Teach English in Vietnam

To teach English in Vietnam legally you usually need a bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours, a clean criminal record check, a health check and a work permit arranged by your employer, followed by a work visa or temporary residence card. Tourist and e-visas do not allow you to work. Language centres typically pay around ₫30 to ₫45 million a month for a full timetable, and international schools more.

Requirements to teach English in Vietnam at a glance

Do you need a degree to teach English in Vietnam?

For a legal job, in almost all cases yes. Vietnam’s work permit rules for foreign teachers expect a bachelor’s degree, and reputable language centres and schools will only sponsor graduates. Some teachers without a degree find informal work, but working without a permit risks fines, deportation and leaving without the pay you are owed, so we do not recommend it.

Which visa do you need to teach in Vietnam?

Work permit first. Your employer applies for your work permit using your documents. Once it is approved, you can obtain a work visa and then a temporary residence card, which lets you stay for the length of your contract without repeated visa runs.

Visas that do not allow work. Visa exempt entry, tourist visas and Vietnam’s e-visa are for visitors. Teaching for a Vietnamese employer on any of them is not legal, even while your permit is being processed.

Which documents do you need?

• Degree certificate, usually legalised or apostilled in the country that issued it and then consularised for Vietnam.
• TEFL certificate, prepared the same way. Our guide to TEFL certificate legalisation explains the steps.
• Criminal record check from your home country, recently issued. UK applicants usually need an ACRO police certificate: see do you need a DBS check to teach abroad.
• Health check from an approved clinic, often done in Vietnam.
• Passport with plenty of validity, and passport photos.

Document preparation is the slowest part of the process, so start before you fly.

How much do English teachers earn in Vietnam?

Language centres usually pay by the hour, and a full timetable commonly comes to around ₫30 to ₫45 million a month. Public school programmes through agencies pay similar amounts, and international schools pay considerably more for licensed teachers. Living costs are low outside the most expensive districts of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, so many teachers save well. For pay city by city, see which cities in Vietnam pay English teachers the most, and compare countries on the TEFL Salary Index.

What TEFL certification do you need for Vietnam?

A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is the standard expectation for both the work permit and employers. Our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course meets that standard, and the Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL course can be verified on the Ofqual register, which helps with better paid centres and international schools.

Where should you teach in Vietnam?

Ho Chi Minh City has the largest number of jobs and the busiest lifestyle, and Hanoi offers a strong market with a more traditional feel. Da Nang combines city life with the beach, and Hai Phong and other cities have smaller markets with lower costs. Compare them in our guide to the top places to teach English in Vietnam, and read Emma’s story of teaching in Vietnam.

Last updated: 1 October 2026. Pay figures are approximate typical ranges, not quotes. Work permit and visa rules change, so confirm current requirements with your employer and the Vietnamese embassy before you apply.