Vietnam has become an increasingly popular destination for English teachers seeking adventure, cultural immersion, and professional development in Southeast Asia. With its low cost of living, stunning landscapes, and growing demand for English education, the country attracts thousands of foreign teachers annually. However, beneath the surface of this booming market lurk numerous pitfalls that can turn a dream job into a nightmare. From fraudulent employers to contract violations and illegal working conditions, prospective ESL teachers must navigate a complex landscape fraught with potential hazards.
THE LURE AND THE REALITY
Vietnam’s ESL market has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, creating countless opportunities for both qualified and entry-level teachers. The promise of earning $1,200 to $2,000 USD per month while enjoying a comfortable lifestyle in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City attracts many educators. However, as one teacher recounted on their blog, “I told my boss I had to go. This wasn’t really unexpected… He said he didn’t have the money to pay me now but instead gave me one of his debit cards. He told me to take it with me, that he would put the money on it and I could take out my wages in England… Of course, the money never came. I never got paid a penny.”
This cautionary tale illustrates a fundamental truth: not all opportunities in Vietnam’s ESL sector are legitimate. While many reputable schools operate professionally and treat their teachers well, bad actors persist in the market, exploiting teachers’ enthusiasm and sometimes naïveté about working abroad.
RED FLAG #1: OFFERS THAT SEEM TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
One of the most obvious warning signs is a job offer that promises exceptional benefits with minimal requirements. Standard ESL positions in Vietnam typically require a bachelor’s degree, TEFL certification, and sometimes teaching experience. Salaries generally range from $1,100 to $2,000 per month for language centers and public schools, with international schools paying $2,000 to $5,000 for highly qualified teachers.
When a job posting offers significantly higher pay, requires no qualifications, or promises excessive benefits compared to market standards, skepticism is warranted. As noted in industry guidance, “If the job offers higher pay, low hours, a dream location, and zero requirements, it may be too good to be true.”
2 These positions often turn out to be scams designed to extract money from applicants through fake visa fees or simply waste teachers’ time.
RED FLAG #2: WORKING ILLEGALLY ON A TOURIST VISA
Perhaps the most dangerous red flag is an employer who suggests working on a tourist visa without proper work authorization. Vietnam’s immigration laws are unambiguous on this matter: “The straightforward answer to can I work in Vietnam on a tourist visa is NO. According to Vietnam’s Immigration Law (Law No. 47/2014/QH13, amended by Law No. 51/2019/QH14), tourist visas (symbolized as DL) are strictly for tourism or vacation purposes and prohibit any work or business-related activities.”
The consequences of working illegally can be severe, including fines up to 75,000,000 VND ($3,000 USD), deportation, and bans on re-entering Vietnam. Moreover, teachers working without proper documentation have no legal protections. As one source warns, “Without formal recognition, teachers may find themselves vulnerable to unfair employment practices, such as contract alterations, reduced pay, enforced overtime without compensation, or in extreme cases, non-payment.”
Schools that are willing to hire teachers without proper work permits often engage in other unethical practices as well. These employers know that illegal workers have no recourse if they are mistreated, making such positions inherently exploitative.
RED FLAG #3: UPFRONT PAYMENT REQUESTS
Legitimate employers in Vietnam do not require teachers to pay upfront fees for job placement, visa processing, or work permits. While teachers are responsible for some documentation costs initially (such as background checks and degree authentication in their home countries), reputable schools typically reimburse visa and work permit expenses or handle them directly.
Any request for payment via wire transfer, Western Union, or similar services before employment begins should raise immediate concerns. As industry experts caution, “Payment demands: Legitimate teaching jobs never require paying upfront fees. Requests for bank transfers or wire payments are always red flags of a scam.”
Some fraudulent operations may also request banking information prematurely or ask for deposits to “secure” a position. These are classic scam tactics designed to steal money or personal information.
RED FLAG #4: CONTRACTS NOT PROVIDED IN ADVANCE
A major warning sign in Vietnam’s ESL market is employers who refuse to provide contracts before arrival or only present them on the first day of work. As one teacher working in Vietnam noted, “The contract is not sent via email beforehand, only the quick, resuming offer. The real one is handed over right after you start working (first day or first week).”
This practice is problematic for several reasons. First, it prevents teachers from having the contract reviewed by a lawyer or trusted advisor. Second, it creates pressure to accept unfavorable terms after the teacher has already invested time and money in relocating. Third, it often conceals provisions that would discourage acceptance if known in advance.
Legitimate contracts should clearly specify salary, working hours, duties, benefits, termination procedures, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Any employer unwilling to provide these details before employment begins is likely hiding something. As guidance for job seekers emphasizes, “Vague contract terms: Legitimate ESL employers provide comprehensive contracts clearly stating salary, hours, duties, and benefits. Shady contracts lack specifics.”
RED FLAG #5: LAST-MINUTE CONTRACT CHANGES
Even when contracts are provided in advance, teachers must be wary of last-minute modifications. According to one experienced teacher in Vietnam, “It looks like that companies can re-issue and modify contracts at will in Vietnam; but as an employee, you are subject to potential benefits loss in case of early termination from your side: welcome package, WP and Visas expenses paid by the company, etc. could well be deducted from your last payslip, be watchful.”
Changes made after arrival but before signing are particularly concerning. These might include reduced salaries, increased working hours, different locations, or eliminated benefits. Such modifications often occur when the employer knows the teacher has already committed significant resources to the move and may feel pressured to accept rather than return home empty-handed.
Teachers should insist that any changes be documented in writing and carefully consider whether the modified terms remain acceptable. Walking away from a bad situation, while difficult, is often preferable to months of exploitation.
RED FLAG #6: EXCESSIVE PENALTIES AND FINES
Some language centers in Vietnam impose harsh financial penalties for minor infractions. As one source reports, “Certain language centers impose strict penalties for minor infractions. For example, arriving late, failing to notify the office of an absence within four hours, or not adhering to dress codes can result in fines of up to 100% of your daily wage.”
While reasonable policies regarding attendance and professionalism are standard, excessive fines that seem designed to recoup money from teachers are exploitative. Teachers should scrutinize contract clauses related to penalties and consider whether the school’s disciplinary approach seems fair and proportionate.
Additionally, some employers penalize teachers for classes canceled by the school itself. “If you’re working as a contractor, you may not be paid for classes canceled before your arrival. Some teachers have learned the hard way that answering a cancellation call while en route to class can cost them a day’s pay.”
10 Such practices unfairly shift business risks onto teachers.
RED FLAG #7: PAYMENT IN USD AND EXCHANGE RATE MANIPULATION
Vietnam’s labor law requires that workers be paid in Vietnamese Dong (VND), not foreign currencies. Some employers circumvent this by paying in USD, which can enable manipulation. “One of the most common complaints among foreign teachers is inconsistent or unfair payment practices. Some companies pay in USD, which is technically against Vietnamese labor law—workers must be paid in Vietnamese Dong (VND). This loophole allows some employers to manipulate exchange rates and reduce your actual earnings.”
Teachers should verify that payment terms comply with Vietnamese law and that exchange rates (if any currency conversion is involved) are clearly specified and based on official rates. Late payments are another serious concern. Vietnamese law requires that if salary is paid late for 15 days or more, the employer must compensate employees with interest calculated at the interest rate for one-month deposits.
12 Employers who consistently pay late are demonstrating financial instability or deliberate wage theft.
RED FLAG #8: NO ONLINE PRESENCE OR SUSPICIOUS WEBSITE
In today’s digital age, legitimate schools maintain professional websites and active social media presence. The absence of an online footprint is a major red flag. As job search guidance notes, “If there’s nothing at all it’s a big warning flag and it’s time to move on.”
When evaluating a school’s website, teachers should look for:
Professional design and quality content
Clear contact information with physical address
Information about curriculum and teaching philosophy
Faculty profiles or testimonials
No broken links or placeholder text
Suspicious signs include websites with numerous grammatical errors, inconsistent branding, or domains that don’t match the school’s purported name. “Red flags are broken links, missing information, placeholder text, and no addresses or contact details. Legitimate schools have professional sites.”
Additionally, teachers should verify that email addresses in job postings match the domain on the official website. Scammers often use free email services (Gmail, Yahoo) or slightly altered domains to impersonate legitimate schools.
RED FLAG #9: NO INTERVIEW PROCESS
Reputable schools conduct thorough interviews before hiring teachers. These typically include video interviews, demo lessons, and sometimes in-person meetings. An employer who offers a job without any substantive interview is likely not legitimate.
“Should the employer not interview you, it is safe to assume that the job is fake and you should just walk away,” advises one industry source.
15 The interview process allows both parties to assess fit and demonstrates that the school takes hiring seriously. Legitimate institutions want to ensure teachers can actually teach and will represent their brand professionally.
Similarly, schools that refuse to connect prospective teachers with current or former employees are hiding something. Teachers should request contact information for current staff and ask about their experiences with working conditions, payment reliability, and management responsiveness.
RED FLAG #10: PROMISES OF DUAL PAY STRUCTURES
One particularly insidious scam involves employers who promise one salary in the written contract but assure teachers verbally that they will actually pay more “under the table.” A teacher in Vietnam reported receiving an offer where the employer “wanted her to sign a contract for 100 teaching hours per month, with a salary of VND8 million, but they promised that in reality, they would pay her VND33 million, which [she] described as ‘had no basis to believe.'”
This arrangement benefits only the employer. The written contract protects the school legally while the verbal promise remains unenforceable. When disputes arise, teachers have no recourse to claim the higher amount. Moreover, such arrangements often involve tax evasion, which can create legal problems for teachers.
Any employer who suggests that actual pay will differ from contractual pay is untrustworthy and should be avoided.
RED FLAG #11: UNREALISTIC PROBATION PERIODS
While probation periods are common in Vietnam’s ESL sector, excessive durations without pay or benefits are exploitative. Some schools impose probation periods of two months or longer during which teachers receive reduced pay, no benefits, or even work for free.
One example noted in teacher forums involved an offer requiring ten days of unpaid probationary work in a remote province, with the teacher responsible for all travel and accommodation costs.
17 Such arrangements allow schools to extract free labor with no commitment to hire.
Reasonable probation periods typically last two weeks to one month and include at least partial pay. Teachers should be skeptical of any probation arrangement that seems designed to exploit rather than evaluate.
RED FLAG #12: REFUSAL TO PROVIDE SEVERANCE PAY
Vietnamese labor law mandates severance pay for employees who complete their contracts. “Foreign teachers receive 50% monthly salary for each completed year of service (mandatory by law).”
18 Despite this legal requirement, some employers attempt to avoid payment by claiming it doesn’t apply to foreign workers or finding pretexts to allege contract violations.
Teachers should ensure their contracts explicitly mention severance pay and understand their rights under Vietnamese law. “Not all companies declare this to their employees yet still declare it to the tax authorities so do make sure that you let your company know that you are aware of this law.”
Similarly, teachers should request annual tax finalization reports, which document compliance with tax obligations and may be required when leaving Vietnam or in the home country.
RED FLAG #13: VISA MANIPULATION AND THREATS
Some unscrupulous employers use visa and work permit dependencies to control and exploit foreign teachers. “Fraudulent employers, non-payment issues, and contract violations occur frequently enough to warrant thorough background checks before accepting positions. Some companies use visa/permit dependencies to exploit foreign teachers.”
Teachers should be wary of employers who:
Confiscate passports (this is illegal)
Threaten to cancel work permits if teachers complain about working conditions
Delay visa processing to keep teachers in legal limbo
Require teachers to leave Vietnam for visa runs but don’t provide proper documentation
Legitimate employers facilitate legal work authorization and maintain transparency about visa status. Any attempt to use immigration status as leverage is abusive.
RED FLAG #14: POOR COMMUNICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM
The quality of communication during recruitment often foreshadows the working relationship. Warning signs include:
Emails with excessive grammatical errors and typos
Vague responses to specific questions about salary, hours, or benefits
Pressure to make quick decisions without adequate time for consideration
Reluctance to put verbal agreements in writing
Use of ALL CAPITALS AND EXCESSIVE EXCLAMATION MARKS!!!
“Poor writing: ESL is all about English. Sloppy writing or grammar mistakes signal questionable operations. Quality English teaching jobs will have polished communications.”
21 While some leniency should be extended for non-native English speakers, professional institutions maintain standards of clarity and professionalism in official communications.
RED FLAG #15: MARKET CONDITIONS TOO GOOD TO IGNORE
Finally, teachers must understand current market realities in Vietnam. Recent reporting indicates that market conditions have deteriorated somewhat due to oversupply of teachers. “Foreign teachers in Vietnam are facing increasingly tough times as salaries drop and competition intensifies, challenging their ability to sustain their livelihoods and prompting many to reconsider their futures.”
This competitive environment means that extremely favorable offers may not be sustainable. Teachers who arrived during the market’s peak years earned significantly more than current rates, and some employers may make promises they cannot keep as they struggle to remain profitable in a more competitive market.
Understanding typical salary ranges, benefits packages, and working conditions helps teachers identify offers that deviate significantly from norms—whether suspiciously generous or exploitatively poor.
PROTECTING YOURSELF: BEST PRACTICES
While the red flags above may seem daunting, teachers can take proactive steps to protect themselves:
Research thoroughly: Use multiple sources including ESL job boards, Facebook expat groups, Reddit discussions, and school review sites. Vietnam Teaching Jobs (VTJ) is one well-established resource for vetted positions.
Verify employer legitimacy: Check business registration, physical addresses, and company history. Contact current or former employees if possible.
Arrive on a tourist visa: Rather than committing to a specific employer before arrival, many experienced teachers recommend arriving on a tourist visa, interviewing with multiple schools in person, and selecting the best option.
Read contracts carefully: Never sign without fully understanding terms. Consider having contracts reviewed by a lawyer familiar with Vietnamese labor law.
Insist on proper documentation: Refuse positions that don’t provide legal work authorization. The short-term savings are not worth the long-term risks.
Trust your instincts: If something feels wrong, it probably is. Plenty of legitimate opportunities exist—there’s no need to accept questionable positions.
Connect with the teacher community: Join Facebook groups like “Hanoi Massive” and “ESL Teachers in Vietnam” where experienced teachers share information about employers and working conditions.
Document everything: Keep copies of all communications, contracts, pay stubs, and important documents. This evidence may be crucial if disputes arise.
CONCLUSION
Vietnam offers tremendous opportunities for ESL teachers willing to embrace adventure and cultural exchange. The majority of schools operate professionally and provide rewarding experiences for their staff. However, the market also contains unscrupulous operators who exploit teachers’ enthusiasm and sometimes limited knowledge of local conditions.
By recognizing red flags early, conducting thorough research, and insisting on professional standards, teachers can avoid the worst pitfalls and find positions that fulfill both their professional goals and desire for international experience. The key is approaching the job search with both optimism and healthy skepticism, remembering that legitimate employers welcome scrutiny and transparency while fraudulent ones resist it.
As Vietnam’s ESL market continues to evolve, informed and prepared teachers will find themselves best positioned to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. The dream of teaching in Vietnam can become reality—provided teachers do their homework and refuse to accept red flags as normal parts of the process.
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