Vietnam
Communicative Activities for Teaching IELTS Preparation Courses
Why Vietnam
Teach English in Vietnam: a unique experience for certified teachers seeking adventure.
Vietnam offers a unique experience to certified teachers looking for adventure. Enjoy sunny beaches, mountain forests, and a rich culture that balances the old with the new.
The first step to teaching English in Vietnam is deciding where to go. Smaller provinces offer less when it comes to wages; however, housing, food and transportation are usually included. Better paying cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offer wages between $15–$25 USD per hour and will ask you to work 15–20 hours per week as a requirement of your contract.
Job Market
Most English teaching jobs in Vietnam are in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Most ESL institutes are located in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. These schools have been operating for over a decade and are run very professionally by experienced expatriate teachers with an established career in Vietnam.
Teachers can apply for TESOL jobs directly from the comfort of their homes because schools sponsor the visa before you arrive. Some schools use recruitment agencies to help with the process. OnTESOL offers free job placement services in Vietnam — our services include job placement assistance for Amslink and a list of ESL schools for teachers who want to apply for TESOL jobs on their own.
Salary & Benefits
English teacher salary in Vietnam: earn $1,400–$2,000/month plus accommodation.
Teachers earn US$1,400 to $2,000 per month, plus accommodation, vacation pay, and other benefits. Hourly rates in the two major cities run $15–$25 per hour for standard ESL work, with IELTS teaching starting at $25 per hour for experienced instructors.
| Employer Type | Typical Pay | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| English Language Schools | $15–$25/hr | Small classes (10–15), well-equipped rooms, curriculum support |
| Public Schools (K-12) | Entry-level | BA + accredited TESOL required · larger classes (30–40) |
| International Schools | Highest tier | Best facilities · B.Ed or K-12 teaching license required |
| IELTS Centers | $25+/hr | 2+ yrs ESL experience preferred · exam-focused curriculum |
In smaller provinces, housing, food and transportation are usually included in your contract. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the higher hourly rate and modest living costs mean teachers typically save a meaningful portion of their monthly earnings.
Where to Teach
Types of English teaching jobs in Vietnam: language schools, public & international schools, or IELTS centers.
Vietnam’s English teaching market splits into three broad categories. Each suits different experience levels, credentials, and teaching styles.
English Language Schools
Small Classes
English language schools in Vietnam offer after-school lessons to young learners and adult English classes such as English conversation or Business English. They offer teachers a better work environment and well-equipped classrooms. Usually the class sizes are relatively small in language schools (10–15 students per class) as opposed to teaching in a public school where you can expect classes of 30–40 students.
Language schools have higher hiring standards and require accredited TESOL certification with Practicum such as TESL Canada or CELTA. Smaller class sizes and higher quality of staff allow for more creativity in the ESL classrooms and teachers are encouraged to support the curriculum with their lesson plans.
Public Schools vs International Schools
K-12
Many K-12 teachers are hired to teach English, math, and science in Vietnam. Public schools offer entry-level opportunities to those with a BA in any area and an accredited TESOL certificate, while International Schools in Vietnam require a B.Ed or K-12 Teaching License from Canada or the USA plus accredited TESOL.
International Schools offer higher wages and better facilities — they’re the top-tier option for qualified K-12 teachers looking at Vietnam.
IELTS Centers
$25+/hr
Teaching IELTS in Vietnam is highly recommended for TESOL certified teachers who have more than 2 years of ESL teaching experience. IELTS teaching jobs start at US$25 per hour.
Although IELTS lessons are exam-centered, there is plenty of room for creativity to prepare your IELTS students through communicative and task-oriented lessons.
What to Expect
The challenges of teaching English in Vietnam.
The challenges that most foreign English teachers experience in Vietnam result from the significant differences that exist between Asian and Western culture, and more specifically, certain socio-economic realities of present day Vietnamese society. The education system in Vietnam today is still very traditional, based on rote learning, and very teacher-centered, following a deeply rooted influence on Confucian thought and philosophy.
Results matter in Vietnam. According to government regulations, students are allowed into English language school programs with any level of English, provided that they obtain an IELTS score of 6.0 before the end of their first or second year. Therefore, depending on the program, students need to progress from Elementary to IELTS 6.0 in about 9 or 18 months — while studying their core courses as well.
The Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) method is more challenging to implement in large exam-oriented ESL classes. CLT is more popular in English language schools and IELTS centers where teachers completed an accredited TESOL or CELTA course with a strong focus on lesson planning. English teachers at these private academies are encouraged and better supported with their lesson planning. Many schools offer ongoing training and upskilling workshops on CLT.
How OnTESOL Prepares You
Teaching English in Vietnam starts with lesson planning.
Our online TESOL courses include advanced lab assignments on different CLT lesson planning frameworks, including PPP, ESA, TTT, and TBL. We also offer the unique 10-hour Lesson Planning Workshop for those who want an interactive learning experience with live lectures and group activities.
How to Apply
Apply from home to teach English in Vietnam — schools sponsor your visa before you arrive.
🌐 Apply from Home
Most ESL institutes in Vietnam hire internationally and handle visa sponsorship before you arrive. You can submit applications directly, interview by video call, and sign a contract from your home country. Some employers use recruitment agencies to streamline the process — often at no cost to you as the teacher.
🤝 Free OnTESOL Placement
OnTESOL offers free job placement services in Vietnam. Our services include direct placement assistance for Amslink, plus a curated list of ESL schools for graduates who want to apply independently. Graduates with a 120-hour certificate and a university degree qualify for lifetime job support.
Featured Employer
OnTESOL recommends Amslink for teaching English in Vietnam.
OnTESOL graduates receive free job placement assistance with Amslink, a Vietnam-based partner school. Amslink hires year-round and accepts newly certified TEFL teachers who meet the minimum requirements.
Amslink
A long-established Vietnamese ESL institute run professionally by experienced expatriate teachers. Amslink offers small class sizes, a well-developed curriculum, and full visa sponsorship for qualified teachers applying from overseas. OnTESOL graduates receive direct placement support.
Best Cities
The best cities to teach English in Vietnam.
Vietnam’s ESL market is concentrated in its two largest cities. Both offer strong job markets, established expatriate teaching communities, and competitive hourly rates of $15–$25 USD.
Ho Chi Minh City
Largest market · Southern hub
Vietnam’s largest city and commercial center. Home to the densest concentration of English language schools and IELTS centers, with the strongest demand for Business English instructors.
Hanoi
Capital · Cultural center
Vietnam’s capital and political center. A slower, more traditional pace than Ho Chi Minh City with a large and well-established network of language schools and international K-12 institutions.