Teaching English in Vietnam

Useful information

If you are ready to travel

• It is advisable that you bring with you a certain amount of money to live on for food and travel costs etc. What this amount will be exactly of course depends on your own personal travel and accommodation arrangements.
• Arrange your flight and travel in advance, after we inform you about arrival dates.
• Take out travel insurance for at least on month (we only accept Global Choices insurance).
• Check that your ID card and/or passport will not expire during your stay in Viet Nam.

The UK embassy in Vietnam

Visit the official site of Foreign and Commonwealth Visit the official site of Foreign & Commonwealth Office to view the contact details of the UK’s embassy in Vietnam. A link to the embassy’s own website can be found there.

Eating and Drinking

Eating out is a delight and many westerners find themselves rapidly expanding their waistlines. Food from all over the world is available at excellent prices. Vietnamese cuisine is amongst the healthiest in the world and a meal costs from 40 cents upwards. The food is so good that few people bother to eat at home. Many restaurants have a home delivery service. There are also plenty of vegetarian restaurants in and around Ho Chi Minh City and nearly every restaurant will have vegetarian items on their menu. Local markets and grocery stores have a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The choice of bars is nearly as great as that of eateries and ranges from outdoor bars where a litre of freshly brewed beer costs about 25 cents, to the roof-top bar of a 5-star luxury hotel, with panoramic views of the city. Nightlife comes alive at the weekends when the whole city seems to take to the streets. The most popular nightspots are open until 2 - 4 AM. The wide variety of bars, discos/nightclubs and restaurants will ensure that you are never bored and give you opportunities to meet up with other foreigners and locals.

Shopping

Practically everything is available in Ho Chi Minh City. Costs vary from with those of the West, but as a general rule of thumb, everyday products are cheaper, especially if produced in Vietnam.

Travel and Transport

The bus system is improving and many new buses have been added to the city’s fleet. However, very little information regarding routes and schedules is published in English and most foreigners don’t use the inner city buses.

Driving in the city can be hazardous, as the laws of the road are not always observed and traffic can be heavy, especially at peak periods. The city centre is small and most journeys take less than 15 minutes. Because of these reasons most people travel either by automobile or motorbike taxi, which are very cheap. The first two kilometres cost about 12,000VND. Motorbike taxis are even cheaper and often used by foreigners, (7,000VND for a short trip).

Many people however rent their own motorbikes – which are readily available throughout the city - after getting accustomed to the traffic.

Roads in the city and between major centres are generally good, but travel to smaller locations can often be time consuming and a little difficult. Cheap and relatively comfortable bus services are available between the main cities. There are flights to most cities and resorts.

Cost of Living Summary

Costs are quoted in USD. "Usual" denotes a cost that you can expect to pay. (1 USD = 16,000 VND)

Average costs (US Dollar)	Min.	Max.	Usual
Restaurants
Main course in Vietnamese restaurant	0.5	4	3
Main course in good foreign owned restaurant	3.5	10	5
Coffee	0.3	1.5	0.6
Coke	0.15	1.5	0.8
Beer (33cl. Bottle)	0.6	2.5	1.6
Bars and nightclubs
Beer	1.5	3.5	1.7
Coke	1	2	1.2
Gin and tonic	3	4	3.5
Household costs
Maid (cleaning, laundry, etc.) — per month, p/p.	25
Rent - shared house - per month	165	400	225
Rent - room only - per month (inc. elec.)	170	300	200
Electricity (inc. air-conditioning) - per month, p/p.	20	30	25
Getting around the city
Taxi - per km	0.75
Motorbike taxi - per ride	0.5
Motorbike rental - per month	70
Shopping for men
Men’s shirts - foreign brand names, made for export	11
Casual trousers — foreign brand names, made for export	12
Trousers - tailor-made	18
Suit - tailor-made	80
Shirt - tailor-made	10
Adidas/ Nike sports shoes	25
Shopping for women
Skirt/ dress - tailor made (not inc. material)	6
Shirt/ blouse — tailor-made (not inc. material)	7
Shoes - hand made	25
Doctor consultations
Local doctor’s practice	1	10	5
Foreign run health centre	45

Do not hesitate to contact our staff should you have any questions.