About Steve

Welcome

Hi, welcome to Teaching ESL in Vietnam 2021. The site where you can find information about teaching in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. What to expect in the classroom and what it is like to live and work in one of the most vibrant cities in South East Asia.

The main aim of this website is to help you decide if teaching in HCMC, Vietnam is for you and how to get a job and make money as quickly as possible.

My House in Vietnam

MY STORY

My name is Steve and I have been living and teaching in Vietnam for fifteen years and now have my own school. I would like to help others to achieve their dream of teaching abroad while avoiding the pitfalls. Both my parents were teachers, my brother is a teacher and my daughter is a teacher. So it must be in the blood.

I have been living and teaching in Vietnam for the last fifteen years and have had some amazing experiences and met some fantastic people. The one thing I always wished for was one place to go to where I could find the information that would help me progress as a teacher and avoid some traps.

I would like to tell you a little more about me that may help you understand what motivates me. The first and most important thing is I am married to a wonderful Vietnamese lady and we have two children, Bao and Ngoc. We live in an extended family that includes nieces, nephews, and grandparents.

When I first met Nga she and I had great problems communicating which led to confusion and arguments. So I was motivated to both learn Vietnamese and teach her English. That’s where it started. As cliched as it sounds, I teach English to help people understand one another and avoid conflict.

I believe one of the major roads to conflict is the lack of understanding between different cultures. However, I am also fully aware that there must be some reward for the time taken to provide this opportunity to the students.

Hopefully, this website can provide at least a starting place to answer questions about teaching in Vietnam.

When I first arrived in Vietnam I wasted a lot of time finding my way around and there was no central source of information. So I have decided to give back a bit of my time in trying to help others.

WHY DO I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE

I would like to help others mainly so they can enjoy the same lifestyle I have led over the last fifteen years. I see people knocking themselves out in jobs they don’t like. And I think we all deserve to be happy. There is no greater feeling than going to work and loving what you do.

To create the opportunity for someone who may be socially disadvantaged by teaching them English ( So they can get a better life) and be paid for it is nothing less than amazing. So if I can help you become a great teacher and improve others’ lives in the process I will be happy.

THE GOAL OF MY SITE

The goal of my site is to help you help others. If I can provide enough information that helps you decide if you want to become a motivated and amazing kick-ass teacher I will be happy that I have helped start your journey. If you ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help you out.

All the best, and remember a good teacher can change your life.

I also do a side hustle with Wealthy Affiliate

Steve Hey

vietnamesl.com

 

An Overview of Vietnam

An overview of the culture in Vietnam.

The culture of Vietnam is one of the oldest in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese culture is rich and diverse and was heavily influenced by Chinese culture due to 1,000 years of Chinese rule.

To help you understand the Vietnamese it helps to know a little about the culture. In Vietnamese culture, kinship plays an important role in society. While western culture is known for its individualism, Vietnamese culture places value on the roles of the family. It is still not uncommon to find three or four generations living under one roof.

Another example of the traditional values of Vietnamese culture are that weddings are still one of the most important traditions. The value of family is a very important aspect of Vietnamese life.

There are plenty of on-line sites and books that deal with Vietnamese culture if you wish to delve deeper into this area.

Also, as a brief guide, Vietnam stretches along the coastline of the South China Sea with borders to China in its north, Laos in the northeast and center and Cambodia in the southwest. It occupies approximately 127,243 square miles (329,560 square kilometers) which is about the same size as New Mexico.

There are about 90 million Vietnamese in this are with about 9 million living in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese is the official language however a lot of Vietnamese also speak English. It is a very good idea to try to master the basics of Vietnamese as you will be shown much respect for attempting the language.

When meeting, a handshake or a small bow of the head is and appropriate form of greeting. Business cards (passed with two hands) is a valuable tool in making acquaintances. If you are given a business card, take the time to read it before putting it in your pocket.

Even though it is becoming old-fashioned, it is still wise not to point the soles of your feet towards any “household shrines” Also when summoning someone, make sure the fingers are pointed downwards not upright. Even though these will not cause any major offense it will show to your guests that you have taken the time to learn and understand some culture.

Loss of face is still important to most Vietnamese so try to be discreet and respectful if you have a problem. You might be seething with a feeling of injustice but screaming and shouting will not help. If you have a problem try to resolve it in private.

Ho Chi Minh city and places to visit.

 

The largest city (formerly known as Saigon) is H.C.M.C and one of the most dynamic and engaging cities in South east Asia. HCMC represents the new young energetic nation that has left the wars and conflicts behind it. Vietnam has boasted one of the fastest rates of economic growth in the world.

Cities like HCMC and Hanoi are abundant with modern vehicles, upscale clothing shops, excellent restaurants and grand shopping malls. It also has endless construction that runs hand in hand with ancient pagodas and old French architecture.

HCMC was originally built as part of the Khmer civilization based in what is now Cambodia and today you will find millions of motorbikes swerving past old French villas and modern skyscrapers like the Bitexco tower.

If you come to live and teach in HCMC you might also wish to explore these amazing highlights.

1) Benh Thanh market; Dig out your bargaining skills and barter with the locals for anything from fresh flowers, cheap clothes,and souvenirs. There are also a number of places you can eat so you can make a day of shopping and enjoying the local cuisine.

2) Reunification Palace; The ex-home of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. It has been converted into a museum and is frozen in time in 1975. Close your eyes and you can hear the tank knocking down the fates and storming the Palace.

3) The War Remnants Museum; A fascinating museum that documents the struggles, injustices and brutality of war. You will find a modern museum with a large selection of old weapons and equipment along with a very humanistic approach to the American / Vietnamese war.

4) District 1 and Dong Khoi. From high tea to getting high is the difference between the backpackers’ area of Bui Vien to the 5 star hotels of Dong Khoi and its surrounds.

5) District 1,2,3,7 and 10 are where you will find a lot of ex-pats who live in HCMC. However, we are now spreading out to all districts and provinces.

take the time to find out a bit more about the etiquette of Vietnam here. Etiquette in Vietnam – Be Nice – Teaching ESL in Vietnam 2021 (vietnamesl.com)