From a Small City in Southern Algeria to $1,700/Month in Ho Chi Minh City

"You Only Live Once, Man"

Saad had never left Algeria before. Not a single stamp in his passport. He didn't watch YouTube videos about Vietnam beforehand. Didn't research the city. Didn't look up what the food was like or how the traffic moved.

He wanted it to be a surprise.

He flew out of Algeria on October 4th. Started working on October 7th. His passport went from empty to international in 72 hours.

That takes something. Not money — Saad spent about $3,000 total to get to Vietnam and set up his life. Not connections — he knew nobody in the country. It takes a decision. The kind most people talk about making for years but never actually make.

Before Vietnam: 4.5 Years Teaching in the Desert

Saad started teaching English at 19. In Lagat, a city in southern Algeria, there aren't many English speakers. He was one of the few who could, so he taught. Adults, age 18 to 70, in language centers.

He got a bachelor's degree in English Language. Then a master's in English Language, Civilization, and Literature. Strong education. Real classroom hours. The kind of profile that should get you hired anywhere in the world.

Except Algeria doesn't pay for that. Not really. Not enough to move out of your parents' house. Not enough to build anything.

The Numbers in Vietnam

Here's what Saad's life looks like now, in hard numbers:

He works six days a week, with Sunday off. Wednesday and Thursday are light days. He teaches at three different schools across Ho Chi Minh City. He cooks four days a week and eats out the other three — not because he can't afford restaurants, but because he likes cooking.

After rent, food, coffee, and transport — he can put aside $1,200 every month if he wants. That's more than most Algerian professionals earn in total.

Teaching in Vietnam vs. Teaching in Algeria

Saad taught adults in Algeria for four and a half years. He thought Vietnam would be harder. He was wrong.

In Algeria, he prepared homework assignments, extra tasks, assessments — all unpaid work outside the classroom. In Vietnam, the curriculum is set. You have teaching materials. You have PowerPoints — something he never had access to in Algeria. He walks into a classroom, delivers the lesson, and walks out.

He'd never taught kids before. All his experience was with adults. His first class in Vietnam was young learners — and it worked. The kids responded to his energy. His employer gave him positive feedback from the start, specifically mentioning his attitude.

The Visa Run That Went Sideways

This part of Saad's story is worth telling in full because it's the kind of thing nobody else will tell you.

Saad needed to do a visa run — leave Vietnam and re-enter to extend his visa. Standard procedure. Most people take a bus to the Cambodia border. Easy, cheap, done in a day.

Saad decided to do it himself to save money. He planned everything. Took the bus to the Cambodia border.

They turned him away. Algerian passports can't enter Cambodia by land.

He went back to Ho Chi Minh City. Booked a flight to Cambodia instead — $160 round trip. Got to the airport check-in counter.

Turned away again. They told him Algeria is on Cambodia's restricted list. They wanted a return ticket to Algeria — not to Vietnam. Plus $1,000 cash. Plus a hotel booking. He spent three hours at the counter. Nothing worked.

He lost the money on the plane ticket. Non-refundable.

He booked a flight to Malaysia instead. Kuala Lumpur. Two days. No problems. His Vietnamese business visa was ready by the time he came back.

It happened over New Year's Eve. He turned a forced vacation into a trip.

The lesson for everybody reading this: use a visa agent your first time. It costs a bit more, but they know which borders work for your passport. Saad's Algerian colleague did the same Cambodia land border a few weeks later with no issue — but he had more stamps in his passport and maybe got a different officer. It's unpredictable. Pay for peace of mind the first time.

What Surprised Him

Saad didn't research Vietnam before coming. He wanted to experience it raw. So everything was a surprise — and he says it was all good surprises.

The organization. In Algeria, he was used to chaos. In Vietnam, each grade has three or four different curriculums depending on student level. PowerPoints for every lesson. Teaching assistants in the classroom. Structured schedules.

The humidity. His first class, he was sweating through his shirt. 90% humidity — nothing like the dry heat of southern Algeria. His students handed him tissues. He laughs about it now.

The one thing he misses: walking. Vietnam's sidewalks are occupied by scooters. You can walk, but you can't stroll. You're always watching your back, left, right. It's manageable — just not the leisurely walks he was used to in Lagat.

The Vietnamese people, he says, are warm and welcoming. Respectful. They leave you alone when you want to be left alone. When you say no once, that's it — no harassment.

The Total Cost to Get Here

He started getting paid after one month. At $1,716/month, the entire investment pays back in under two months. After that, everything is savings.

His One Regret

He started with UP2U in July. Got hired in early October. Flew on October 4th. Started working October 7th. Three months from first message to first paycheck.

He teaches young learners now — something he'd never done before. He lives alone in Tan Binh, a Vietnamese neighborhood where foreigners are rare and rent is cheap. He cooks his own meals. He works six days a week and still has free time.

He fell in love with Vietnam on day one and hasn't looked back.