Misleading expectations about teaching conditions in Vietnam
I joined Up2U to teach English in Vietnam. The organization is real and does place teachers, but my experience differed significantly from what is presented in their marketing (especially on Instagram).
One key issue is how working hours are described. The program promotes “4–5 hours of work per day,” but this refers only to paid teaching hours. In reality, the day is much longer due to gaps between classes, lesson preparation, and travel between schools. It’s common to be out from around 7:30 AM until late afternoon, even with only a few teaching hours.
Another major point is that teaching hours are not guaranteed. In my case, I had no classes for the first few weeks and later only received around 6 hours per week. I had to actively push to get any hours at all, and this seems to be a common experience among other teachers as well.
Additionally, I was frequently sent to different schools, sometimes changing daily, which made the schedule unpredictable and increased travel time.
Important conditions are not clearly communicated beforehand:
- Public schools have long breaks (around 3 months in summer) → no pay during that time
- No benefits such as health insurance, paid leave, or housing support
- You are only paid for the hours you actually teach
Overall, the lifestyle and working conditions in Vietnam are presented in a much more idealized way than they are in reality.
I have since found my own arrangement and switched schools without the help of Up2U, and many other teachers I know are trying to do the same.
I would strongly recommend doing thorough research and not relying solely on the program’s marketing.