Move to Vietnam?

Question

I realllllllllly want to move from the USA to Vietnam, namely Hue/Da nang but I'd settle for a big city or even a smaller one. My questions are these..

1. What do I do for employment/income. I know teaching english is the popular answer but without the TEFL cert. it will be hard to find a job, let alone one that pays well enough to enjoy life.

2. Living? Apartments, houses.. whats the situation and most likely type of housing I would be able to find.

3. Language barrier. I don't speak a bit of Vietnamese.. obviously after so much time there I would pick up the language, but what to do until then?

4. Finally... I am a white boy american. How will I be treated by locals and by others there? I have visited once before and was treated very kindly but that was because I was a tourist and they wanted my money!

Thanks :)

Answer 1

I can tell you about my friend, he is also a white american, he loves the culture and the simple life in VN. He has been very welcomed at all English Centre and found the jobs easily (I think you understand why), so I think not too hard for you to find a job, if you really love simple life, I think nothing is difficult for you, and also he has been well treated by locals and by others there. You need to have some nice friends to support you in VN

Answer 2

Move to Viet Nam?

Without speaking the language? With, apparently, no marketable skills, no education, and no resources?

And you're going to make this move with no more experience of the country than as a one time tourist?????

Try getting a grip.

Let me guess. You can't get a date in the USA and think that moving to Indochina will suddenly make you attractive to women?  You're in some dead end job and think that you'll be James Bond on the other side of the world?

Answer 3

Hi

I'm Vietnamese, but living in Europe for more than 25 years.

1. It's essential to get the  TEFL certificate, while in th US.

2. You can get any thing, if you can afford.

3. Most people understand some English, use gesture language till you learn something.

4. It's amazing, but Americans are welcome, even for me. I was a refugee.

5. It's essential to have Vietnamese friends to support you (there is quite some bureaucracy there).

Answer 4

you ask questions like you never been there.  if not you need to go spend some time, met a nice girl who will show you around.  your the only one who can judge if its right for you.  I recommend a few trips there before making up your mind.

Answer 5

The best way to prepare for your move would be to go ahead and get an English-teaching certificate while you're in the US. I recommend CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults) sponsored by Cambridge University. The instructions is given a few times a year at various centers throughout the US (http://cambridgeesol-centres.org/centres...

Another way is to go to Vietnam to attend CELTA classes at get certified over there (http://www.ilavietnam.com/training/defau...

The latter option will allow you to enter Vietnam on a student visa  and receive help from the training center in looking for a place to stay and for a job as a teacher upon your certification in CELTA (the training center is also operated by an English language school so they'll probably want to employ most of the graduates).

Check out this opportunity. It takes hard work but it'll prepare you for a marketable career in Vietnam. Without being a student first , you can only go to Vietnam as a tourist, not to live there as you have no job prospects waiting for you. Good luck!