Ho Chi Minh City Program FAQs
Questions about Ho Chi Minh City
What is an average program day like? What's the schedule?
Class time is generally 9:00 am to 4:45 pm (Monday – Friday), with mid morning and afternoon breaks and a lunch break. For approximately two weeks, you will be preparing to teach—learning all of the things you need to know in order to be successful in the classroom. For the other two weeks, you will actually be teaching each morning and preparing your materials in the afternoons.
How many students are enrolled in the program each month?
On average we have about 8-14 students enrolled in each program, most of whom are American, British, or Canadian.
What is the TEFL job market like in Vietnam? Will I have trouble getting a job after I graduate?
The TEFL job market in Vietnam is excellent at the moment. With just a little patience, you will certainly locate work in no time, usually in the area of your choice. In the past few years TEFL International has had a very high success rate for helping students secure jobs locally.
What is the average teaching salary?
The average salary in Vietnam is about 1000 - 1500 USD per month, though of course this varies depending on what type of school or company you work for and whether you work full or part-time.
Does TEFL International offer any sort of flight discounts to Vietnam?
While TEFL International is not involved directly with flights and travel arrangements we would like to recommend STA Travel for all of your travel needs. They offer competitive rates, flexible return flights, and travel insurance. Please visit them at www.statravel.com/teflcourse/ for more information.
What kind of students will I be working with in the teaching practice portion of the course?
Local Vietnamese students attend the classes for the trainees' teaching practice. Vietnamese students are very keen and enthusiastic, and all students come to classes purely because they want to learn to speak English!
What will TEFL International do to help me secure employment?
Our knowledgeable staff is available to assist you in resume preparation, interview consultation, and application procedures. Course graduates are also given lifetime access to our extensive database of job openings with contact information and details of institutions all over the world.
Do I need a Visa to enter into Vietnam? How long can I stay?
All visitors to Vietnam are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after arrival date. Only nationals of Thailand, The Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan can stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 30 days without a visa. Citizens from all other countries must obtain a valid visa upon arriving in Vietnam. In most cases, getting your visa from a travel agent rather than directly through the Vietnamese embassy can save time and headaches. The travel agency doing your visa usually needs a photocopy of your passport and two or three photos. Please visit the Vietnam Embassy's website for the most accurate and up to date information regarding visas. Tourist Visa Tourist visas are valid only for a single 30-day stay. The visa specifies the exact date of arrival and departure, thus may must solidify your travel plans well in advance. You cannot arrive even one day earlier than your visa specifies. And if you change your plans and postpone your trip by two weeks, then you'll only have 16 days remaining on your visa instead of 30 days Business Visa There are several advantages in having a business visa: such visas are valid for six months, issued for multiple-entry journeys and will look more impressive when you have to deal with the authorities. Also, you are permitted to work if you have a business visa. Business visas can be prearranged through a local sponsor in Vietnam. If approved, you must receive confirmation from the sponsor and then go to pick up the visa from a Vietnamese embassy abroad. It is also possible to arrive on a tourist visa and make arrangements locally for a business visa.
Is there a dress code for class?
In Vietnam, teaching is a highly respectable profession so you will need to dress accordingly when teaching. Men: Button-down shirts, trousers, a tie, nice shoes that aren't trainers/sneakers... something you'd wear to a job interview. Women: Shoulders should be covered; sleeveless shirts are acceptable, but very thin straps or tank tops are not. No low- cut necklines or very short skirts. Bare midriffs are not acceptable, even when lifting arms up. Open-toed shoes are acceptable. Good walking shoes and sandals that can be easily removed are recommended especially when entering temples and people's homes.
Being only 10.5º north of the equator and 5m to 10m above the sea level. Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate. There are two main seasons: wet and dry. The wet season (summer) lasts from May to November (June to August are the wettest months). During this time, there are heavy but short-lived downpours almost daily, usually in the afternoon. The dry season (winter) runs from December to April. Late February through May are the hottest months, when it's also very humid, but things cool down slightly when the summer rainy season begins. Temperatures vary little with seasons, averaging 26ºC in January and 28ºC in July. Summer daily high are usually in the low 30s, while in January the overnight lows are about 21ºC. Average humidity is 80%. Annual rainfall averages 1979mm, most of which occurs during summer. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Ho Chi Minh City was 14ºC.