What to expect as a teacher in Vietnam
Vietnam is an up and coming country that is expanding its international education offering quickly. Teaching in Vietnam can be very rewarding and the ability to live in a country that has such recent historical significance can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Teachers who consider Vietnam will find relatively new schools with lots of ways to make their mark on the future of education in this small, friendly and rapidly developing country.
About Vietnam
Capital: Hanoi
Language: Vietnamese
Population: 89 million
You will find Vietnam in South East Asia, bordered by Laos, Cambodia and China.
Vietnam has come in great leaps and bounds in the popularity stakes for both tourists and expatriates alike.
Today, you will now find a nice mix of world class restaurants and shopping alongside the amazing street stalls and markets, with a new booming economy and renewed focus on education, it is a country to watch.
Activities:
Vietnam has amazing scenery, so there are many activities available outside enjoying it. Kayaking, hiking, swimming, diving, beach hopping, sailing, cruises, traditional cooking classes and much more.
Climate
Vietnam is hot and humid. The north and south do tend to experience two different types of weather with the monsoons hitting the south and tropical weather hitting the north.
You will find different weather formations right across the country however with tropical weather in the south, monsoonal weather in the north.
Transport
Cars, taxis, motorbikes and bikes are the most common form of transportation. There are quite good rail connections between the larger cities and it is the preferred form of travel. Roads in certain areas can be of very bad condition, and can get worse during the monsoon season. Strangely enough, helmets are compulsory for bikers but seatbelts are not for drivers.
Eating and Drinking
Traditional Vietnamese food is quite healthy. Most dishes have a lot of vegetables and sometimes meat with a lot of sauces and spices for flavour. In most tourist areas, you will find a lot of western food, and even menus in English. However the further out of the main cities you go, you will find the food becomes much less westernised quite quickly.
Alcohol is widely available. Some of it is made locally such as the rice wine. However tea and coffee are also widely available wherever you go.
Currency
The currency is Vietnam is the Dong.