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 (EPIK): roughly 2.2M to 2.8M KRW per month with housing provided by the office of education (Seoul has its own scale; source: EPIK pay page, checked 6 Oct 2026). 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 TEFL certificate of 100 hours or more is the usual expectation (EPIK's minimum is 100 real-time hours, and it is waived for a teaching licence or an education degree).
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
English Teacher Position Available
EVERENGLISH CENTER · South Korea
[Now Hiring] Teach English In Korea | Seoul, Busan & Nationwide | 2.6m+ Krw | Oct 2026–Mar 2027
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea
Great Positions All Over Korea
http://www.eslteachingjobinasia.com. · Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Instructor Position in Seoul
Language Scholars Inc. · South Korea
Great Positions All Over Korea
eslteachingjobinasia.com · Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
English Teaching Jobs Across Korea | October 2026–March 2027 Starts | Apply Now
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea
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 terms: Spring applications open 1 August for a late-February start, Fall applications open 1 February for a late-August start. 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.
