Teaching in Vietnam
Vietnam's international school market is growing fast. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have the most opportunities. Salaries are rising as schools compete for qualified teachers.
How to use this guide: Package figures on this page mix market guidance with teacher-reported international-school offers. Prefer reports that show year, role, housing, and school type, and weigh sample size before treating a median as definitive. How we handle data.
Teacher salaries in Vietnam, from real reports
Based on 24 anonymous teacher salary reports across 34 international schools in Vietnam. Figures are monthly base pay in US Dollar, with the top and bottom 5% trimmed. Compare housing, flights, tax context, and estimated savings on each school page before treating a median as the full picture.
| Role | Reports | Median (US Dollar / month) |
|---|---|---|
| Social Studies | 2 | 3,753 |
| Maths | 2 | 2,900 |
| English | 2 | 2,825 |
Sourced from teachers who worked at these schools. Medians are base pay only. Per-report breakdowns (housing, flights, estimated savings, tax) are on each school's page. How we handle data.
Why teach in Vietnam
- Growing job market—new schools opening regularly
- Affordable cost of living
- Vibrant culture, excellent food, beautiful landscapes
- Friendly locals and growing expat community
- Good work-life balance at many schools
Salary, package, and savings
Base salary alone is misleading across countries. Housing, tax, flights, insurance, and estimated savings change which offer is actually better.
Who this is for: A balanced posting. Not Gulf-level savings, but tier-1 international schools pay well against a low cost of living, so you can save a solid amount and still enjoy the country. Watch the gap between real international schools and ESL language centers.
Teacher-reported / market estimate, not a guarantee
- Housing or housing allowance (common at international schools)
- Annual flights
- Health insurance
- Visa support
- Relocation allowance (some schools)
- Base salary (tier-1 schools)
- $2,500–5,000/mo ($30,000–60,000/yr)
- Housing
- Allowance $1,000–2,500/mo, or 60–80% of rent covered
- Flights
- Annual round-trip home (common)
- Health insurance
- Employer-provided
- Relocation
- Allowance at some schools; visa/work permit support
Vietnam taxes employment income on a progressive scale, but rates are moderate and living costs are low, so take-home stretches far. Many international-school contracts are quoted net (after tax); always ask whether a salary is gross or net before comparing offers.
A teacher on $3,500/month at a tier-1 school in Ho Chi Minh City with a housing allowance, spending $1,200–1,500 on living costs, saves around $1,000–1,300/month. Lower-tier schools and ESL roles save far less, which is why the school tier matters more here than the country.
- 1-bedroom apartment (HCMC center)
- 8–15M VND (~$320–600/mo)
- Meal at local restaurant
- 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4)
- Monthly Grab/motorbike
- 1–2M VND (~$40–80)
- Utilities
- 500,000–800,000 VND (~$20–32)
Workplace reality to research
Compensation decides whether an offer works financially. These factors decide whether it works day to day. Check school pages for teacher-reported details.
- Tier-1 international schools and ESL language centers are different jobs; contact hours, prep, and after-school expectations diverge a lot.
- Leadership stability and admin support vary by campus; ask current teachers about meeting load and class sizes.
- HCMC usually has more school choice; Hanoi can feel quieter with a growing market. Confirm the daily timetable before signing.
Requirements
- Teaching license from home country for international schools
- Bachelor's degree (minimum)
- Experience preferred; NQTs sometimes accepted
- Clean criminal record for work permit
Common curricula
IB, British (IGCSE), American, Cambridge. Schools specify their curriculum in job postings.
Main cities for teaching
Ho Chi Minh City international schools, Hanoi international schools, Da Nang. Hiring season: January–April for August start.
Featured schools in Vietnam
Schools with the most salary data from teachers
St. Paul American School Hanoi
Dewey School
Singapore International School
Vinschool
ABCIS
TAS
Th School
Vietnam Australia School
The American School (TAS)
Emg
American International School
ISHCMC-AA
Things to know
- International schools and ESL language centers are different—pay and benefits vary significantly
- Ho Chi Minh City has more schools; Hanoi is the capital with a growing market
- Work permit process can take 4–6 weeks
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between international schools and ESL in Vietnam?
- International schools teach full curricula (IB, etc.) and require teaching licenses. ESL roles at language centers pay less and have different requirements.
- Is Vietnam safe for expat teachers?
- Generally yes. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are safe. Petty theft exists—common sense applies.
- Can I save money teaching in Vietnam?
- Yes. International school salaries with housing allow many teachers to save $500–1,200 per month.
- Ho Chi Minh City vs Hanoi for teaching?
- HCMC has more international schools and a larger expat community. Hanoi has a growing market and slightly lower costs. Both are popular.
- When should I apply for Vietnam teaching jobs?
- January–April for August start dates. Apply 4–6 months before your target start.
- How much can you save teaching in Vietnam?
- At a tier-1 international school with a housing allowance, many teachers save $800–1,300 per month against Vietnam's low cost of living. ESL and lower-tier roles save much less. The school tier is the biggest factor in how much you keep.
- How much do tier-1 international schools in Vietnam pay?
- Tier-1 international schools in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi pay roughly $2,500–5,000 per month ($30,000–60,000 a year) plus housing, flights, and insurance. This is well above ESL language-center pay, which is often quoted for Vietnam but targets a different job.
- Do international schools in Vietnam provide housing?
- Most tier-1 schools give a housing allowance of about $1,000–2,500 per month or cover 60–80% of your rent, rather than providing an apartment outright. A one-bedroom in an expat district of Ho Chi Minh City runs roughly 8–15 million VND ($325–610).
Research schools before you accept
Compare teacher-reported packages, estimated savings, and workplace notes at international schools in Vietnam.