietnam ESL posts, many from recruiters. Check who's posting before you apply.
ApplyLooking at other countries too? See all our recruiters on the TEFL jobs in Asia and TEFL jobs pages.
No degree? Teach online
Online TEFL jobs you can do from anywhere
Online teaching doesn't need a Vietnamese work permit for students abroad, so it's a good start if you don't have a degree yet. Always check the visa and tax rules for where you live.
Pr
Preply
Set your own price and timetable. Best if you're happy to market yourself.
ApplyNC
Native Camp
Japan-based, teaching students of all ages in short lessons.
ApplyEn
Engoo
One-to-one lessons with students in Japan and Taiwan.
ApplyPE
Polly English
Teaching young learners aged 3 to 18 across Asia.
ApplyLi
Lingora
Video and audio lessons with Korean students.
ApplyRG
Really Great Teachers
Recruits home-based teachers for online language schools.
ApplyGet qualified
The TEFL course for teaching in Vietnam
A TEFL is part of Vietnam's rules for foreign language teachers. Most language center students are children and teens, so our 168-hour course is a great fit.
Most popular
120-hour Practical TEFL
$59one-off
- A personal tutor and full narrated video
- 2 written assignments graded by your tutor, with helpful feedback
- Resubmit after feedback, and your certificate says "with Practical Assignments"
- 24 months to finish
Kids and teens
168-hour Practical TEFL
$69one-off
- Everything in the 120-hour Practical, including tutor-graded lesson plans
- 40 hours on young learners and 8 on adults
- Full narrated video for the 120 and 168-hour units
- 24 months to finish
Best value
120-hour Premium TEFL
$49one-off
- The full 120-hour course, with human-voice narrated video and subtitles
- Practical scenario tasks and real teaching videos
- Tutor support, plus the lesson plan and Job Support bundles
- 12 months to finish
With every Practical course, a personal tutor grades 2 written lesson plan assignments with helpful feedback within 24 hours, and you can resubmit after feedback. Pass them and your certificate says "with Practical Assignments". Compare all courses
Accredited by OTCAC (20210112A)
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FAQ
Teaching English in Vietnam: your questions
Can I teach English in Vietnam without a degree?
Not legally. A bachelor's degree is needed for the work permit, and schools that offer work on a tourist visa or e-visa are asking you to work illegally. Without a degree, look at Cambodia, online teaching or our guide to teaching English without a degree.
Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach in Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam's rules for foreign language teachers ask for a teaching qualification such as a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate, and almost every language center lists one in its job adverts. A 120-hour TEFL is the usual standard.
How much do English teachers earn in Vietnam?
Most full-time teachers earn about 30 to 50 million VND a month, roughly $1,150 to $1,900, or about 450,000 to 650,000 VND an hour. International schools pay much more for licensed teachers.
Can non-native speakers teach English in Vietnam?
Yes. Many schools prefer native speakers, but fluent non-native speakers with a degree, a TEFL and often an IELTS or TOEIC score do get hired, and some job adverts welcome European and Filipino teachers.
What visa do I need to teach in Vietnam?
You need a work permit and then a Temporary Residence Card (TRC), which can last up to two years. Your employer usually brings you in on a business visa and handles the work permit. A tourist visa or e-visa doesn't let you work.
Do my documents need to be legalized?
Yes. Vietnam isn't part of the Apostille Convention, so your degree, background check and TEFL certificate usually need authenticating in your home country and then legalizing by a Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Start early, as it takes time.
When is the best time to look for teaching jobs in Vietnam?
Language centers hire all year, with busy periods in July and August before the school year and in February and March after Tet. Many teachers find jobs in person in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.
Is the TEFLmasters certificate accepted in Vietnam?
Yes. Our courses are accredited by OTCAC and our graduates have used their certificates for teaching jobs in Vietnam. Every certificate has a QR code employers can check, and our 120-hour courses start at $49.