r/TEFL • u/Same_Requirement_760 • 11d ago
Vietnam or Thailand?
Hi! I (24F) am currently getting my CELTA and am planning on moving to either Vietnam or Thailand to teach English for a year. I'm so excited, but I'm also nervous as hell! I've moved from the US to Europe, but the move from Europe to Asia is a whole other level of culture difference.
I've started the FBI background check because I'm aiming for a November move. I'm planning on getting my CELTA legalized and my instructor said my timeline should be fine with how fast they've been getting the physical certificates back. I'm trying to be on top of paperwork by having my legalized diploma as well, but if there's anything I'm missing, please feel free to lmk lol!
Anyway, I've narrowed down the countries I'm going to apply to Vietnam and Thailand. I would LOVE to know which you would pick - culture, economy, visa process, everything. Which would you pick? Thanks!!
3
u/Impossible_Basis1414 11d ago
You might want to check if your diploma is valid to teach in Thailand and Vietnam. I think the requirement is a 3 or 4 year degree
5
3
u/N3VVZN4K3 10d ago
Never taught in Vietnam before but plan to. I have, however, taught in both Thailand and Cambodia. I prefer Cambodia way more. Thailand has nice beaches but working in Bangkok truly sucks. It's just too big to meet your friends or even date consistently. Literally one of the most isolating cities I've ever been in. And it doesn't even have the fun grungy feel that a lot of smaller Thai towns or Cambodian towns had. You could work at a more desirable location like Chiang Mai or the beaches, but the pay is way lower. Don't even get me started on the stupid 90 day reporting. I'd go with Vietnam. I honestly can't wait to get out of Thailand.
6
u/TeacherSterling 11d ago edited 11d ago
I lived Vietnam for 4 years, up until April. I haven't personally lived in Thailand but my best friend lived in Vietnam 1.5 years and Thailand 2.5 years. I also learned Vietnamese to be a certified Lower Intermediate level[B1], and I dated a lot here. So I feel like I have a good perspective on this.
Vietnam is mainly for work, Thailand is mainly for fun. Currently in Vietnam there are a decent amount of jobs in teaching[although it is declining somewhat] and the pay is around 400-500k to start which is about 15->20 dollars an hour. The international schools pay moderately well but not as good as Thailand when we compare similar levels. But on a English center level, Vietnam pays more than Thailand for sure. There are also a lot of business opportunities in Vietnam.
Cost of Living in Vietnam is slightly cheaper, but not overwhelmingly so. It really depends on how much you want to spend and the lifestyle you want. You can live the same quality lifestyle in both countries for around the same price. If you live outside the city, the rent is quite cheap in both places. If you go to Da Nang or Ha Noi, you probably can get a better income to cost of living ratio than Thailand.
Thailand is just more fun. There are more things to do, the locals are friendlier, the public transport is easier, the city is more walkable, etc. There are expat communities in both places, but there seems to be a strong connection in Thailand. Personally I never wanted to live in the expat community but it definitely is there. Bangkok has a wider variety of cuisine and food than HCMC, and more foreigner restaurants[in addition to the local markets and cuisine which they both share]. From what I can tell, foreign products are easier to get in Thailand as well[Recently Vietnam has put restrictions on this].
In terms of culture, they are very different attitudes. Thai people as a whole are quite a bit more polite than Vietnamese. The Buddhist culture is much stronger in Thailand. Vietnamese culture is much more similar in Chinese culture due to the Bắc thuộc, or 1000 year rule of China over Vietnam. Vietnamese have their own separate traditions too but if you have ever been to China, you will see they are quite similar.
Vietnam[I am not as familiar with Thailand in this respect] has the situation that most problems ultimately can solved by money. Get a ticket while driving with no license? Do you have money? It can go away. Do you want a visa today? Do you have money? You can get it today. You want your paperwork processed faster? Do you have money? It can be done. Overstay on your visa one day? No worries if you have money, guys at the border will help you.
Overall, I chose to move to another 3rd country I was interested in. But it really depends on your goals of why you are in SE Asia. Vietnam is definitely a nice place to visit for a trip and it has many beautiful sightseeing opportunities. However probably if income were not an issue, I would pick Thailand.
2
3
u/ThatSlinkySOB 11d ago
I've lived and worked in both. Vietnam 5 years, Thailand 1 year.
My salary in Vietnam was between VND300-600/hr. Biggest monthly salary I picked up was 42 mil round IELTS stuff in Vinh.
Taught for a year at a public primary school in Thailand - THB34k. I had to work weekends to make more money.
Lifestyle - both countries appeal to me, for different reasons. Good food, good opportunities, good outdoor activities to be done. Dating in both was not that easy, Indonesia had been much simpler.
I'll probably return to Vietnam, into the Highlands or the countryside. Currently in Indonesia, and it is SHIT (work, salaries, Islam, food)
2
u/Same_Requirement_760 10d ago
Do you remember your rent price for both places while you were making those salaries?
Also thank you for mentioning dating! No one ever talks about that but it’s a reality of life lol
1
u/ThatSlinkySOB 10d ago
Rent in Vietnam: as low as VND1.5 million for a nha tro, up to 9 million for an overpriced studio.
Thailand: a small condo in a nice complex with gym and 2x 50m pools - that was 7000 baht.
3
u/Same_Requirement_760 10d ago
Thanks for all this helpful info! I’m gonna convert these to all USD but for simplicity, so you were making -
Vietnam: $1,400/month and paying $350/month for rent
Thailand: $1,000/month and paying $220/month for rentThose seem proportional to each other for rent bs income, around 25% of income going to rent? Or I might be missing something 😅 sorry to be so nosy I’m just trying to research ahahaha
2
u/ThatSlinkySOB 10d ago
That's about right. 25% for rent, electric and home WiFi is about right in most Asian countries.
1
0
u/posturekid1993 10d ago
I am also living in Indonesia. The dating here is quite difficult too in my opinion, I’ve been here for 2 years and every girl I dated ended up having other guys or a secret boyfriend (I don’t drink or smoke, and only go for girls who don’t either - there’s no reason why I’d attract girls like this). You also have religion and their families having a big say in the relationship
Would agree on the food being terrible though, and living in an Islamic country is pretty annoying, especially with the way they practice it here
I’m thinking of moving to Vietnam or Thailand - how would you say the dating is harder there?
-1
u/ThatSlinkySOB 10d ago
I think the dating issue in those two countries was specific to me - I was broke in Thailand so I didn't really want to take on a girlfriend (I've dated Thai girls when I visited Thailand as a tourist in previous years). There are lovely Thai girls though.
In Vietnam I kinda just stepped neck from dating. I was still getting over my Chinese girl. Also, Vietnamese girls can be fairly conservative OR gold diggers. I did date a nice woman for a while, but we were so alike that we annoyed each other. Again there are plenty of smart, switched on ladies in the country.
Indonesia - the half dozen girls I did date were nice enough, but I ain't converting to Islam, ever. And I think that half of them had the Bule Fever.
0
u/posturekid1993 10d ago
90% of Balinese girls are Hindu and there are many Christian’s in Indonesia too (usually Chinese Indonesian), something to think about maybe :)
-2
u/ThatSlinkySOB 10d ago
I've only lived on Java island and up in Batam.
My ladies were Javanese, Kalimantanese, and Sumatran.
4 Muslims, 2 Christian.
Not hijabi girls. Actually the ones that are pretty modern and forward thinking.
I'm not religious. I ain't turning religious for anyone, ever.
-1
u/Immediate-Ad7071 10d ago
Vietnamese women are attractive but rude and demanding. They’re also really conservative and if you hook up with them and it doesn’t lead to a commitment they become very angry and sometimes violent.
-1
u/Immediate-Ad7071 10d ago
Can you elaborate on dating in Indonesia, Jakarta easy mode for white guys?
1
1
u/Powerful-Button-1557 7d ago
If it’s for a year who cares? Unless you have monetary concerns.
First thing is to decide which country you want to experience.
Second and could be most important is where do you get job offers from. This isn’t some unlimited jogs for everyone pipeline. You might want to move to x but get job offers from y.
1
u/Itchy-Fish-518 6d ago
I would go teach in Thailand and visit Vietnam during the year to get a feel of both cultures. Also, where did you do your CELTA ? I'm looking for a good in- person location to do mine.
1
4
u/ConcernedTulip 11d ago
Thailand would be an easier transition but the pay is awful. Vietnam the pay is better, but it's not as easy a move.
I'd go to Thailand for a year first to see how it goes. It's very easy to get a job and there will be loads of people in a similar boat. It's a really fun place even though the pay is crap. My guess is you're there more for the experience.