Vietnam Quick Facts!
If you are not already busy burying your head in Vietnamese literature or surfing the web researching Vietnam life, below are some helpful topics and links you might want to check out before taking off in April.
The Culture
Known for its beauty and friendly people, Vietnam has
shrugged off its post-war image and become a haven for tourists as it
has opened up more and more to the outside world. Visitors are able to experience beautiful beaches, misty mountains and
hospitable people. Vietnam gives the visitor a chance to live a more traditional life than in some other South-East Asian
countries and provides thousands of job opportunities for the ESL teacher.
Vietnam is famous for its food, primarily the noodle and soup dishes sold by street vendors and restaurants. Traditional art, theatre, architecture and dance are all a major part of daily life and easily experienced by locals and foreigners alike. Vietnam has had influences from the Chinese to the French and despite foreign influence still maintains a much defined culture.
Introduction to Vietnam - Geographia.com
Vietnamese Traditions - Vietnam Traditions
ESL Teaching
English teaching in Vietnam is an excellent option. The students are great, the money is great, the standard of living is
excellent and the cost of living is low. Teachers in Vietnam are well-respected and many students have an overall dream to one
day teach themselves!
There are opportunities to teach all levels and ages. Peak hour for classes is in the evenings from 5pm-9pm, usually after normal school hours. The pay for English teachers varies from school-to-school and depends somewhat on qualifications and experience. Most teachers earn between US$15 - US$20 per hour. You may be paid in Vietnamese Dong or a combination of US dollars and Vietnamese Dong as both are used within the country.
As a foreign language teacher in Hanoi you'll find no shortage of Vietnamese friends and Australian and other expats that live and work side by side in this thriving city. With plenty to see and do, your days will be filled with new experiences in a vibrant and beautiful city.
The Weather
Expect a tropical, wet climate. In Hanoi there are the four regular seasons, but you can also divide the weather into the rainy season which runs from May to September (hotter with heavier rain), and the dry season from October to April (colder with little rainfall).
Click here for more on Vietnam Weather
Getting Around
Although it is not possible for foreigners to drive a car in Vietnam, there are many other options for the traveller to get
around and see the country. Transport is usually by xe om (motorbike), plane, train, bus, or bike. Flights to Ho Chi Minh City,
Nha Trang or other beautiful destinations within the long narrow country are around US $100 return.
Trains are great value and overnight sleepers are a good way to cover long distances if you want to take a trip. Sapa in the northern highlands and Hoi An on the coast are great places to visit by train! There are also many local trips which are easily organised through agents on the ground, to enable you to see more of Vietnam while you are visiting.
Click here for Vietnam Airlines
Click here for Train Travel Guide
Useful phrases
Anyone one who has travelled to a foreign country knows how delighted locals are when you use the language. You can find Vietnamese phrase books in bookstores and you'll find language lessons very easily once you are in town.
Below are a few sentences with English and phonetic sounds you'll find useful! Vietnamese language works on tones so you'll have to listen closely to hear the subtle differences at first, but you'll get them. If you learned French in high school it could come in handy as many Vietnamese also speak French.
Hello (Seen chow)
Goodbye (Dam Biet)
Please (Lam urn)
Thank you (Cam urn)
My name is _____. (Doy Den la _____ .)
I can't speak Vietnamese. (Doy kom tieng vee-et.)
And remember, you'll find bargaining a lot easier if you learn the Vietnamese numbers 1 to 10!
Relevant Websites
For Hanoi Specific information visit The New Hanoian
For Vietnam in general visit Vietnam Tourism
Travel Insurance information - Smart Traveller
Currency and conversion rates - Currency Converter
Local times around the world - Time Zones
Cheap flights and tickets check out Air Asia and Jetstar
