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Teacher's Duties

A general teaching contract in Vietnam will usually be as follows with naturally some differences from school to school. You will be contracted 20-25 hours per week, there can be some supplementary duties such as:

  • Plan and prepare lessons
  • Mark homework and tests
  • Participate in workshops and development training as required

Other tasks outside of normal teaching classes that a teacher can be asked to carry out for which additional payments to the teacher are made:
Exam preparation classes                        –     3/USD per contact teaching hour
Writing courses and some ESP courses   –     3/USD per contact teaching hour
Teaching in Vung Tau                               –     1/USD per contact teaching hour
Teaching in Ha Noi                                   –     1/USD per contact teaching hour
Off site classes (close by)                        –     3/USD per trip
Shifts - >7hrs / >12hrs                            –     5/USD per day


Non-teaching duties include:
• Course / Material development – 2/3 USD p/hr of a teaching hour
• Conduct Social program            – 20 USD p/hr
• Placement testing                     – 13 USD p/hr
• Conduct workshop                    – 25 USD p/hr


Teachers will be expected to either hand in their lesson plans the week/month before or prepare them before each teaching day (depends again on the school). You can be asked to do overtime, but you will be paid for it at the agreed rate.


Dress Code
Clothing is a very important issue in Vietnam. Vietnamese teachers are always well-dressed and Vietnamese students expect foreign teachers to be well-dressed as well.


Male teachers must wear the following whilst teaching:

  • Smart Shoes
  • Smart trousers
  • Smart shirt
  • Tie

Female teachers must also be dressed suitably and should follow the guidelines below:

  • Smart skirt
  • Trousers or dress
  • Smart blouse or shirt
  • Smart shoes with a sensible heel; leather sandals are OK but no flip-flops.
  • No materials such as denim, and no skirts or dresses which are too short
  • No singlet or off the shoulder tops or anything too revealing especially of the midriff
  • No t-shirts shorts or sweatshirts/ suits

Make-up, hairstyles, jewellery and any ear (or other) piercing should be sensible in appearance and not shocking. No visible tattoos while teaching. Most clothes can be purchased at cheap prices in Vietnam, but it can be a problem buying large shoes.

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