Salary Management as an Expat Teacher in Public Schools

When people talk about “teaching in Vietnam,” the term can refer to a wide range of roles and working environments. At one end are international schools and universities that offer full-time positions with structured schedules and benefits. At the other end, many foreign teachers spend part of their careers working within the public school system, which follows a very different model.

For many expat teachers, public school teaching is not a full-time role in the traditional sense. In most public school programs, foreign teachers are contracted on an hourly basis rather than employed as permanent staff. This means teachers are paid for the hours they teach, and if classes are cancelled or do not take place, payment is usually affected. However, specific arrangements may vary depending on the employer and contract terms.

This is a complex and diverse situation in many ways. As a teacher in the public school system, there is a structure where you may work vigorously during some months of the year, while in others you may find yourself sitting at home with nothing to do, đó là khi học sinh bắt đầu các kỳ nghỉ.

Working Patterns in Public Schools

Public school teaching often involves a session-based schedule rather than a standard full working day. Schools typically operate with a morning session of four periods and an afternoon session of three periods. Teachers may be assigned to one or multiple schools, depending on demand and availability.

In some cases, schedules are compact and efficient. In others, teachers may experience gaps between classes—for example, teaching one 45-minute period, having a break during the next, and then teaching again. While this is not universal, it can be frustrating when it happens, as it limits earning potential while still taking up a large portion of the day.

Because of these structures, workload can vary significantly. Some months are busy and demanding, while others are noticeably quieter.

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The School Year and Income Changes

The Vietnamese school year typically begins in early September. From September through November, teaching demand is generally high, and schedules are relatively stable. Teachers often work consistently during this period, with few interruptions.

December marks the first significant shift. Many schools conduct mid-year exams, hold school events, and observe holidays around Christmas and New Year. As a result, some teachers may lose one to two weeks of classes during this month. For teachers paid strictly by teaching hours, this often leads to a noticeable drop in income.

January usually returns to a normal teaching schedule unless the Lunar New Year (Tet) falls late in the month. Tet is a major holiday in Vietnam and typically involves a break of around two weeks between late January and February. During this period, teachers may experience reduced teaching hours, meaning February income can be significantly lower than average.

March and April are generally stable months, with full teaching schedules and few holidays. There is a short public holiday period around April 30th and May 1st, but this usually has only a minor impact on overall income.

May can be unpredictable. Some schools continue classes until the end of the school year on May 31st, while others stop foreign-led English classes earlier due to exams or scheduling priorities. This means teachers’ workloads and income in May can vary widely.

June, July, and August are summer holidays for public schools. During this time, most public school teaching pauses, and income from these classes is usually minimal or nonexistent unless alternative arrangements are in place.

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Manage your salary for best results

The best way to manage this situation in Vietnam is to have a dual approach to your role as a teacher. The first approach is the “140% approach.” This means scheduling more work during the school year than you would normally take on.

This strategy may include opportunities such as language centers, corporate English, business English, or online classes. By supplementing your public school classes with these additional income streams, you can earn extra during the busy months and maintain a lower but steady income when public school work stops.

The second approach is to treat your salary as an annual amount rather than focusing on monthly income. For example, in September to November, January, March, and April, you receive 100% of your planned salary. December, February, and May are around 50%, and the summer is basically zero. Calculating your total annual income and dividing it across the year allows you to budget more effectively.

Of course, there is also the option of freelance work, both in Vietnam and in your home country. You may use your skills to support companies anywhere in the world and earn a little extra money to supplement your main salary.

Life as a teacher in the public school system can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding. It is common to teach up to 1,000 children every year. That is 1,000 young minds that you have the opportunity to mentor and help develop into independent and successful future adults.

Personally, I love teaching in public schools in Vietnam. With over a decade of experience, I have found it to be a good balance of experience and challenge, and a very rewarding lifestyle. If you love kids and want to make a difference, then this form of teaching may give you a great work‑life balance along with a fulfilling career.