Vietnams ESL Sector | A Series of disappointments.

The education sector in Vietnam has its genuine actors but generally the entire industry is saturated, swamped if you will, in a quagmire of distasteful players.

Editorial feature about ESL in Vietnam.

The comments below were written by Marty Hoare who is a moderator of the Facebook group FETV

( Foreign English Teachers in Vietnam)

The opinions stated are not necessarily the opinions of Vietnam ESL.

However, it is good to look at the perspectives of those that have been involved in the Vietnamese Education sector for a considerable time.

For the sake of speed of readability some small parts have been edited, all with the OK of the Author.

With no further ado, let’s jump in.

A Quagmire of Disappointment |Marty Hoare, Vietnam, April 2021.

It is a sector inhabited by unprincipled operators ravenous with an appetite for effortless financial gain. Expectant students (funded mostly by ill-informed parents) are more often than not the casualty of this habitually disreputable industry.

Although the sector also has its genuine actors, the entire industry is saturated, swamped if you will, in a quagmire of distasteful players.

Background

With a growing population of approximately 100 million people, Vietnam is often referred to as the next Tiger Economy. This Tiger Economy mantra has been harmonized since the mid-1980s and continues to be vocalized through to the present day. Even with the arrival of Covid-19 early in 2020,

Vietnam’s songs of advancement continue to be heard loudly across the globe. Yet, due to the flood of questionable press, sponsored economic reports, and expensive consultancy hyperbole, the realities of Vietnam’s rapid expansion into the 21st century make the reality of the exact state of affairs in Vietnam anyone’s guess.

The ESL Industry

Much like the ESL industry in Vietnam, authenticity in this part of the world is often masked behind a veil of duplicity.

In spite of this, there is no arguing that Vietnam has seemingly progressed from a mostly agrarian insular society to one of a developing nation rhetorically unified under one flag.

Of its 100 million people and after 4 decades of growth, it is understood that 70% are rural dwellers with the remaining 30% spread across 2 major cities.

These now mega-cities heaving under the pressure of inadequate infrastructure, mass overcrowding, increasing pollution, and ever-present corruption include Ho Chi Minh City and its capital Hanoi, with the central coastal city of Danang rapidly becoming a significant regional entity.

It is also understood that in the order of 30% of Vietnam’s 100 million people are under the age of 24, often referred to as the next generation. With these numbers is it any wonder that the ESL industry in this part of the world is thriving?

English Language Education in Vietnam.

English is a compulsory subject from 3rd grade onwards. Students in Government schools are mostly taught by under-qualified Vietnamese English teachers with little English proficiency skills.

The external English language center business (also flooded with unqualified and ill experienced teachers), accounts for a large number of foreign teachers.

But literally hundreds of thousands of poorly equipped Vietnamese teachers using archaic methods of grammar exercises, often reproduced from outdated and poorly photocopied texts, and vocabulary cramming, present to scores of disenchanted students.

Public classrooms across Vietnam are stretched to breaking point under the weight of 40, 50, and even 60 or more students in each classroom.

After Class Teaching

Due to the lack of quality education delivered in classrooms across Vietnam, many parents send their children to after-school classes, commonly referred to in Vietnam as Extra Classes.

These are little more than an opportunity for Vietnamese teachers to earn additional lucrative cash income, these extra classes have little to no impact on student outcomes as many of those delivering the content are less than qualified to do so.

It is a vicious cycle and one that appears not to be slowing down. In Vietnam’s latest national high school exam results the average English score was lowest among nine subjects.

Core Results

Recognizing that English language proficiency is a crucial component to the advancement of a Tiger Economy, the National Foreign Language 2020 Project was launched back in 2008

The project attracted considerable negative public attention and feedback from those concerned; no more so than from the then and recently re-elected Minister of Education and Training, Mr. Phung Xuan Nha who in November 2016 admitted that “the National Foreign Language Project 2020 had failed”.

Lack of Qualified Teachers.

In Vietnam, there are around 8 million elementary students, 5 million lower-secondary students, and 2 million upper-secondary students enrolled in little over 15,000 primary schools, 10,000 lower-secondary schools, 2,400 upper-secondary schools, and almost 1000 mixed schools.

It’s unclear how many Vietnamese teachers there are to attend to such a large number of students. In Vietnam, however, it is estimated that there are about 260,000 instructors at the tertiary level.

In 2008 Harvard researchers Valley and Wilkinson described the Vietnamese education system as “being in a state of crisis. As we end the first half of 2021, and after many millions of dollars have been gobbled up by the system, this state of crisis remains.

A Corrupt Sector.

Vietnams corruption is well-known. In their Global Corruption Perceptions Index released in 2020, Transparency International classified Vietnam as the 36th most corrupt country out of 179 countries.

After the police, Transparency International ranked education as the second most corrupt industry in Vietnam.

If you want to see how Vietnam or your country is ranked click on the link above.

Bribery is frequent in order to gain university admission or improve grades. Bribing teachers and school administrators is also a frequent practice among parents.

A top government employee was recently proven to be a prominent culprit in the altering and falsification of exam candidates’ answer sheets in national high school examinations in a highly publicized case.

An example of this can be read about in The Vietnamese online Newspaper, Vietnam Insider.

Plagiarism in higher education, the fraudulent acquisition of academic degrees, distorted budget estimates, and the leakage of cash from public procurement initiatives, such as the National Foreign Language Project 2020, are all issues that have been widely highlighted.

Two Sides to a Story

Here we are faced with a dichotomy of judgment. On the one avaricious hand, we have Vietnamese English teachers arguing that it is their system that has failed them and their students, while on the other equally cash adoring hand we have the authorities who would have us believe that it is their teachers who are contributing to the cesspit of sludge that is Vietnam’s education sector.

As the authorities clearly stated in their Vietnam Education and Training Development Strategy, “all levels have not caught up with the reality of education and training development as people are influenced by their own personal benefits”.

Failing Proficiency levels.

Entering an IELTS exam prepared in surreptitious harmony by the Hanoi University and the British Council at the IELTS examination center exposed the inadequacies of the system.

The course students (teachers) were streamed into levels 1 to 3 depending on their band score and were introduced to the formalities of sitting, what instructors understood to be, an authentic IELTS exam.

On completion of the course. It quickly became apparent that the Vietnamese teachers’ English proficiency across the board was far below not only the official IELTS assessment criterion. It became apparent that the English Proficiency Index 2020 report entrance scores were extremely liberal.

Putting aside the blatantly obvious overzealous entrance results, over the first 7 weeks of the course instructors worked painstakingly to prepare their underprepared students for round 1 of their first of two-practice simulated IELTS exams. The outcome of the initial exam proved to be disturbing.

Students that entered the course with a certain IELTS band level were found to be at a considerably lower level. Listening and reading skills were distressingly low with writing skills taking a close second.

Although most students could navigate an English-speaking country as a tourist, engage in small talk with colleagues, and understand simple emails, they could not indulge in an in-depth discussion with native English speakers.

The scene was set for a catastrophic outcome, not to mention a tremendous challenge for instructors that continue to this day.

Candidate Feedback

The majority of the candidates indicated unequivocally that the academic aspect of the IELTS preparation course and the exam was not needed to practice their profession.

The majority of students stated that they would have preferred to be taught modern pedagogical practice with an emphasis on vocabulary and speaking skills.

It’s debatable whether or not their allegations are justified. However, it was painfully evident, based on previous experience, that the course was beyond their skills.

The unpleasant realities of a general lack of competence were exposed but ignored. The awareness that their system had failed them once more, combined with the unpleasant truth about the waste of vital financial resources, resulted in an even more negative attitude.

Vietnamese English teachers who finished the IELTS preparation course went to the Hanoi University IELTS training center to take the official IELTS exam. What the result of that was, is anybody’s guess.

The Cost of Education

In Vietnam, basic schooling is quite expensive. There are simply too many forms of school fees and contributions.

Additional school fees include enrollment and tuition, construction and repair, purchasing equipment, class fund, textbooks and stationery, uniforms, canteen, parking fees, supplementary classes at school, extra classes outside of school, insurance, parents’ association funds, and gifts and “envelopes” for teachers.

These are among the 15 major groups of fees identified by the HIDE Survey 2013.

School Problems

Schools are under-resourced, and instructors are underpaid. Parents pay construction and maintenance fees to fund school capital expenditures that are frequently diverted to other purposes.

Teachers collect a variety of donations that are far from little, with collection tactics that frequently border on harassment.

Furthermore, it is typical for instructors to make their talents and time accessible to families in exchange for monetary compensation.

As a result, these additional classes are rapidly expanding, allowing an increasing number of students to believe they have achieved higher academic levels.

Supplementary classes.

Supplementary lessons appear to be a mechanism for families to compensate for what they perceive to be instructional flaws and poor educational quality. Extra classes are frequently little more than a way for hungry teachers in collusion with even more rapacious school officials to request additional funds.

A Lucrative Business

The education market in Vietnam is tremendously lucrative. This trend is consistent with education being regarded as the second-most attractive sector in Vietnam, with two main factors driving this growth.

The first is the growing number of middle-income earners in Vietnam.
And the second is the failure of public school enrollment to keep pace with population growth.

Furthermore, parents want to provide their children with more soft skills that are not available in public institutions, and the private sector is filling the gap.

Martins Opinion

“This sludge pit will only become worse, with students being the hardest hit by these shady practices

Pigs get fat and Hogs get slaughtered is a well-known phrase that can only be used to describe this industry.

The pigs have been fattened by the cesspool of muck that is the Vietnamese school system, and if allowed unchecked, the hogs will continue to be slaughtered.”

Author: Martin P Hoare B.A., B. Teach

I speak from the position of a mature-age professional educator having had many years of involvement in the global English language sector of which 13 have been spent in South East Asia.

To read the full version of the edited article please go to the FETV Facebook group and read Martins article.

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How to engage your EFL students | English in the classroom.

TPR at work in the classroom

Engage your students.

A good teacher should always find new ways to engage the student. Looking for new content and activities for the classroom needn’t be difficult or a chore. There is a wealth of ideas and activities that can be gleaned from the internet alone. Then there are other resources like class books, flashcards, YouTube sites, and teacher forums.

A. Classroom tactics.

Almost every EFL teacher has encountered this situation: a class of pupils that are uninterested in what is going on in the classroom, regardless of how hard you worked on the lesson plan. Student involvement is a goal we all aspire for, but we also know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving it, whether we teach online or in person.

Each class has its own strengths, dynamics, expectations, and outcomes. Fortunately, we can utilize the tactics listed below to encourage involvement without appearing to be overly pushy.

Oxford University provides some excellent training videos to help you in the classroom as well, and they can be accessed via Oxford Seminars, How to motivate your students and be a better ESL teacher.

Do a warm-up activity.

A quick warm-up exercise allows you to learn about your pupils’ interests and respond favorably in order to form bonds. Everyone enjoys talking about their passions, so why not allow students to communicate with us and one other through their shared interests?

Five warm-up activities

1. The A to Z Game.

Give students a theme, for example, food, animals, countries, etc. Write the letters A to Z on the board. Teams of students must race to write a suitable word next to each letter on the board.

You can also do this without the students running around. Split the class into at least two groups. I have found the students love competing against one another. Especially a boy vs girl challenge.

You can say the alphabet and the chosen student has to give the answer. For example, A- apple, B- banana, etc.

Or you can choose a student from each team to say the alphabet in tandem. ( Penalty points apply if they get it wrong )

2. Draw what I say.

This is a great game for the listening skill. I draw a simple picture and get the students to copy what I am doing without showing the image. I will talk the students through what the picture is about.

For example, I might say draw a line in the middle of the page and on top of that line draw a house with 4 windows and 1 door. To the left of the house draw 6 flowers. In the sky draw the Sun and 3 clouds in the top left-hand corner.

You will need to pre-teach, top left-hand corner, middle of the page, and other keywords as well. This is a great test of their vocabulary skills and prepositions of place vocabulary as well.

At the end of this activity the students will have drawn some very strange stuff, so play it up and have fun with the results

.3. The memory game.

In this activity, the students need to listen closely and add on extra phrases. I normally start the game by saying something like; ” I am going on holiday and taking a camera.

Then each student adds on something else they can take while repeating everything already said. e.g. I am going on a holiday and taking a camera and a bag. Etc.

Again I split the class into two groups and do this activity several times. You can also allow the students to write down the things taken, but don’t slow down the game.

4. Charades.

Students take turns acting out a word that you offer and their classmates try to guess what it is. This is an excellent way to review vocabulary from a prior session or try out a new word.

You can play this as a team activity as well. Put 2 chairs facing forward and choose a student from each team to sit in them. Then behind their backs write a word on the board and the teams have to try to get the chosen person to say that word.

Repeat the process by changing the students who sit in the chairs. This is a lot of fun and the students enjoy this activity.

Young students especially become engrossed in this activity, and they frequently try very hard to act out the meaning of the word.

5. Hangman.

This popular filler can also be a fantastic way to begin a class with beginners who are still unfamiliar with the alphabet. Simply write a freshly taught word on the board ( In dash format ) and have the children guess a letter.

Choose a topic, let’s say food, and tell the class what the topic is and choose a word for the game. Let’s say “Grape”

On the board draw 5 dashes that correspond with the number of letters. I this case 5 _ _ _ _ _. Now the students take it, in turn, to fill in the word, the first group to guess the word wins the points.

When doing a warm-up activity consider the following;

Keep it simple and age-relevant.

A good warm-up activity should cover these points.

Simple to comprehend and implement.
Easy to execute, in the sense that they require little to no preparation.
Appropriate for the age and grade level.
Efficient use of time.
Attractive and intriguing and fun.
Getting to the point of the lesson or the target language
To encourage student participation and confidence, use familiar vocabulary.

B. Total Physical Response and gestures.

Teachers and students do not have to be passive during the learning. Try to generate answers by urging them to raise their hand if they have a question or give a thumbs up if they enjoy something.

Students are more involved if they feel the teacher is having fun. So introduce T.P.R into the classroom. T.P.R involves using body language to help students understand a word or phrase.

An example of this is, brush your teeth then doing the action of brushing your teeth. This is a particularly useful technique for teaching younger students.

Learners in an online classroom can answer in a similar fashion by using emoticons or a group board to write on or even in a chat pod

You can find out more about teaching styles and Total Physical Response on my older blog. “Teaching English Abroad”

C. Praise your students.

Praise has a direct impact on students’ perceptions of success and failure. Many pupils assume that their teachers’ assessments of their abilities are the only ones that matter. This isn’t always the case, though. Even an average student may learn to excel with the right direction and perseverance.

It is critical that teachers recognize their incredible potential to influence their students’ ideas. If a teacher can make kids believe in themselves, they will be able to attain new heights and explore new horizons.

To be useful, positive comments must be specific and related to the outcome being discussed. “Great job” is nice, but “I loved how well-structured your argument was” is even better and gives your students a clear path to follow in order to achieve a better outcome.

D. No negative comments.

There is nothing more demoralizing for a student to be told they are lazy and not doing well in the classroom. Try to find out the reason for their apparent laziness or learning difficulties.

It may well be they are helping their family out in the shop after school and not getting to bed until midnight. Even the truly lazy student can be turned around with words of encouragement and praise.

Students who have received effective praise are not afraid of failure or setbacks. These are seen as stepping stones to achievement by them. They see setbacks as opportunities to develop new skills and expand their knowledge. To them, the method or manner by which they failed becomes one of the methods by which they succeed.

E. Create a positive atmosphere.

A pleasant learning environment is one in which each student feels accepted, at ease, respected, and capable of expressing themselves.

It’s crucial to be receptive to what pupils say, and as a teacher, you should constantly remember to set the tone. So, when a student talks, wait for them to finish; praise them when they give a viewpoint, and act appropriately when they show their feelings.

This is probably easier in an online context, as non-verbal reactions on camera can be used to build and reinforce bonds between students.

If there is only one thing you take away from this article, it should be, have FUN in the classroom. You will enjoy teaching more and the student will enjoy learning much more.

Conclusion

There are many things to think about when trying to engage students whether in the classroom or online, and these are but a few ideas. I hope it has provoked some thought about how you will engage your next class.

What is your favorite strategy to engage your students in the learning process? What have I left out?

Who am I and what do I do?

I am an EFL teacher who has been living in Vietnam for 15 years and now have my own school. . I also do teacher placements in Vietnam. If you want to look at my school click on the YouTube button below.

Life in Vietnam can be both fun and challenging, it depends on you how much you wish to enjoy it. But there are some big cultural differences. Those that can accept that do well, those that don’t, not so well.

I hope you enjoyed this brief read.

Stephen

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

What is it like living in Vietnam as an Ex-Pat?

Vietnam has grown in popularity and it is now widely acknowledged as a safe place for ex-pats to live and work. The pleasant weather, inexpensive cost of living, vibrant culture, and gradual improvements in Vietnam’s infrastructure all attract ex-pats.

These are some of my thoughts and experiences about living in Vietnam for the past 15 years.

My experiences living in Vietnam.

When I first arrived at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city the first thing I noticed was the smell. The locals smelled different, and that is because they do not eat so much beef and have a more mixed diet.

And I was told later that it is the same for Vietnamese. The Vietnamese can smell the meat coming out of foreigners pores.

That was more than 15 years ago. When I first came it was after the breakup of my first marriage, and I wanted to see a completely different culture.

The first time was a 3 week holiday and I traveled from Hanoi to Halong Bay then onto Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hoi An, and then Ho Chi Minh city. it was during this time I fell in love with the country.

You can find out more about Vietnam here.

A brief return home.

I returned home and immediately decided to get a Tesol degree so I could teach English in Vietnam. That was the start.

Returning to Vietnam I secured a teaching job promptly after a mishap in Hanoi. I had been offered a job in Hanoi where it was said to be close to the city.

My introduction to Vietnam

I flew up to Hanoi and was met at the airport by the school owner, who then drove me around for ages under the pretext of buying books. Just when it was getting dark he took me to his school and my promised accommodation.

The school was 2 hours from the capital and in the country. My accommodation was an unairconditioned room with a hole in the wall. it was a rather sleepless night battling the mosquitos.

Two days later I packed my bags and headed to Ho Chi Minh city. I arrived in HCMC and got a job in the first week.

This is when I knew I would be in for some very interesting experiences.

The next few years.

The next few years went in a blur of working, meeting new friends, and having a great time. I established myself as a well-liked and known teacher and worked in various schools. I even spent 9 months working in Pleiku in the highlands of Vietnam.

During holidays I also traveled to Cambodia and Thailand. It is very cheap to travel around South East Asia and I made the most of it.

Outside my house in GoVap, HCMC. My photo.

Fast forward to today.

I am now living in Go Vap in ho Chi Minh city. A district that does not have a lot of foreigners in it. I have some amazing stories and have been on some incredible adventures.

But quite often it is the unexpected things that take your breath away. For example, coming home one night I ran into this outside my house. My neighbors were celebrating TET with a dragon dance.

The dragon dance originated in China about 2,500 years ago. The Vietnamese dragon dance is not just seen as a dance. It is a form of displaying martial arts, as the performers should be Kung Fu masters.

Without the Kung Fu component, it would be seen as just a soulless puppet performance.

TET holiday

Tet is the big holiday of the year with a lot of activities and things to do. If you have only been in Vietnam for a short time it may seem boring because most activities are done at the home.

Tet Nguyên Dán, more usually abbreviated to Tet, is Vietnam’s most prominent and well-known holiday and festival. The name Tet Nguyên Dán means “Feast of the First Morning” in Sino-Vietnamese.

The dates of Lunar New Year vary from year to year, although it usually falls in late January or early February. Tet Holiday is considered the perfect time for family members to return home and gather together.

For Vietnamese the Tet Holiday is an opportunity to relax and enjoy life after a long year of hard labor; as a result, people forget about their problems and concentrate on the festivities. They will also spend time shopping and visiting pagodas and temples during this time.

Tet is a time to relax, eat and enjoy life. And shop. district 1 in HCMC. My photo.

Pagodas and temples.

It is the sights, sounds, and smells that make Vietnam such an amazing place to visit. Often at night, you will hear the monks chanting when you are safely tucked up in bed. They will be up early and stay awake late and it is enchanting to listen to as you drift off to sleep.

Buddhism in Vietnam

Buddhism, mostly of the Mahayana branch, is the most widely practiced religion in Vietnam. The exact date of Buddhism’s entrance to Vietnam is unknown.

However, it is most likely around the year 200 of the Christian era. It arrived by northern routes from Central Asia and southern routes from India.

Types of Buddhism in Vietnam

Taoism, Chinese spirituality, and the indigenous Vietnamese religion all have a symbiotic relationship with Vietnamese Buddhism.

The three Mahayana School of Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Vajrayana, are the most popular among Buddhists in Vietnam.

Pure Land Buddhism ( Amidism ) and Zen Buddhism have taken over Buddhist life in Vietnam. Pure Zen was largely followed by monks and nuns, whereas Pure Land Buddhism was chosen by the general public.

You will see monks walking down the street wearing no shoes and yes. it is still a common sight in the outlying districts.

My local Buddhist monastery. My photo.

What do I do now?

I now have my own school and am married to a Vietnamese lady. We have been teaching online as Vietnam has been quite badly affected by Covid. I also do teacher placements in Vietnam. If you want to look at my school click on the YouTube button below.

My School in Vietnam

I hope you enjoyed this brief read.

Stephen

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

What are the stereotypes of English teachers in Vietnam?

Teaching English in Vietnam.

People have predicted that things will change in Vietnam in terms of ex-pats for years But, it is evident that very little has changed in the last 15 years.

The majority of foreign workers work as teachers in schools (whether ESL, Japanese, Korean, International Schools, or universities).

However, in school management, administration, and other fields, there are extremely few foreigners. It’s all about teachers, teachers, and more teachers. So, why hasn’t it altered all that much?

Click here to find out more on Teaching in Vietnam.

The Asian model.

People have tossed out estimates like 70% of foreign employees are teachers and the remainder are anything else.

From small business entrepreneurs, freelancers, corporation ex-pats, or on the low end – Chinese and Korean laborers working in Chinese and Korean companies.

Expats’ evolution in business in East and Southeast Asia has been uneven. While some countries want you to stay in their country for the rest of your life, not all of them are made equal.

Two Models

There are two models to choose from in Asia. You have the Korea and Singapore models, where foreigners began as instructors and trainers and progressed to leading universities, businesses, and advising non-governmental organizations.

Then there’s the Chinese approach, which entails simply being a teacher. This has occurred in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Thailand and Malaysia were the exceptions, but it is apparent that Thailand has returned to the China model.

More progress needs to be made.

It’s disappointing that more experienced foreign personnel are unable to assist in the administration of some of the universities.

They could implement more efficient policies and assist in the modernization of some of the curriculum (which happened in the case of Singapore).

It would be excellent if more progress was made in this area, even if foreign workers are only noticed or valued in the education sector. At the very least, both Vietnamese students and foreign workers may have additional possibilities.

The school stereotypes

In Vietnam, female teachers outnumber their male counterparts by a large margin. Many Vietnamese regard the imbalance as unimportant, but educational specialists believe that the lack of male role models in education has a negative impact on the development of well-rounded students.

“Children are constantly exposed to pictures of men as pilots or engineers, while women are depicted as teachers or tailors,” she explained.

More women than men are thought to have chosen this profession because it allows them to balance work and family life.

Many Vietnamese believe that teaching is not a difficult profession and that as a result, women have more time to spend with their families.

So it can often be seen as a foreign English teacher in Vietnam, that the preference for males is somewhat sexist.

More foreign teacher stereotypes.

The level of English language instruction in Vietnam has been widely criticized, owing to a variety of ‘traditional’ reasons such as huge class sizes and inefficient and poor teacher training.

The ‘difficult’ learner, in particular, is frequently singled out for blame: The most common learning methods are described as ‘passive,’ ‘traditional, mechanical, and occasionally reluctant. S

Students are reported to be insecure, reliant on memorization and prone to blunders, and lacking in communicative and critical thinking skills. This supposed “learning culture” is thought to be “tough to change.”

Cultural Bias.

Quite often this is just an example of foreign teachers bringing their own cultural bias to the classroom.

It’s important to note that traditional Vietnamese teaching methods are teacher-centered, book-centered, and grammar-focused rather than pronunciation-focused. There is also a strong emphasis on rote memorization.

English, which is taught using Western cultural methods, is the polar opposite of this form of instruction.

Right or wrong this is not our country, and we are guests in a foreign land and should accept cultural differences.

Things are changing and we must wait for the change to happen before we judge or try to force change.

You can find out more about etiquette in Vietnam here

There are some annoying things in English schools.

English teachers are employed in both government and private schools in Vietnam to teach English to youngsters. Teachers are not employed by the government school.

Instead, Vietnamese language schools hire teachers and send them to different schools to conduct lessons.

The benefits of this include that language schools give the syllabus and teaching materials, as well as professional development opportunities.

The downsides.

Schools prefer white faces and younger teachers. Whether you are qualified or not, it is much easier to get a job if you are young and white. Even this is slowly changing.

Here is a Reddit post regarding this subject.

Q. I am a British graduate of Indian origin with a TEFL. Though I don’t look British, my English is perfect. How difficult would it be to find work as a brown-skinned dude in Vietnam?

A. You’ll be fine, just not as easy as attractive white men.

I think Vietnam is the least racist of Asian countries I’ve been to. But they ARE very forward.

Overweight a few pounds? You got fat!

Black? You’re the first black person they’ve seen not in the movies! Let me touch your skin!

Locks for hair? Omg, they’re gonna touch that.

Arm hair? Yeah, that too.

Don’t worry they’re very nice, they just have no filter and don’t realize other cultures find it rude.

I think this explains it all, while not trying to be racist there are no laws in place to stop explicit requests for young white foreign males.

Conclusion

if you leave your cultural biases at home, you will be fine. If you can’t, it is probably better that you do not come.

There are some teachers who have been here for only a short time and think they know everything about the country. They will try to get discounts on everything and get angry if they are charged $1.00 more than the locals. This is petty, in my opinion.

And you will also lose face with the locals, so grin and bear it. Remember you are making a lot more than the local population and they know it.

Who am
I?

My name is Stephen and I have been teaching in Vietnam for 15 years. I have taught in both state schools and private schools and now have my own English school.

You can check out my school below on my YouTube channel.

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

How to help your child learn English at home.

Why you should teach your child English at home.

Helping your child learn English at home.

With schools closed due to the Corona virus, parents all over the world are wondering how they can help their children learn English at home. Sure, teachers are teaching online, but as parents, we can do a lot more.

When instructors and parents collaborate, children have a better chance of succeeding in school. Every interaction you have with your child during the day can be used to help them develop their English skills.

Here are some ideas to help home study.

Have fun.

We have a lot of duties as busy parents. It’s all about finding the appropriate balance when it comes to teaching or leading the learning process at home.

Teachers in schools must plan timetables and lessons for the entire class. You have more freedom to focus on your child’s preferred interests and activities when you learn at home. You can consider what will be most beneficial to your child.

Learners of all ages achieve more when they enjoy and find their work engaging and meaningful. Don’t be frightened to have a good time!

Try new things.

There are a lot of online resources to help, so do not be scared to try different things. You have English learning apps, websites, English rhymes, and songs to name a few. To find out how your child likes to learn and what things do they enjoy.

Children’s picture books

For young children learning English, this method can open them to a whole new realm of learning. It can be difficult to select the correct books, but it is critical to recognize the advantages of having this one-on-one relationship with your child.

Picture books give parents and children a compelling incentive to change from their native language to English. The predefined text of a picture book is a very valuable prop for parents who perform poorly in English.

Flashcards.

Flashcards can be a very useful tool. Especially for the beginner or younger learner. Teaching individual worlds is an important part of the learning process and flashcards provide pictures along with the words and pictures.

Rather than a boring home lesson you can make it fun by turning learning into a game. For example, You can buy 2 sets of the same flashcards and play a memory-based game.

Place the flashcards face down and your child has to remember where the 2 that are the same were placed. Laugh and learn will also instill a desire from your child to learn.

==> Using flashcards to teach English <==

Rhymes and songs

Repeating rhymes and songs is a fun method of learning new vocabulary in English. You can create a collection of songs that your child can listen to over and over to become comfortable with keywords.

==> Rhymes and songs to learn English <==

Apps that help your child learn English

Improve your child’s English skills with these entertaining and educational applications! These games, podcasts, videos, and quizzes are designed for kids of all ages and will help them learn English at home or on the go. You can learn more about them by clicking here.

==> Apps for children to learn English <==

Comics, TV, and video games.

Who doesn’t love cartoons, comics, and playing online games.? Okay, not everyone. But a lot of children do. And if you can get your child to read comics, watch cartoons and play games in English, they will learn faster.

Find what they enjoy doing and try to get them to do it in English. The cartoon network in English is a great tool for home learning.

Word searches and other games

Word searches can be a great tool as long as they are not overused. They can be used as a reward for a lesson well done.

However, as a stand-alone tool, it is questionable. It certainly helps with word recognition if used in the right way. Find a word search that relates to the topic you are teaching and the words you have taught.

There are online word search makers that you can use to specifically target the words taught in your childs lesson.

Things to think about.

What does your child like to do in his or her spare time? Drawing? going outside to play? comics? Do they enjoy reading stories? Dancing? indoor games or puzzles?

Make an effort to engage in some of their favorite activities in English.

Is your child more active at different times of the day? Do they like the mornings or the afternoons? What do they do after learning? Do they want something to eat? Choose the perfect moment to tackle the most difficult tasks!

What is your child’s preferred method of absorbing information? Is it possible to teach off-the-cuff during these times? Make a list of what works best for them.

Do you want your child to be able to make their own decisions about their education? Or do they prefer to make decisions with you? Always remember to ask them for their opinions and to encourage them as they build their own study skills.

Can I help if I don’t speak English?

Yes! Encouragement and praise are the finest ways to provide the best support for your child. This boosts your child’s self-esteem and belief in their own abilities.

Encourage children when they take charge of their own education and congratulate them on their efforts

You could even give your youngster the task of teaching English to a member of your family. Did you know that one of the most effective methods to learn is to teach someone else? You could even ask that they teach you.

Conclusion.

Whatever you do, make it fun. Your child will love you all the more for you taking the time out of your day to spend with them.

To develop the love of learning in your child will mean they will want to learn and they will increase any learning skill quicker.

Remember the first skill in learning any language is the listening skill, so the more they listen to English, the faster they will learn.

And be patient, learning anything takes time. And learning a language is one of the most difficult things to do. But small steps now will lead to big leaps in the future.

Who am I?

I am an EFL ( English as a Foreign Language ) teacher who owns a school in Vietnam. I have been here for 15 years and experienced most teaching situations.

From teaching in state schools with 50 plus students to a class to one on one private lessons. I have taught in English centers both good and bad, and the bad decided me to open my own school.

You can check out my school in Vietnam below by hitting on the YouTube button.

My school in Vietnam

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

How to teach English in Vietnam

Teaching English in Vietnam

For several years, teaching English in Vietnam has been highly popular. The unique culture, vibrant marketplaces, tropical environment, and friendly people are all reasons to visit.

Vietnam stretches along the South China Sea’s coast and has borders with three other nations. It has become a popular destination for backpackers, vacationers, and English teachers.

Because the locals are eager to learn English, there are numerous options to teach both adults and children.

Currently, most schools are teaching online but once the classrooms reopen you will be expected to be fully vaccinated against Covid.

What kinds of jobs are available?

Having a TESOL or TEFL qualification can provide you a big edge in the eyes of your employer if you want to be an EFL instructor, especially in Vietnam. What kinds of teaching jobs can you get with them, though? Continue reading to find out!

Get Qualified.

Before you start your journey as a teacher you will need to be TEFL or TESOL qualified. You can use a course provided by UDEMY to get your Teaching Certificate.

Teaching Online

Teaching online has become the norm recently as schools are still closed because of the effect of Covid. This has presented some learning curves for teachers who are used to classroom teaching. You can find out some of my favorite tools for teaching online. ==> HERE <==.

Classroom Teaching.

Once the schools reopen there will be an urgent need for qualified and vaccinated teachers. There are job advertisements being placed on various Facebook groups already. Below are the general types of employment you can expect.

Vietnam English Teaching Schools and also HCMC ESL Teaching jobs are 2 such groups you can find jobs.

Language Schools:

Language schools abound in Vietnam’s cities and towns. Finding a job in large cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Min City is surprisingly simple. A TESOL or TEFL certificate, as well as a bachelor’s degree, are required for the best (and highest paying) professions. However, finding English teaching positions as a native speaker is still rather easy.

Teachers pick language schools for a variety of reasons, including reliability, assistance, and professional growth. These institutions normally provide a lot of workshops, training, and managerial meetings for new teachers.

Another benefit is that they frequently offer incentives like contract completion allowances, relocation packages, and overtime as well as covering the costs of visas and work permits.

If you don’t like waking up early in the mornings, this may be a good option for you.

The cons of Language Schools.

Working in a language school has a couple of disadvantages. One is that you need to sign a contract that commits you to that particular company. There can also be a set amount of hours outlined in the contract, but this can also be flexible.

This usually translates to a weekend and a set weekday routine, which may limit your vacation options. Your normal working hours will be in the evenings Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sundays.

Be very careful when signing contracts as there are sometimes penalty clauses for arriving late to work. And with the traffic in the bigger cities, you are going to be late at least some times. It can be very annoying to be docked one hour of pay if you are 5 minutes late. Read your contract.

Another problem can be these institutions will frequently allow pupils to go to the following level. Even when the student is not ready to advance to the next grade level. This can be aggravating for English teachers as well as pupils’ peers.

Public Schools

Teaching in State schools is another popular route for the EFL teacher to take. The State schools normally get their EFL ( English as a Foreign Language) teachers from private companies. These companies can loosely be termed recruitment agencies at best. At worst, they are just cannon fodder for providing teachers. They advertise heavily on Facebook groups.

Working in State schools comes with its own pros’ and cons’. On the upside, you are working through the day and have the weekends off to explore your new city and surroundings.

The normal hours at State schools are from 7 am to 4 pm. However, you will be allocated classes that run up to one and a half hours in length. If you have no classes you do not need to stay at the school.

Be prepared for a long lunch if you work in a state school, as often the students will have a break between 11 am and 1 pm.

The cons’ of State schools.

The biggest complaint you will hear from teachers is the size of the class. Expect 50 students in your class and anything less is a bonus. So imagine teaching 50 noisy students in a large classroom. There are some tools that make teaching easier that I have written about before. You can look => HERE <== to find out more.

International Schools.

A few years of teaching experience is frequently required for a position in an international school. However, it can provide ongoing career development chances as well as significant benefits such as flight reimbursement and housing allowance.

You’ll primarily be teaching English to Vietnamese youngsters who are either ex-pats or rich. These schools are typically placed in well-off residential suburbs.

Obtaining a list of schools from online groups or ex-pat directories can help you find these schools. Keep in mind that, unlike language schools, these positions are normally only accessible throughout the summer months of June through August.

Private Tuition.

Teaching private English courses in Vietnam, particularly in the larger cities, is quite simple. The biggest benefit is that teachers have far more flexibility and earn far more per hour than those who work in language schools.

Finding pupils is as simple as advertising yourself in local papers or online on a regular basis. Because most parents still do not understand English, it is preferable if you have some Vietnamese language abilities.

Or employ an assistant to help you in your marketing attempts. Teachers can also rely on word-of-mouth and publish notices in neighborhood hangouts to get good results.

Teaching private English sessions can be unpredictable, and it can be difficult to make a living doing it full-time when you first arrive. Some teachers use private tuition to supplement their classes or online teaching activities.

But once you have been here for a while you will attract students who will look for private tuition. It is not uncommon for some reputable teachers to work full time in their own business and make substantially more than teaching in the schools.

Open Your own Language Center.

A natural progression is to move from private tuition to opening your own language center. Create your own language school.

Setting up your own language center is an excellent idea if you want to pursue business in addition to teaching. You’ll be the boss as well as a teacher, allowing you to still pursue your passion for teaching.

Your company location can be your own house or a rented space. Having a TEFL or TESOL degree and teaching experience will assist you greatly in attracting students.

You would need to set up all the necessary legal requirements for running a school in Vietnam. There are a lot of English-speaking lawyers who can help in this matter.

Become a curriculum designer

Many English centers have openings for this position. This is more of a management position. Planning and creating the curriculum and particular courses, coordinating the teaching schedule, and conducting teacher development seminars are all common roles.

Become an EFL Textbook Writer

You can utilize your knowledge and experience to design and sell textbooks and supplemental materials. Many book publishers want to work with experienced teachers since they can benefit from your expertise and experience.

Qualifications Needed.

Officially, a native English speaker with a bachelor’s degree is required to obtain a work visa in Vietnam. In addition, a criminal background check is required. A TEFL or TESOL certificate and work experience is becoming increasingly required.

Work visas can be arranged in-country and it’s still allowed to arrive in Vietnam on a three-month tourist visa and look for work. When you find a job your new employer will normally assist you with the relevant documentation. A health check will also be needed.

Your new employer may or may not pay for your visa, therefore it’s a good idea to set aside some money ($50-$100) for this expense.

The cost of a visa varies depending on the kind and length of your stay. Make sure you include official documentation, such as your university diploma or teaching certificate. And it is preferable to have it notarized at your local consulate or before you arrive.

There are or were some schools that flouted the law ( Regarding paperwork ) and have got away with it for a long time. It is still possible to find employment without qualifications but is becoming increasingly harder to do so.

N.B. With the rise of Covid, it has also become necessary to be fully vaccinated if you wish to return to classroom teaching.

Find out about “resolution 105′ ==> HERE <== and how it affects teachers.

Conclusion.

Choose the type of teaching experience you want. Most full-time employment will require you to work 15-25 hours a week in the classroom, plus prep time. Other language schools will hire part-time teachers, expecting you to tutor or work at a variety of locations.

Your lessons will typically last 45 to 90 minutes, and you will frequently teach five classes per day, five to six days per week.

When lesson planning, office hours, and other activities are factored in, teachers should expect to work 30-40 hours per week in full-time jobs.

The schools are planning to start reopening from December, so hopefully, everything will be getting back to some form of normality soon.

Who Am I?

My name is Stephen and I have been living and teaching in Vietnam for 15 years. I have my own school as well as providing fully qualified teachers to schools in Vietnam.

You can look at my house in Vietnam below.

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

What Teachers day is like in Vietnam with Covid.

This year Vietnam Teachers day is very sad.

Yesterday was just Teachers day.

Like the song, “yesterday seems so far away” this years Teachers day was a bit sad. This years Teachers day coincided with Childrens day. A time normally spent celebrating both Teachers in Vietnam and Children around the world.

Childrens Day.

Saturday, November 20, 2021, is World Children’s Day. Children’s Day is a worldwide celebration usually filled with love and laughter. On their designated dates, all UN member countries commemorate Children’s Day.

Children’s Day is usually a lighthearted occasion with a serious message. International Children’s Day provides an opportunity to promote and celebrate children’s rights, which will help them to live in a better world.

It seems to be appropriate that it falls on the same day as Teachers’ day in Vietnam.

Vietnam Teachers day.

The same day as Teachers day in Vietnam. This is when students express their gratitude and admiration for their teachers. During the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day holiday schools have concerts, recitals, and exhibitions, which are commonplace.

Students prepare food and flowers for the events. On a regular basis, classes are canceled for the day. Students, on the other hand, frequently attend school in the morning and some even spend the entire day participating in these activities.

Find out more about a normal “Teachers day” ==> HERE <==

This occasion is marked by a wide range of events.

Students have typically been practicing and planning for several weeks prior to the performance. Traditional costumes and dances will be displayed alongside the pupils’ renditions of K-pop or V-pop.

Everything is normally a lot of fun and highly entertaining. Unfortunately this year it was a bit sad.

A Sad Year

Most Vietnamese schools celebrated Vietnamese Teachers’ Day with flowers, balloons, gifts, and greetings, however, there were no pupils because of Covid-19. Without the participation of some Teachers and all the students, this year’s celebrations have become less exciting than normal.

You can read more in the ==> HANOI TIMES <==

The Hurdles of Teaching with Covid

Covid-19 has posed unprecedented hurdles to the education sector, posing significant obstacles for both instructors and students.

In Vietnam’s largest cities, the majority of schools teach online. Online lessons, on the other hand, mean a lot more effort on the part of both teachers and students.

For some parents, this means their children will be unable to participate in online lessons. Because of the high cost of computers and the lack of government subsidies, many people are forced to forego studies.

Time will tell if this generation will be known as the under-educated Covid generation.

Teachers day for foreigners in Vietnam.

Foreign instructors who have lost their jobs because of school closures face additional humiliation and loneliness because of the stigma of foreigners supposedly having Covid.

Many foreign teachers are having a terrible time right now. The majority of the workers were hourly workers who are now out of work.

For many foreign teachers, it has been nearly six months since their last paycheck, and some are even begging on the streets. What can you do if you don’t have food and no income? It is not an option to be proud.

Some are lucky and have secured jobs teaching online. Some are not so lucky and are battling with paying rent and putting food on the table.

Teaching Online.

Although many language teachers have attempted to teach online, some parents are unwilling to pay the entire amount for online sessions.

For newer teachers, online lessons can be as low as a third to half of the standard rate. And for some, finding those students can be difficult. Especially if you have no knowledge of the Vietnamese language.

The parents want their children to learn but may themselves either have a basic grasp of the language, or no English skills at all.

However, if you have a large following, parents will be willing to pay extra. And if you’re known for being a terrific teacher, you won’t have to discount anything.

“Something is better than nothing,” some are saying. “Business as usual” for others.

A Glimmer of Hope. Maybe!

Schools are starting to advertise more for online teachers. However, a lot of the English centers have closed, and finding a well-paying job is more difficult.

The airlines are just starting to re-open along with some businesses. Covid rates have increased as one would expect. Lockdowns and continued pressure on the local populace though have forced the government into slowly opening things again.

An example of the confusion at the moment is the karaoke bars were allowed to re-open. So the owners went out and re-employed staff and got everything up and working again. Only to be told 2 days later they were closing them down again.

But This is About the Students.

So who are the ones who suffer the most? Yes, the children are hurting the most, both educationally and in some cases emotionally.

This has been one of the most difficult times in Vietnam’s history for teachers and pupils.

The pandemic’s aftermath threatens to undermine this generation’s chances and limit their options well into adulthood.

The long-term consequences may jeopardize their chances of attending college and, eventually, finding a satisfying profession that allows them to support their family.

It’s not just about the learning.

During the pandemic, students lost more than just academic knowledge. Some have lost family members; others have lost employment and sources of money for their parents and caretakers, and almost all have experienced some type of social isolation.

Mental health issues also raise a huge concern.

There has been a rise in the number of people who are depressed. Social disengagement, self-isolation, tiredness, and unreasonable worries have all been reported by the parents of my students. Some students have developed an obsession with cleanliness, which they demonstrate by constantly washing their hands.

What’s the Upshot?

Schools will very certainly need to address the pandemic’s broader consequences for pupils who have been traumatized.

The teachers will once again step up to the front line and assist and support your children.

Why? Because we are teachers.

I leave you with this.

Here are some simple thoughts about what my students want to do after this horrible pandemic is contained. I wish them all the best in their wishes.

Thuy.

“I want to go to Australia because there are kangaroos there. I want to go back to Nha Trang after the pandemic. I want to be an agricultural engineer in the future.”

Ngoc.

“When I grow up I wanna be a person that can pay my bill and taxes and manage all my time I don’t really care what job I will do in the future but I hope it will be a job with decent pay but if I have to choose one job it would be a baker because my dad is a baker and I hope to make great pastries like him and create my own cakes someday.”

Vy.

“In 2025, I will be 18 years old, of course, I will send money back to my parents and then because then I am old enough to work part-time course the rent we will also split in half and if after I turn 18 I still live with my parents for example when I am 30 then sure the whole rent and including electricity bill will be paid by me and when I’m 30 years old and still living with my parents, that means I don’t have a husband or you love something, my parents will kick me out of the house.”

Simple dreams and simple ambitions like everyone around the world. I hope next “Teachers day” will be a lot happier for everyone than this one has been.

Click ==> HERE <== if you want to find out what Vietnamese students are like.

Who am I?

My name is Stephen and I have been teaching in Vietnam for 15 years and own 2 schools. I love traveling and meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. You can check out my house in Vietnam below on YouTube.

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

What are Vietnamese Students really like?

This is a post about how Vietnamese students view themselves and the overall problems facing students and teachers alike.

How do Vietnamese students see themselves?

When I ask my students what they think about the schools and teachers in Vietnam the main response is “Boring”. And the result is the students see themselves as lacking and describe themselves as lazy. But let us look behind the scenes a bit more.

The number of students in the school and classroom is huge. It is not uncommon for a class to have 50 students and if you get a class with only 30 students you should consider yourself lucky. This is not conducive to good teaching. There is not much individual teaching done in the classroom.

Very basic classroom tools.

Teachers tend to stand in front of the blackboard and write down the lesson of the day and then get the students to copy. While the students are copying the lesson into their notebooks the teacher will often just sit behind his or her desk and play with their phone.

There is also a distinct lack of technology in the classroom. Whatever technology is in the classroom is often paid for by the parents. Televisions, microphones, and DVD players are more common. But don’t expect a classroom full of computers.

And there are reasons for all of the above too. It is not an easy fix. Let us start with the problems the teachers face.

Teachers Problems

The native teachers of Vietnam have to deal with a lot of problems. And some of these only come to light after you have been teaching here for a while.

After teaching here for about 5 years, I got to talk to one of the teachers. She was worried because she was having another baby. Baby number 3. It seems the Ministry of Education frowns on more than 2 babies per family, so she was worried this would adversely affect her career. That blew me away as I thought this sort of thing only happened in China.

Another problem we can all relate to is that they are grossly underpaid. Their monthly income barely pays for rent and the cost of living. Only a few years ago they were getting the equivalent of $300 to $500 per month. Living in a big city makes it very difficult to make ends meet.

Extra activities

As a result of this, a lot of teachers take on extra teaching activities at home. Sometimes informing the parents that if their children don’t attend the extra classes they will get bad grades. This would seriously affect the students’ post-school ambitions.

Scheduling and timetables are a huge drain on the teachers of Vietnam. With classes starting at 7.00 to 7.30 am and going through to 4 or 5 pm, this is a seriously long day. As well as the long day the teachers are pushed into taking as many classes as possible while still having their own “home class” to look after.

As mentioned before class sizes are huge, with classes of 50 plus students not uncommon. In fact, they are more the norm rather than the exception. Pity the poor introvert teacher who has 55 talkative outgoing students in their class.

Lesson planning helps overcome this and you can find out more ==> HERE <==

Vietnamese English teachers.

When I first started teaching in the public schools I thought all the Vietnamese English teachers would come up to me and want to talk. No, it didn’t happen, and I started to think it must be me. But it wasn’t, they were scared that if they talked to me they would be found out that their English language skills were lacking.

Some of the faults of the Vietnamese English teachers are probably easy to understand. They focus more on Grammar than pronunciation. The outcome being the students know the grammatical aspects of the English language better than most native English speakers. However, they either can’t speak or are very limited in their speaking skills.

Native English speakers

And it is for this reason that native English speakers from the USA, England, Australia, and many other countries are employed to teach in the schools. Often this is also funded by the students’ parents.

Don’t get me wrong. There are some seriously good Vietnamese English teachers out there. But they are in the minority and are more progressive in their teaching approach. And even though I haven’t been told, I would think the “establishment” would consider their teaching methods too liberal.

Teaching English is both profitable and fun if you are a good teacher. But first, you have to learn before you earn. Udemy is a great resource for studying anywhere in the world. To check out their classes click the link below.

Now is a great time to get your English teaching license as the borders in Vietnam are just starting to open. You can find out more about International flights ==> HERE <==

The Vietnamese students | What are they like.

When it comes to learning English, Vietnamese students face many problems. It’s difficult in schools where class sizes are huge and English teachers are scarce in both quantity and quality.

One of the key issues is proper pronunciation. Students find it difficult to converse in English as a result of current teaching methods. English education should focus on helping students to speak and communicate effectively in the real world, not just on grammar.

Time-traveling.

When I started my journey as an EFL ( English as a foreign language) teacher, I envisioned spending 1 or 2 years in a lot of countries around the world. Time for “time-traveling”

I came to Vietnam first on holiday about 16 years ago after my first marriage fell apart, and I was desperately looking for something. But didn’t know what I was looking for.

I traveled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city and met some amazing people, both locals and fellow tourists. I stopped off at a lot of places and had a great time.

After returning to my home country I knew I had been bitten by the travel bug. So I sorted my affairs, lol. And did a course on Teaching English and hightailed it back to Vietnam.

Fast forward to today.

I am still in Vietnam and one of the biggest reasons is the students. I find them fun and inquisitive, they are eager to learn and if you approach your class in the right way they will show you respect. it is not uncommon for students to bow to you outside the classroom. however, with the older students, I try to get them to just say “Hi” and introduce their parents.

Even though they describe themselves as lazy, they are some of the hardest working and enjoyable students I have ever had the pleasure to teach.

Students the world over.

Like students everywhere, they will test you and push your buttons. but once you have established the ground rules and talk to them at the same level and not down to them, you gain their respect and attention.

I now have my own school in Vietnam. Lately because of Covid we have been teaching online. Yes, I still teach as I love it, it keeps me young. Teaching online produces its’ own problems. You can find out more ==> HERE <==

Once again the students have buckled down and worked exceptionally well. The online classes I do focus on pronunciation, talking, and vocabulary. Homework, yes I give homework, is written work. Below is one example of an assignment about work experience from one of my students. Jenny. An English nickname is chosen by her.

Jennys’ blog on work experience.

Written by one of my students.

“The work experience I had as a vet was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of my life. The first day was exciting but overwhelming. I had never seen so many animals at once and there were many different types of them.

I learned how to identify and diagnose the animal’s symptoms and what might be wrong with them. I had to make some tough decisions on whether we should euthanize the animal or not, especially when they were in pain and we couldn’t help them anymore. It made me feel really emotional because you could tell that they trusted me to help them have a better life.”

JENNY

I have not changed anything in this and am very proud to share it, with her blessing. She just asked, if you like it please share and leave a comment. She would be chuffed for a foreigner to reach out and say she is doing well. Jenny is only 14 years old, so pretty impressive.

Conclusion

Normally at the end of every post, I talk about myself, but as this post covers this, it could be better to show you my house in Vietnam. If you click on the YouTube button below it will take you to my YT account and you can check out my house with me.

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

The Best Luggage for Travel in Vietnam?

This article will give you an overview of the different types of luggage you can use for travelling around Vietnam.

What is the Best Travel Luggage?

Short Trips or Long Vacations.

If you’re only going on a short vacation, carry-on luggage is OK, but if you’re going to be gone for a while, you’ll need a larger suitcase that can be checked into the cargo hold.

Whether you check an ultra-modern hard-shell spinner bag, a conventional fabric case, or a big backpack, do your study to select the right size, shape, and type of luggage for your next vacation.

You may also want to look at the International Airport list before you decide on the route to take on your next trip. The International Airport List.

Checked Luggage.

Checked luggage is typically larger, thicker, and more inconvenient than cabin luggage. The sort of checked luggage you can use on an airplane is determined by how you move it to and from the airport, as well as the physical weight and size constraints imposed by the aircraft.

Carry-on luggage is convenient, but it may not have the space you require for longer trips. Treat yourself to one of those larger suitcases you’ve been eyeing if you’re checking your luggage this time.

Most companies make cases, backpacks, and even bags in a range of sizes, so you could get a matching set for a few bucks. Keep in mind that medium-sized cases are easier to transport than large ones (and lighter, too).

Luggage Restrictions

Large cases are difficult to transport through airports, and each airline has size and weight restrictions, so check with the airline before flying.

Don’t be the person that unpacks their overloaded suitcase at check-in to make it lighter. Before you fly, check with your airline to see what the weight restriction for checked bags is. Most airlines will charge you extra if your bag weighs more than 50 pounds. Or they may even refuse them at check-in.

You may be able to get around the weight restrictions by checking more than one suitcase at a time, but this will almost always cost you extra (and not every airline on every route will offer this service).

Suitcase vs. Backpack

Suitcases with two wheels are easy to draw behind you and are better fitted to travel across rougher terrain, but four-wheeled suitcases glide along by you and are considerably easier to maneuver in confined spaces like airplanes aisles.

When deciding between a 2- or 4-wheeled alternative, cost, practicality, and personal preference are all important considerations. A four-wheel spinner case glides quickly through the airport, but it can get caught on hilly walkways or uneven paths.

A two-wheeled variant can be dragged across almost anything, although it is shaky and bulky. Before you buy, try out a few pieces of luggage.

Hard Shell or Soft Shell

Another difficult decision you’ll have to make is whether to acquire a gleaming new hard-shell case or a sporty-looking soft-shell case.

Hard cases are extremely robust, with smooth curves and vibrant exteriors, but they offer less interior room flexibility (and are more prone to wonky wheels and failing handles).

Soft cases aren’t always as attractive as hard cases, and they don’t always provide the same level of protection. They do, however, usually have more usable interior capacity, handy external pockets, and are much lighter to carry and manage.

Any case’s quality and longevity will be determined by its make and model, so keep in mind the old saying “buy cheap, buy twice” when purchasing.

My Top 5 Suitcases.

Samsonite Omni expandable carry-on luggage.

20″ SPINNER LUGGAGE maximizes your packing power and meets most carry-on size restrictions for those traveling domestically and looking for short stays. Great weekender.
10 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY: Samsonite products are rigorously tested to ensure our products meet stringent standards. This bag comes with a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
STAY POWERED UP Enjoy the luxury of a charging system that travels with you, designed to connect with your preferred battery

Samsonite Winfield 2

28″ Spinner luggage maximizes your packing power and is the ideal checked bag for longer trips
Packing dimensions: 28.0″ X 19.75″ X 12.5″, overall dimensions: 31.0″ X 20.0″ X 12.75″, weight: 11.5 pounds
10-year limited warranty: Samsonite products are rigorously tested to ensure there products meet stringent standards. This bag comes with a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Travel Pro Maxlite 25

A half pound lighter than max lite 4, this lightweight 25-inch spinner maximizes your packing power and is the ideal checked bag for medium to long trips
4 wheel spinners rotate 360 degrees for a smooth roll. The lightweight, sturdy PowerScope handle stops at 38 inches and 42.5 inches and features a patented contour grip with rubberized touch points for easy maneuvering. Unique bottom tray design increases durability
Expands up to 2 inches to maximize packing capacity. Features low profile top, side, and bottom carry handles, two exterior compartments, full-length interior lid pocket, side accessory pocket, and adjustable hold-down straps for packing convenience
Limited Lifetime Coverage plus trusted companion promise, which covers the cost of repair for damage from an airline or another common carrier for 1 year
Case Dimensions: 25x18x11, Overall Dimensions: 27×18.5×11.5, Weight: 7.3 lbs. H20 Guard protects the interior lining from moisture

DELSEY Paris Chatelet Hardside 2.0 Luggage

Made from durable material for long-lasting use. Lightweight 100% polycarbonate shell that is extremely resilient to cracking or breaking; designed with stylish faux leather accents with additional corner protectors for extra durability.
Double-spinner wheels provide a stable base with multi-directional rolling that is lightweight and comfortable when fully packed.
Ergonomical handle for easy maneuverability and soft-grip side and top carrying handles; includes laundry bag, shoe bag and mesh zippered pockets for additional organization.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS : 16.5 x 14 x 28/75 inches.

Briggs and Riley Baseline.

Expandable Luggage: This swivel wheeled bag expands 2.5 inches for up to 25% more packing space. Cinch-down mesh garment panels keep contents from shifting and minimize wrinkling, Outsider handle provides greater interior capacity. Free TSA lock included
Durable Construction: Made with ballistic nylon outer fabric that resists wear, moisture, dirt and abrasion. A lockable double zipper pull keeps contents secure and SpeedThru pocket allows quick access to travel items at security checkpoints
Lifetime Guarantee: The only luggage company that offers an unconditional lifetime guarantee. If your bag is ever broken or damaged, we’ll repair it free of charge, no proof of purchase is needed, and no questions asked

How to Choose the Best One-Bag Travel Backpack

Traveling with only one bag gives you a sense of liberation. All of your vital belongings are within reach, forcing you to forego many of life’s ostensibly required consumer things that you could definitely do without. You may simply move from place to place with just one bag, always having just enough but never too much.

Choosing the ideal travel backpack for one-bag travel is a difficult task. There are a plethora of brands and models to pick from, each with its own level of durability, affordability, and try-on-ability (we made this word up for trying something out before buying it online). When you throw in different points of view and perspectives from people with varied values, needs, and body kinds, you’ve got a real slew of possibilities to sort through. Having the finest travel backpack that fits you is vital, whether you’re a first-time traveler planning your first trip, a digital nomad going through a “sell everything and put it in a backpack” period, or somewhere in between.

My Top 5 backpacks

Shrradoo

Large Capacity and Organized: Men’s travel backpack owns 20 independent pockets for large storage and organization for small items. 3 spacious main multi compartments with many hidden pockets can accommodate lots of stuff like college supplies, travel accessories, stationery, notebook, cord organizer, and side deep zipper pocket for easy access essentials. Side elastic net pockets conveniently hold travel gear umbrellas or water bottles.

Extra Large 50L Travel Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port Fit 17 Inch Laptops

Kaka Travel Backpack.

Durable anti-theft travel bag: This backpack is Made with high-quality terylene oxford fabric. It’s a very durable backpack, Anti Theft, Water Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Professional design, and strap with high-density soft decompression foam for your comfort.

Carry On Backpack Durable Convertible Duffle Bag.

Durable anti-theft travel bag: This backpack is Made with high quality terylene oxford fabric. It’s a very durable backpack,Anti Theft, Water Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Professional design, strap with high density soft decompression foam for your comfort.
Larger Roomy Compartments: A total of 10 pocktes. 1 Main zipped pocket, 3 front zipped pockets, 1 side mesh pocket, 2 small strap pockets and 3 pockets in the large front zip pocket,It can provide separated space for computer, iPad, A4 files, wallet, clothes, power bank and more your items.
Large-capacity Backpack: The backpack Size – 20.5 X 12X 6.7 inches, Laptop Compartment Dimensions – 18 X 11 X 6 inches Capacity: 35L (Large size fits most 15.6″ Laptop.)weight:3.68 LBS

G-FAVOR 40L Travel Backpack, Vintage Canvas Rucksack Convertible Duffel Bag Carry On Backpack Fit for 17.3 Inch Laptop Ba

3-in-1 multifunctional backpack: Convertible backpack (backpack, shoulder bag, hand luggage bag), the bag is designed with straps, shoulder straps, and hand straps, and you can use several different carrying methods to give you a different experience.

Travel Backpack, Vintage Canvas Rucksack Convertible.

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TRAVEL BACKPACK. This carry on backpack designed as a convertible backpack (backpack, cross-body bag, duffel bag backpack), this travel luggage backpack can use several different carrying methods to give you a different experience. Comfortable design gives you maximum back support. Breathable and adjustable shoulder straps relieve the stress of shoulder for a long time carry on.
LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE & POCKETS. The laptop backpack with a main compartment and a 17.3 inch laptop compartment, it has independent pockets inside, in which small items can be easily stored. There are several compartments on the computer backpack, and there is a waterproof shoes compartment, make your items organized and easier to find.

High Sierra Dells Canyon Travel Backpack.

A stylish orange and grey backpack

Take on any TSA line with the quick-draw laptop and tablet compartment
Grab your gear on-demand with stay-in-place front zip organizer.
Multiple grab handles on all sides make traveling easy from any angle.
Discrete luggage piggy-back strap and compression straps.
Hike happy with Airmesh straps made from premium EVA foam
Avoid swamps and swamp-back with ventilated Airmesh back panel

High Sierra XBT – Business Laptop Backpack

Whatever piece of luggage you have decided on when travelling in Vietnam, or anywhere, please keep a close eye on it. Vietnam is a safe country to travel in, and most crimes here are opportunistic crimes. Petty crimes, like bag snatching, do happen. So, it pays to be aware especially around bus stations and airports where there might be 2 or 3 people wrkinh together to relieve you of your new luggage..

When investing your money into anything like this, it is my opinion to spend a little more and get quality rather than purchasing goods that need to be replaced frequently.

Whatever you choose make sure it is right for you. Buy cheap, buy twice.

Affiliate Disclosure.

Any or all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation, you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

Any money made is used in helping the students and teachers in Vietnam. Thanks so much.

What are the Best Travel Cameras

When you come to Vietnam you will want to capture those moments that are special. The sights of Vietnam will blow you away.

There is always something interesting and colorful to capture. Will your smartphone be enough to capture those moments of a lifetime? Let’s get into it.

Cameras vs Smartphones.

You might be thinking right now that you don’t need a travel camera because you already have one on your smartphone that goes everywhere with you.

Even while smartphone cameras are improving, there are still some times when they simply cannot match the quality of a good camera.

Sensors in cameras are larger than those in smartphones. Even cameras with a smaller sensor, such as Micro Four Thirds, have a lot more surface area to work with than a smartphone sensor.

This makes them ideal for low-light photography since they can record a wider dynamic range and more detail in the highlights and shadows.

The other major advantage of cameras over smartphones is that they can use an optical zoom lens. And this makes getting pin-sharp photographs of distant things considerably easier.

This greatly expands your shooting versatility and the variety of shots you can take.

Could you take a picture like this with a smartphone. It would not happen with the degree of sharpness in this picture.

Things to look for in a travel Camera.

Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate an excellent camera phone. However, a mirrorless camera, DSLR, or luxury compact camera will do a better job of capturing your once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Don’t limit yourself to a single-lens wide-angle lens if you can afford it.. Choose a camera and lenses that will allow you to photograph in a range of scenarios, such as a long-zoom compact or a mirrorless camera.

Size and weight: If you don’t want to lug around a heavy bag, a pocket-sized compact camera is a good option. If you’re going to be carrying your camera in a shoulder bag or backpack, a larger DSLR or mirrorless camera will produce superior results.

After size, the next thing you should think about is what you want to take a picture of.. A long zoom, for example, is useful on safari, whereas a tiny, light, and fast camera (preferably with prime lenses) is excellent for capturing quick photo possibilities in the city.

The best travel cameras combine performance and portability to enable you to shoot in a variety of situations and conditions.

Simplicity: When on vacation, not everyone wants to worry about fiddling with camera settings. Everyone can utilize the full auto modes on all of the cameras on this list.

If your vacation is likely to include a lot of bumps, water, and bad weather, you’ll want to look at durable compacts like the Olympus TG-6, or an action camera like the GoPro Hero 9 Black if video is your primary concern.

Price: The cameras on my list come in a variety of pricing ranges but choose wisely. Remember, you only get what you pay for.

My favorite toys.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

We focus on portability when choosing the best travel camera, and the tiny yet powerful Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is one of the best portable cameras available. It not only has a remarkably light body with tactile dial-led controls, but it also employs the Micro Four Thirds sensor.

While this has significant drawbacks in terms of low-light performance, it practically doubles the focal length of any lens attached to the camera; for example, a 50mm lens will behave like a 100mm lens.

This goes a long way in vacation photography, allowing you to keep your gear size down. It has a lot to offer.

Its quick burst shooting, precise autofocus, and stunning 4K video makes it a fantastic camera in every way.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Micro Four Thirds

Megapixels: 20.3MP

Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.04million dots

Viewfinder: EVF

Max burst speed: 8.7 fps Max

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Beginner/enthusiast

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200

Panasonic’s solution to the rise of high-end compacts like the excellent Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V, which have stolen the thunder from compact travel zooms, has been to maintain the camera body at the same size as its prior ZS/TZ-series cameras but squeezing in a considerably larger sensor.

We saw this with the Lumix ZS100 (known outside the US as the Lumix TZ100), and Panasonic has continued this trend with the Lumix ZS200 / TZ200.

This physically larger 1inch sensor allows for significantly greater image quality than would otherwise be possible, but the lens’ zoom range isn’t quite as vast as some others with smaller sensors.

Despite this, the ZS200 / TZ200 has a very useful 15x zoom, as well as a helpful built-in electronic viewfinder that makes composing shots in strong light easier. Although it’s a little on the pricier side, this is still one of the greatest travel zoom small cameras on the market right now.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: 1 inch type

Megapixels: 20.1 MP

Screen: 3 inch touchscreen, 1.24 million dots

Viewfinder: EVF

Max burst speed: 10 fps Max

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Beginner/ Intermediate

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII

The original RX100 redefined premium compact cameras by being the first pocket-sized camera to include a huge 1.0-inch sensor. They were always wonderful for travel, but because of the limited zoom lens, they may have been disregarded in favor of other models.

Things changed when we got to the RX100 VI, which paired a far longer lens than ever before – and now the RX100 VII has undergone some improvement.

The incredibly wide aperture of earlier generations has been sacrificed to make the lens longer, but if you’re mostly going to be shooting in sunny climates, it might not be such a huge concern.

Under the hood of the RX100 VII, there’s a lot of power. It has features you may never use, such as a ludicrous 90fps burst mode, as well as more usual features, such as 4K video.

The major disadvantage of this model is its price, but if you want the best of the best for your travels, it might be the one for you.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: 1 inch type

Megapixels: 20.1 MP

Lens: 24 – 200 mm

Screen: 3 inch tilting touchscreen, 924 K dots

Viewfinder: EVF

Max burst speed: 90 fps Max

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Intermediate

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Panasonic Lumix GX80 / GX85

The Panasonic GX80/ GX85 is a tiny and light camera with a typical rectangular ‘rangefinder’ design. Make sure you purchase it with the Panasonic 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 G VARIO ASPH. retractable kit lens.

In 35mm terms, this is similar to 24-64mm, providing a slightly smaller zoom range than a standard kit lens in a much smaller compact.

The GX80 can easily fit into a large pocket, thanks to the Micro Four Thirds sensor, which allows for this shrinking.

Physical controls include a tilting screen with touch sensitivity and a pop-up flash alongside a hotshoe, most functions are handled via buttons and menus rather than dedicated dials.

If you have room in your suitcase for a small compact camera this will be perfect..

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Mirrorless Sensor

Megapixels: 16 MP

Lens: Micro Four Thirds

Screen: 3 inch tilting touchscreen, 1.04 million dots

Max burst speed: EVF Continuous shooting speed

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Beginner Enthusiast

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Canon EOS M50 Mark II

Canon’s EOS M line used to feel like an afterthought, but it’s come a long way, and these lightweight, cheap mirrorless cameras are now a great choice for travelers.

Thanks to its high-resolution APS-C sensor, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a powerful stills and video camera. It’ll handle most shooting scenarios with ease, and its sleek design is attractive as well.

A clean HDMI out, the ability to shoot vertical video and the ability to live-stream to YouTube are just a few of the camera’s video features.

The only major drawback is that the camera’s 4K is subpar, with shaky autofocus and the 1.6x crop factor that has hampered so many Canon launches. This is a good buy if you don’t need to shoot 4K on your trips..

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: DSLR Sensor

Megapixels: 24.1 MP

Lens: Canon EF- Mount system

Screen: 3 inch fully articulating LCD touchscreen

Viewfinder: EVF

Max burst speed: 10 fps Max

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Beginner to Enthusiast

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Nikon D3500

Nikon’s latest entry-level DSLR is the D3500. It misses a few capabilities, most notably a vari-angle rear screen and 4K video, as compared to the Canon EOS Rebel SLR/250D, but it’s a lot cheaper, so these differences won’t matter to many customers.

If you go with the D3500, make sure it comes with Nikon’s retracting 18-55mm AF-P VR lens .

And if you’re going traveling, you might want to consider Nikon’s affordable and lightweight 10-20mm AF-P lens as well – it’s great for narrow streets, expansive interiors, and tall buildings and landmarks.

The Nikon D3500 can only shoot full HD video, not 4K, and its live view autofocus isn’t as advanced as the Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D’s, but if you’re only interested in stills and prefer to utilize the viewfinder over the rear screen, the D3500 is a great deal.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: DSLR Sensor

Megapixels: 24.2 MP

Lens: Nikon F

Screen: 3 in one fixed

Max burst speed: 5 fps Max

Video resolution: 1080 p

Level: Beginner Intermediate

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Sony A6100

The Sony A6100 is arguably the finest blend of size, shooting power, and value right now if you don’t mind carrying something slightly larger than a pocket camera on your travels.

It isn’t perfect, but it checks most of the boxes for globetrotting photographers. Despite its small size, this entry-level mirrorless camera comes with a slew of handy features, like configurable buttons and a microphone input, as well as a flip-up touchscreen that, while restricted in functionality, is excellent for framing long-distance selfies.

The 24.2MP sensor, when combined with a suitable lens, produces decent shots with plenty of information, while the AF system which is shared with the flagship A6600 assures consistently accurate focus and outstanding continuous tracking.

Even while shooting on the move the A6100 can also take 4K footage at 30fps, albeit there is no IBIS. The battery life is good, as is the Wi-Fi, which works nicely with the companion app for sharing holiday photos quickly.

The relatively low-res EVF and LCD, as well as the Auto ISO, which might struggle with fast-moving subjects It’s preferable to shoot street action in full manual mode.

The A6100 comes close to achieving travel perfection, with decent value, strong features, and a bag friendly design..

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: APS-C CMOS Sensor

Megapixels: 24.2 MP

Screen: 2.95-inch tilt-angle

Max burst speed: 11fps Movies

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Beginner Intermediate

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 is one of the best pocketable alternatives if you’re primarily interested in shooting trip video rather than stills. It brings together the best video-focused capabilities of Sony’s RX100 series.

Sony’s most recent autofocus system is arguably the best in a tiny camera. The ZV-1 is less convenient for stills shooters than the RX100 VII due to the lack of an electronic viewfinder.

But it’s still a decent camera and better than most smartphones thanks to its 20.1MP 1-inch sensor.

The ZV-1’s brilliant 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens and Real-time Eye AF are ideal for capturing professional, smartphone-beating vlogs, but it’s video where it really shines.

A 3.5mm microphone jack ensures that the audio quality matches the visual, and a built-in hot shoe allows you to mount a lot of extra stuff.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Compact 1 inch sensor

Megapixels: 20.1 MP

Lens: 24 – 70 mm f1.8 – 2.8.

Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen

Viewfinder: None

Max burst speed: 24 fps Movies.

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Beginner/enthusiast

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

GoPro Hero 9 Black

An action cam should be at the top of your list if you require a small, pocketable video camera that can handle pretty much whatever your journey throws at it. Right now, the GoPro Hero 9 Black is the most powerful and versatile.

This is the only GoPro with a front-mounted color display, which comes in useful for framing your journey highlights. It also has a larger battery and several new software tricks when compared to the more cheap Hero 8 Black (which is also worth considering).

Hind Sight catches the action 15-30 seconds before you press the shutter, and Hyper Smooth 3.0 stabilization, which smooths out even the most juddery mountain bike footage, are two of these features. In addition, the 5K video mode captures more detail than any other GoPro, and the Linear shooting mode corrects wide-angle distortion to make film look like it was shot with a more traditional camera.

The sensor of the Hero 9 Black is smaller than those available in luxury compacts and mirrorless cameras, and it is geared more toward video than stills. However, if you primarily want to capture video, the compact size, 10m waterproofing, and compatibility with a variety of attachments all help you get shots that are otherwise impossible to achieve with other travel cameras.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 158g

Waterproof: 10m

Video 4K

Burst speed up to 60fps1080: up to 240fps 720: up to 240fps

Stills resolution: 20MP

Battery: 1720mAh

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Go-Pro Hero 12

I strongly recommend checking out the Go Pro updated version, Hero 12.

This will be my next camera purchase, and I will be going for the “Content Creator” bundle. This is currently on a discount and is sub $500 mark.

GoPro HERO12 Black – Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K60 Ultra HD Video, 27MP Photos, HDR, 1/1.9″ Image Sensor, Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization

Olympus Tough TG-6

For some travelers, a camera that can withstand water, ice, dust, rain, and even collisions is all that matters. The Olympus TG-6 may lack the zoom range and huge sensors of the other cameras on our list, but if your trip photography focuses on adventure rather than tourism, the TG-6 is likely to be a better fit.

The TG-6 will survive a lot more punishment than the ordinary compact because to its waterproof, crush-proof, shockproof, and freeze-proof build, but it’s not just its tough credentials that excite.

Raw photography and 4K video recording are both uncommon on waterproof compacts, and the 12MP sensor’s pixel count was purposefully reduced over previous models to make it generate better results.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Compact Sensor

Megapixels: 12 MP

Lens: 25 – 100 mm

Screen: 3 inch

Waterproof. 3 meters.

Shock proof. 2.1 meters

Freeze proof 10º C or14° F

Video resolution: 4K

Level: Beginner

Price. Check at ==> Amazon <==

Conclusion

While I have tried to be as fair as possible in the comparisons it is sometimes like comparing apples to bananas.If you wish to leave any comments feel free to reply below.

Maybe you are thinking. What does Steve use. I have the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII. And it is a brilliant camera. if you want to look at some of the pictures I have taken in Vietnam, you can look ==> here <==

Steve.

Any or all links on this site maybe affiliate links, and if you purchase something through those links I will make a small commission on them.

There will be no extra cost to you and at times due to my affiliation you could actually save money.

You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

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