FAQ · Updated 2026-06-01
What English Teachers Actually Teach in Vietnam: Students, Classes, and Curriculum
Before you sign a Vietnamese teaching contract, you want to know what the job actually feels like. Who the students are. How big the classes are. What you teach. What a normal week looks like. The honest answers depend on the school type. They are not all the same. Here are the questions, grouped by topic, with clear answers.
Based on 52 unique applicant questions on teaching and students, 1,081 Instagram DMs (2025–2026), and 700+ UP2U placements across language centers, public school partnerships, and international schools since 2017.
School types in Vietnam
The first question most people ask: what kind of school will I teach at? Here is the breakdown by type.
What types of schools hire foreign English teachers in Vietnam?
Five main types. Private language centers are the biggest group. They run after-school classes for kids and teens. Pay is $1,200 to $2,200 per month for non-natives. Public school programs send foreign teachers into Vietnamese public school classrooms. Pay is $13 to $20 per hour. International schools are the top tier. Pay is $2,200 to $3,800 per month. They need a teaching degree plus 2 years of classroom experience. Kindergartens hire teachers for ages 3 to 6. Many are part of language center chains. Pay is similar. Corporate English programs train adults at companies. Pay is $18 to $35 per hour. Most new foreign teachers start at a language center. They move up later if they want.
Does UP2U work with public schools or only private language centers?
Both. Most UP2U placements are at private language center chains. ILA, Apollo English, VUS, Wall Street English, and Yola in Ho Chi Minh City. Apax English, Language Link, and British Council Hanoi in Hanoi. UP2U also places teachers into public school programs. In those programs, private centers contract with Vietnamese public schools to send English teachers. Direct hiring at public schools without an agency is rare in 2026. Most public schools route their foreign hiring through agencies.
Can I choose between language centers, public schools, and international schools?
Yes, but your credentials shape the choice. International schools need a teaching degree plus 2 years of classroom experience. Without those, you get filtered out. Public school programs take most teachers but pay by the hour, not monthly. They work better as a side gig. Language centers are the starting tier for most non-native teachers. They are the most flexible on accent. UP2U Tier 2 includes a fit check. It maps your profile to the school tier that gives you the best first contract.
Does UP2U place teachers in Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes, all three cities. Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest market. About 60 percent of UP2U placements happen there. Hanoi is second at 25 percent. Hanoi has strong groups of Eastern European, Caucasus, and Filipino teachers. Da Nang is third and growing fast at 10 percent. Teachers pick Da Nang for the beach and the slower pace. The other 5 percent of placements go to smaller cities like Hai Phong, Hue, Nha Trang, and Vung Tau when a specific role matches a specific teacher.
Can I request a specific city when applying?
Yes. UP2U Tier 1 and Tier 2 ask for your top two or three cities at the start. The school list and outreach are then filtered to match. Strict single-city choice adds 4 to 8 weeks to the time-to-hire. The job pool is smaller. Teachers who stay flexible across two or three cities sign 30 to 50 percent faster than teachers locked to one city.
Students you will teach
Who is in the classroom? Here is what to expect.
What ages do English teachers in Vietnam work with?
Anywhere from age 3 to 60+. It depends on the school type. Kindergartens work with ages 3 to 6. Primary language centers focus on ages 6 to 11. Secondary programs cover ages 12 to 17. Adult classes go from 18 to 60+. International schools span 4 to 18 across all grades. Most new foreign teachers start in the 6 to 14 age range at a language center. They can shift to younger or older groups after the first 6 months if they want.
What English level do Vietnamese students typically have?
Beginner to lower-intermediate. That is the most common starting level at language centers. The Vietnamese public school system teaches English from primary school. But most students reach foreign teachers with weak speaking skills. They rely too much on textbook English. Students can read and write at a higher level than they can speak. Foreign teachers spend most class time on speaking practice and listening. Not on new vocabulary or grammar. Adult IELTS prep is different. Those students arrive at intermediate to upper-intermediate. They need exam-specific work.
Can I choose between teaching kindergarten and high school?
Yes. Your application file lists an age-group preference. The school list is filtered to match. Teachers who do not want kindergarten get sent to primary, secondary, or adult classes. Teachers who prefer kindergarten get matched to early-childhood chains. The trade-off is real. Kindergarten roles are the easiest first hires. High demand. Fewer credential checks. But they pay the least inside language centers. And they are the most tiring. Long hours of singing, movement, and high energy. Secondary and adult classes pay more per hour. They need stronger lesson planning.
How many students are in a typical Vietnamese English class?
Class size depends on the school type. Private language centers run 10 to 18 students per class. A teaching assistant helps in younger classes. Public school programs put foreign teachers in front of 35 to 45 students. That is the standard Vietnamese public school class size. International schools cap classes at 18 to 24. Adult IELTS prep runs 6 to 15 students. Class size changes your style. A 15-student language center class is interactive and conversation-based. A 40-student public school class is more like a lecture with small-group work mixed in.
What are Vietnamese students like as learners?
Vietnamese students are respectful, motivated, and supported by their families. Education is a big deal in Vietnamese culture. Parents pay a lot for English classes. Strong English opens doors. University. Scholarships. Better jobs. Younger kids are warm and full of energy. Teenagers are quieter and more reserved. That is cultural, not a sign they are bored. Adult learners come with clear goals. Often IELTS, TOEIC, or a job promotion. They are the most focused group. The most common feedback from new foreign teachers in their first 90 days: Vietnamese students are easier to teach than expected.
Curriculum, materials, and daily teaching
How much lesson prep is on you? What do you actually use in class? This covers the daily mechanics.
Does the school provide a curriculum, or do I have to design lessons from scratch?
Most schools give you a curriculum. The standard language center model hands you a textbook, a lesson order, and weekly targets. You teach the curriculum and add your own style on top. Designing from scratch is rare. It only happens at smaller centers, corporate contracts, or private tutoring. International schools have a full curriculum tied to their academic framework. Usually British, American, or IB. Foreign teachers add the energy, pacing, classroom management, and engagement. Not the syllabus.
What materials does the classroom provide?
Standard materials at a language center: a textbook (often Family and Friends or Oxford Discover), a teacher guide with lesson plans, a projector or smart TV, a whiteboard or smartboard, and printed worksheets. International schools give you laptops, tablets, full digital platforms, and rich physical resources. Public school programs are leaner. The school gives you the curriculum and the classroom. You bring extra handouts, flashcards, or digital content when needed. Adding your own supplements is encouraged but not required.
Will I get teacher training when I arrive, or start teaching immediately?
Most schools give 1 to 3 weeks of paid training before your first class. Training covers the school curriculum, the teaching style they want, classroom management, the student tracking system, and how to assess. Big chains (ILA, Apollo, VUS, Apax) have the best programs. Often 5 to 10 days. Smaller centers and corporate contracts cut training to 1 to 3 days. Plan to start teaching on your own within 2 to 3 weeks of landing. You will do some watched teaching during training.
What does a typical teaching week look like?
A full-time foreign teacher works about 100 hours of class time per month. That is 20 to 25 teaching hours per week. Your day is split across two or three teaching spots. Saturday classes are normal. Often the highest-paid slot. Weekday mornings have gaps. Most teachers use them for lesson prep, errands, or rest. Late afternoon, evening, and weekends are busy. The middle of the day is open. International schools follow a more standard Monday-to-Friday 8am to 3pm with longer prep blocks.
What is the demo lesson, and when do I have to do one?
The demo is a 10 to 20 minute recorded teaching sample. You produce it during the application stage. UP2U applicants record their demo as part of Tier 1. The UP2U team reviews it before any school sees it. The demo asks you to teach a short lesson on a set topic. Often vocabulary or grammar. You can teach a real student, an imagined student, or just to camera. Schools watch the demo before they decide to interview you. The demo is often the single biggest filter in the whole process. UP2U Tier 2 gives you a guided review with feedback rounds until the demo is hire-ready.
Subject restrictions: is it only English?
Many applicants ask if they can teach French, Spanish, math, science, art, or other subjects. The honest answer for each is below.
Are there teaching positions for subjects other than English in Vietnam?
Yes for native speakers of other subject languages at international schools. French at French international schools. Japanese at Japanese international schools. Mandarin at Chinese international schools. Limited yes for math, science, and other academic subjects taught in English at international schools. Very limited yes for art, music, PE, and creative subjects. Only at the top international schools. The Vietnamese foreign teacher market is 50 to 1 English-focused. Demand for English dwarfs demand for any other foreign language or subject. UP2U works only with English placements.
Can I teach math or science in English at a Vietnamese school?
Yes at international schools and a small number of bilingual private schools. The requirements are strict. You need a math or science degree (or an education degree with that focus), plus 2 or more years of classroom experience, plus a teaching license from your home country. Pay is $2,500 to $4,000 per month plus benefits. Hiring runs April to June for an August start. UP2U does not handle international school math or science placements. Teachers with this profile usually work with international school agencies like Search Associates, ISS, or Schrole.
Are there French or Spanish teaching positions in Vietnam?
French: yes at the Lycee Francais International Marguerite Duras in Ho Chi Minh City. Plus a few French-program partnerships at Vietnamese universities. Hiring is small and competitive. Pay matches international school English teaching. Spanish: very limited. Usually only at international IB programs that offer Spanish as a second-language option. Both markets are tiny next to the English market. UP2U does not work with them. For French or Spanish placement, contact the embassy education office or Alliance Francaise directly.
Can I teach art, music, PE, or other creative subjects in Vietnam?
Yes at international schools. Same credential rules as core subjects. A degree in the subject (or in education with that focus), plus 2 or more years of classroom experience. Pay is $2,200 to $3,500 per month plus benefits. Hiring is small. Each international school hires 1 to 3 specialists per year for the whole school. Competition is high. UP2U does not handle these placements. The right channel is international school agencies or direct applications to specific schools.
Does UP2U place teachers who do not want to teach English?
No. UP2U is built for non-native English speakers who want to teach English in Vietnam. The system, the school list, the templates, and the support are all tuned for English placements. If you want to teach math, French, Spanish, art, or music, you are better off with international school agencies like Search Associates, ISS, Schrole, or TIE Online. Or apply directly to Vietnamese international schools. UP2U turns down payments from applicants who clearly want a non-English role. The system will not give them what they want.
Online teaching
Many applicants ask if they can teach English online from Vietnam, or fully remote. Here is the current market.
Can I teach English online from Vietnam instead of in-person?
Yes in theory. But the income math is different. The remote ESL market is dominated by Chinese platforms. They pay $8 to $20 per hour. Most slots need a US or UK passport. Other options are tutoring platforms like Preply, italki, and Cambly, plus corporate English contracts. Most foreign teachers in Vietnam who teach online do it as a side gig. It adds $200 to $800 per month on top of an in-person main contract. Pure remote setups exist but usually pay less than a Vietnamese in-person contract. And remote work does not qualify for the Vietnamese work permit. You would need a different visa type to stay long-term.
Are online English teaching positions available through UP2U?
No. UP2U places teachers into in-person Vietnamese contracts only. The reason is structural. The Vietnamese work permit needs a Vietnamese employer, an in-country job, and you physically there. Online-only teaching does not qualify. All 700+ UP2U placements since 2017 are in-person contracts with Vietnamese-licensed schools. If you want online-only, you are better off with Preply, italki, Cambly, or US tutoring firms.
Are there hybrid (online plus in-person) positions for foreign teachers in Vietnam?
Some, but not as main contracts. The hybrid model that works: an in-person main contract at a Vietnamese language center (20 to 25 hours per week) plus 5 to 15 hours per week of online teaching for students abroad from home. The main contract holds your work permit and visa. The online side gig adds flexible income. This is normal for UP2U-placed teachers by month 4 to 6 of their first year. Pure hybrid contracts where one Vietnamese employer covers both online and in-person hours are rare.
What pays better in 2026: online teaching from Vietnam or in-person classes?
In-person Vietnamese contracts pay better in total monthly income. A standard in-person language center contract pays $1,200 to $2,500 per month for 20 to 25 hours per week. The same hours teaching on Preply or Cambly bring in $500 to $1,200 per month at non-native rates. The in-person contract also gives you the work permit, the residence card, and legal stability. Online-only does not. Online teaching works as a side gig on top of an in-person main contract. Not as a replacement for one.
Hiring calendar and availability
When can you start? When do schools hire? What if you are only free in a specific month?
When does the Vietnamese school year start?
The Vietnamese public school year starts in early September. It runs through late May. That mirrors most Northern Hemisphere school calendars. The second semester begins in early February, after Tet (the lunar new year holiday). International schools start a bit earlier in August. Private language centers do not follow a fixed school year. They run year-round. Student intake is heaviest in August through September, and again in February through March.
When do schools hire foreign English teachers?
Two main hiring windows. The August window (late July through September) is the heavier one. It runs on the Vietnamese school year start and the international school calendar. The January window (January through early March) catches second-semester openings at language centers. Plus replacement hires across all school types. Off-window hiring (April through June, October through November) still brings in 25 to 35 percent of total hires at the language center tier. Language centers add classes whenever student demand is high. International school hiring is locked to April through June for the August start. Very little movement outside that window.
Are foreign teaching positions in Vietnam permanent or seasonal?
Standard contracts are 12 months at language centers and 1 to 2 years at international schools. They renew. Most foreign teachers stay in Vietnam for 2 to 5 years across multiple contracts. The contracts are not seasonal. They line up with the school year. Public school programs often run 10 months on the Vietnamese school year, with a 2-month summer gap. Corporate English contracts are usually freelance work paid by the hour. No fixed length.
Can I start in a specific month outside the standard hiring windows?
Yes, but the time-to-hire is longer and the school pool is smaller. Off-window hiring (April through June, October through November) is real. But it runs at about 30 percent of the volume of August and January. Teachers who need to start in April, May, June, October, or November usually face an 8 to 14 week time-to-hire. Versus 6 to 10 weeks in the peak windows. The trade-off: schools that hire off-window often pay a bit less or have less competition. That makes the first contract easier to land for experienced applicants.
How long is a typical foreign teacher contract in Vietnam?
Standard full-time language center contracts run 12 months at 20 to 25 class hours per week. They include paid public holidays and about 10 days of paid leave. Some centers offer 6-month trial contracts before a 12-month renewal. International schools offer 1 or 2-year contracts with summer breaks and full benefits. Public school programs run 10-month contracts on the Vietnamese school year. Corporate English contracts are usually freelance work paid hourly. No fixed length. The 12-month language center contract is the most common pattern for first-time foreign teachers.