What Does It Mean To Be A Native English Speaker In Vietnam

A native English speaker is someone who grew up in a country where English is the primary language spoken. There are many countries that fit the definition, but in Vietnam, there is more to it. Not every country classifies the same countries as native English-speaking countries.

Vietnam considers The United States, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa as native English-speaking countries. So job advertisements that list the requirement to be a native English speaker are referring to teachers from those countries.

Teaching English In Vietnam

But if you are reading this and are not from one of those countries, you will want to read on a little bit more because there is some good news for you.

Vietnam is a country that is often overlooked when it comes to travel, with its neighbors Thailand and Indonesia attracting the majority of tourists, but those that give Vietnam a chance, often don’t want to leave. In the past, the main way people become teachers in Vietnam was by being a traveler, deciding that don’t want to leave, and after applying to a few teaching jobs in Vietnam, they had a work permit, an apartment, and a new, exciting life ahead.

So when you read online about being an English teacher in Vietnam and see it might not be possible, it can be devastating.

In Vietnam, there are many expatriates from European countries and Russia. Those are countries where English isn’t spoken as a primary language. There are also expatriates from India, The Philippines, and even Ghana. These people are non-native English speakers living in Vietnam, and many of them are working as English teachers. So if they can do it, so can you! Vietnam is a very open country, and Vietnamese people are extremely welcoming to foreigners, no matter where you are from.