Comparison
Teach English in South Korea vs Vietnam
Teacher weighing structured contract income against lifestyle and flexibility.
Korea offers structure, contracts, and housing. Vietnam offers flexibility, lower cost of living, and an easier path for non-native English speakers. Korea is more lucrative on paper; Vietnam often nets out better for teachers who value time, autonomy, and travel.
South Korea
EPIK, hagwons, and university roles. E-2 visa support is standard.
Salary
Public schools: 2.0M to 2.7M KRW per month with housing. Hagwons: 2.1M to 2.8M KRW with housing or stipend. Universities: 2.3M to 3.5M KRW with shorter contact hours.
Visa
E-2 visa for most roles. Requires a bachelor's degree, a clean criminal record check, and citizenship from one of seven approved countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa). A 120-hour TEFL certificate is standard, sometimes required.
Best for
First-time teachers who want a structured contract with housing handled. Korea's system is the most beginner-friendly path into ESL.
Vietnam
Booming demand, low cost of living, and flexible hours.
Salary
Language centers: 1,400 to 2,200 USD per month. International schools: 2,500 to 4,500 USD. Pay is hourly for most center jobs, in the 18 to 25 USD per hour range. Cost of living is low enough that most teachers save 600 to 1,000 USD per month.
Visa
Work permit and temporary residence card. Requires bachelor's, 120-hour TEFL, criminal record check, and a health check. Native speaker preference but non-native teachers with a bachelor's in English or education are increasingly hired.
Best for
Teachers who want flexible hours, a strong expat community, and a low cost of living. Hanoi and HCMC are very different cities — pick deliberately.
Open positions, side by side
South Korea
Dongwhanara Kindergatrten Full time Position from July
Donghwanara Kindergarten · South Korea
Direct hire : Native/Gyopo teacher, FULL-TIME(2~7pm),Starting ASAP(Cheongju)
EiE techno campus · Songjul-dong, Cheongju, South Korea
HIGH PAYING JOBS ACROSS MAJOR CITIES IN SOUTH KOREA. HONEST, EXPERIENCED RECRUITERS YOU CAN RELY ON,
AMS Korea · South Korea
2.8M won salary, work only from 11am-7pm, teaching older students at a very reputable school, not franchised school in Shinchon, the center of Seoul
PlanetESL Recruiting · South Korea
EnglishChannel_guro_since2007 (Full/Part, Guro/Seoul, ~3.6M KRW, Adult, 26.08~, Airfare/Housing Support) One-on-One(1:1) Adult English conversation teacher
EnglishChannel Guro-center · EnglishChannel-Guro center(Seoul, Guro)
Native teachers - Suwon
Francis Parker Gwanggyo · South Korea
Vietnam
Over 100 Paid Positions in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Barcelona, Madrid, Prague (Czech Republic), Costa Rica, Mexico - no experience necessary
TEFL Heaven · Madrid, Spain
Academic Tutor - English Literature, Maths, Science and Primary Tutors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
International Tutor Group · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
[Hanoi] Full-time Secondary Public-school Teachers - Sep 2026- Hanoi, Vietnam
Atlantic Five-Star English · Hanoi, Vietnam
Academic Tutor – English Literature, Maths, Science and Primary Tutors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
International Tutor Group · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Teach English in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) No Degree- we can help. Paid flights
Asia Teaching Jobs · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
VUS Hiring ESL TEACHERS for over 70 centers across Vietnam! Join us now!
VUS - The English Center · :
Common questions
South Korea
Do I need to speak Korean to teach in Korea?
No. Most schools want monolingual English in the classroom. Picking up basics for daily life helps but is not a hiring requirement.
South Korea
When is hiring season?
Public schools (EPIK) recruit in two main intakes for March and September starts. Hagwons hire year-round but the biggest wave is February to April.
Vietnam
Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?
HCMC is hotter, busier, and has more job openings. Hanoi has four seasons, more historical character, and a tighter expat community. Pay is similar in both.
Vietnam
Are non-native English speakers hireable?
Yes for many language centers, especially with a CELTA or strong references. International schools still strongly prefer native speakers.