But Vietnam is more structured than many other destinations. A bachelor’s degree is legally required for the work permit. Document legalisation – getting your degree, background check, and TEFL certificate notarised and apostilled before you travel – is a step that catches many teachers off guard. And while the job market moves quickly once you’re here, the paperwork behind it takes preparation.
Understanding how the process actually works, and what to have ready before you arrive, makes the difference between a smooth start and weeks of frustration.
Who can teach in Vietnam?
Vietnam’s requirements are clear but non-negotiable on certain points. You need a bachelor’s degree in any subject. This is a legal requirement for the work permit and cannot be bypassed. You also need an accredited 120-hour TEFL certificate, a clean criminal background check, and a health check (usually done in Vietnam after you arrive).
If you hold a passport from one of the main English-speaking countries (UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa), your nationality satisfies the language requirement. Non-native speakers need to demonstrate C1-level English proficiency, typically through an IELTS score of 7 or equivalent.
Prior teaching experience is not required if you have a TEFL certificate. Under Vietnam’s current regulations (Decree 219/2025), the TEFL route – bachelor’s degree plus a 120-hour certificate – waives the experience requirement entirely. This is one of the reasons Vietnam remains so popular with newly qualified teachers.
The age question is less straightforward. Vietnam’s work permit regulations don’t set a maximum age, but the country’s general labour law includes retirement ages (currently around 56 for women and 61 for men, gradually increasing). While these don’t legally prevent a work permit being issued, many employers have a strong preference for younger teachers and may be reluctant to sponsor teachers above these thresholds. Teaching in Vietnam over 50 is possible, but the landscape is more restrictive than in some other regions like Latin America.
How the job market works
Vietnam’s TEFL market is large and active. Language centres – the biggest employers – recruit year-round, with hiring peaks around September/October and after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday in late January/February. Public schools recruit mainly from July to October.
Most teachers find work through a combination of online job boards, Facebook groups, and direct approaches to schools. Being in Vietnam when you apply is a significant advantage – schools often interview and make offers within a day or two, and they prefer candidates who can start quickly.
This is where training in Vietnam makes a practical difference. If you complete your TEFL course here, you’re already in the country with a local network, ready to interview. Many graduates on our Vietnam TEFL course move into paid work soon after finishing, often through direct introductions to schools that regularly hire from the programme.
The work permit
Vietnam’s work permit process is more involved than in some countries, but your employer handles most of it. The critical preparation step is on your side: getting your documents – degree, background check, TEFL certificate – legalised (notarised and apostilled) before you leave home. This is far easier to do in your home country than to arrange from Vietnam.
The process has been streamlined under Decree 219/2025, but it still involves multiple stages and typically takes several weeks from job offer to work permit in hand.
When Vietnam might not be the right fit
Vietnam’s degree requirement is absolute. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, this isn’t the destination for you. Cambodia and many Latin American markets are more flexible on this point.
The document legalisation process can also be frustrating if you’re trying to move quickly. Teachers who don’t prepare their paperwork before travelling often face delays of weeks or months getting documents sent back to their home country for apostilling. If you want to be teaching within days of arriving, Vietnam’s process requires more advance planning than some alternatives.
Although the work permit itself has no age cap, many employers prefer younger teachers, and the retirement ages in Vietnam’s labour law can influence hiring decisions, making Vietnam harder for teachers over 55–60 than destinations with no age considerations at all. And while Vietnam is generally very safe and welcoming, the pace of life, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, is intense. Traffic is chaotic, the heat can be relentless, and the bureaucratic processes require patience.
For teachers who prepare properly, though, Vietnam offers something few other markets can match: strong earnings, low living costs, a fascinating culture, and a genuine path to saving meaningful money while teaching abroad.
Getting started
Start with your documents. If you’re serious about Vietnam, get your degree and background check legalised before anything else. This is the step that takes longest and causes the most delays if left until the last minute.
If you’d like to train on the ground with local school connections and job support, take a look at our Vietnam TEFL course. For comprehensive detail on requirements, salaries, visa procedures, and cities, see the full Vietnam guide on Eslbase. And if you have questions, please get in touch – we’ve been helping teachers get started since 2005.
