Teaching in Vietnam is legal only with a work permit (or an official exemption), and your employer applies for it, not you. Since 7 August 2025 the rules are in Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, which replaced the foreign-worker parts of Decree 152/2020. You then enter on an LD2 work visa and can get a temporary residence card for up to 2 years. On top of that, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) sets the qualifications foreign teachers need, and these differ between international schools and language centres.
This guide explains each step for teachers from any country, including the Philippines, India and other countries where English is not the first language. We read the legal texts in October 2026. Only Decree 219 was read on an official government site; the other texts were read on Vietnamese legal databases that reproduce them, and the English wording is our own translation. Rules change, so treat this as general information, not legal advice, and check with your school and the official texts.
Teaching jobs in Vietnam for foreigners: who hires
Foreign teachers in Vietnam mostly work in three kinds of places:
| Employer | What they teach | Typical requirement for teachers |
|---|---|---|
| International and foreign-invested schools | British, IB, American, Australian or bilingual programmes | Bachelor’s degree, usually in education, plus subject experience |
| Bilingual and private Vietnamese schools | Vietnamese programme with English-taught “integrated” subjects | Bachelor’s degree plus a teaching certificate |
| Language centres | English (or other languages) for children and adults | College degree or higher plus a language-teaching certificate |
On Teacher Jobs World on 16 October 2026 there were 12 teaching jobs in Vietnam, including 7 in Hanoi and 2 in Ho Chi Minh City. Most were at international schools run by groups such as Nord Anglia Education, Inspired Education and International Schools Partnership. Every job on the board links to the school’s own page, so you apply directly.
How many international schools are there? We found no current official count. In September 2022 a Deputy Minister of Education said that more than 170 foreign-invested preschools and general schools had been set up in Vietnam (SGGP). That figure does not include Vietnamese private schools that run international programmes.
The Vietnam work permit for teachers
Who needs a work permit
Vietnam’s Labour Code 2019 says a foreign worker must be at least 18, have the qualifications and health the job needs, not be serving a criminal sentence or under prosecution, and hold a work permit unless exempt (Article 151). Employers may hire foreigners only as managers, executives, experts or technical workers for jobs that Vietnamese workers cannot yet fill, and must explain this need and get written approval (Article 152) (Labour Code, Chapter XI).
Teachers usually qualify as experts. Under Decree 219, an expert has a bachelor’s degree or higher and at least 2 years of experience in the relevant field (Article 3). Article 19 adds a route that matters for teachers: an expert in education may instead show qualifications that meet the standards in Vietnam’s Education Law, Higher Education Law or Vocational Education Law, and teachers at language or IT centres must meet the rules for those centres (Decree 219/2025, Official Gazette). The decree asks MOET to issue guidance on which degrees and certificates count. We did not find that guidance yet, so ask your school how it will prove that you qualify.
How the employer applies
Under Decree 219 (Official Gazette):
- Who issues it. The provincial People’s Committee where the employer is based (Article 4).
- When to apply. The employer files 10 to 60 days before your start date, at the local public service centre, by post, through an agent or online (Articles 6 and 22).
- How long it takes. 10 working days from a complete file. A refusal must be given in writing with reasons (Article 22).
- Contract. The labour contract is signed after the permit is issued and before you start work (Article 22).
Documents you provide
Article 18 lists the file. The parts you supply are:
- a health certificate (a foreign one is accepted only where a treaty allows it, and it is valid for 12 months),
- your passport,
- a criminal record certificate, from Vietnam or from your home country, issued no more than 6 months before the application,
- two 4 x 6 cm colour photos on a white background, and
- proof that you are an expert: your degree, and either work experience letters or the education qualifications described above.
Foreign documents need consular legalisation unless a treaty exempts them, and then a certified Vietnamese translation (Article 5). Legalisation goes through your home country’s foreign ministry and the Vietnamese embassy, and it can take weeks. Start with your police certificate, because the 6-month limit means you cannot get it too early.
How long it lasts
A work permit runs for the length of your contract, up to 2 years, and can be extended once for up to 2 more years (Decree 219, Articles 21 and 29; Labour Code, Article 155). After that, your employer applies for a new permit.
Exemptions
Some people need an exemption confirmation instead of a permit. For teachers, the main ones in Decree 219 (Article 7) are:
- foreign teachers sent by a foreign authority to schools set up at the request of embassies or international organisations,
- people MOET confirms to teach or manage international programmes at such schools,
- work of less than 90 days in a calendar year, and
- people covered by the Labour Code’s own exemptions, such as foreigners married to a Vietnamese citizen and living in Vietnam.
Even if you are exempt, your employer must get a written confirmation, valid for up to 2 years.
Qualifications MOET asks of foreign teachers
The Ministry of Education’s rules depend on where you teach.
International and foreign-invested schools
Decree 86/2018, as amended by Decree 124/2024, covers foreign cooperation and investment in education (consolidated text 09/VBHN-BGDDT). Article 38 says:
- teachers at foreign-invested general schools need at least a bachelor’s degree in education or an equivalent,
- teachers at foreign-invested preschools need at least a college degree in preschool education, and
- foreign teachers of language skills at short-term centres need at least a college degree and must meet MOET’s requirements.
For integrated programmes (foreign programmes taught alongside the Vietnamese curriculum), Article 7 asks foreign teachers for a relevant bachelor’s degree plus a teaching certificate, and anyone teaching in a foreign language needs at least Level 5 on Vietnam’s 6-level language framework.
Language centres
Circular 21/2018/TT-BGDDT on foreign language and IT centres, Article 18, sets two routes (Circular 21/2018):
- Native speakers: a college degree or higher plus a suitable certificate in teaching the language.
- Non-native speakers: one of (a) a college degree in teaching the language, (b) a college degree in the language plus a teaching certificate, or (c) any college degree plus a language certificate at Level 5 or above and a teaching certificate.
The circular does not name specific certificates. Centres commonly ask for a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate; see TEFL, CELTA and TESOL certificates explained for what each one is.
Teaching in Vietnam as a Filipino, Indian or non-native English speaker
Nothing in the texts we read bans any nationality from teaching. What changes is the proof you need:
- At a language centre, the non-native route in Circular 21 applies: a degree plus either a language degree, or a Level 5 language certificate and a teaching certificate.
- At an international school, the question is your teaching qualification and experience, not your passport. A bachelor’s in education (or a degree plus a recognised teaching qualification) and 2 years of experience fit the expert rule in Decree 219.
- Your documents still need legalisation, and your police certificate must be less than 6 months old.
If a recruiter says your nationality means you must pay for a “special visa”, treat it as a warning sign. Read our guide to teacher recruitment scams.
Vietnam work visa (LD2) and temporary residence card
Vietnam’s entry and residence law, Law 47/2014 as amended by Law 51/2019, sets two work visa types (Law 51/2019):
| Visa | For | Maximum length |
|---|---|---|
| LD1 | People with a work permit exemption confirmation | 2 years |
| LD2 | People who need a work permit | 2 years |
Once you have a work permit, you can get a temporary residence card for up to 2 years, and it must end at least 30 days before your passport expires. A spouse and children under 18 can get a dependant (TT) visa or card. Your school’s HR team normally runs these steps. Do not start teaching on a tourist visa or e-visa while you wait.
Fines for working without a permit
Decree 12/2022/ND-CP, Article 32, sets the penalties (text of Decree 12/2022):
| Who | Breach | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign worker | Working without a work permit or exemption, or with an expired one | VND 15 to 25 million, plus possible deportation |
| Employer | Using 1 to 10 foreigners without permits | VND 30 to 45 million |
| Employer | Using 11 to 20 foreigners without permits | VND 45 to 60 million |
| Employer | Using 21 or more | VND 60 to 75 million |
The Labour Code (Article 153) also allows forced exit or deportation. We could not confirm whether Decree 12 has been amended since 2022, so check the current text.
Teach in Vietnam: salary and packages
We found no official salary survey for foreign teachers in Vietnam, so we do not quote a typical figure. International schools usually list their package in the job ad or at interview. Packages at international schools can include housing, flights and medical cover; see international school salary and benefits for what to compare. When you compare offers, check whether the salary is quoted before or after tax and whether housing is provided or paid as an allowance.
Step by step: from offer to first day
- Check the job is real. Apply on the school’s own site. All jobs on Teacher Jobs World link to the school.
- Ask about the work permit. Who applies, and when? Under Decree 219 the employer files 10 to 60 days before you start.
- Order your police certificate. It must be issued less than 6 months before the application.
- Legalise your documents. Degree, teaching certificate and police certificate, then translation into Vietnamese.
- Get a health certificate. Ask whether the school wants a Vietnamese one after arrival.
- Sign the contract after the permit. The decree says the contract follows the permit.
- Enter on an LD2 visa and get your residence card.
Hiring for an August start often begins the autumn before; see the international school hiring season. If you are also looking at nearby countries, compare teaching in Thailand and teaching in China.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners get teaching jobs in Vietnam?
Yes. Employers may hire foreigners as experts for jobs Vietnamese workers cannot yet fill. A teacher usually needs a bachelor’s degree, the qualifications MOET sets for the type of school, and a work permit, which the employer applies for under Decree 219/2025.
What are the work permit requirements for an English teacher in Vietnam?
You need a degree, proof that you are an expert (2 years of experience, or qualifications that meet Vietnam’s education laws or the language centre rules), a health certificate, a police certificate issued in the last 6 months, a passport and photos. Foreign documents need legalisation and a Vietnamese translation.
How long does a Vietnam work permit last?
Up to 2 years, matching your contract. It can be extended once for up to 2 more years. Processing takes 10 working days from a complete file.
Can non-native English speakers teach in Vietnam?
Yes. For language centres, Circular 21/2018 lets non-native speakers qualify with a language-teaching degree, or a degree plus a Level 5 language certificate and a teaching certificate. International schools look at your teaching qualification and subject experience.
Can I teach in Vietnam with no degree?
Not legally as a foreign teacher. The work permit’s expert rule needs a bachelor’s degree, and MOET’s rules ask for at least a college degree at language centres and a bachelor’s at foreign-invested schools.
What happens if I teach in Vietnam without a work permit?
The worker can be fined VND 15 to 25 million and deported, and the employer faces its own fines. Do not start work before your permit or exemption is issued.