I'm kind of in a mess (First time English teacher in Vietnam)

If you are looking for work contact 123 Angels on ***, they do mostly kindergarten, that's where I started when I came to Vietnam. Contact them on Zalo

Hi Noel, first question: What does your Visa show as the Category?

@noddi Hi thanks so much for your response! On the visa it says DN1 under the category.

Hey Noel -

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the wonderful world of teaching in Vietnam (not!)

First of all, go to this website where there are a lot of jobs posted and you can also post your CV/resume and browse through the "Tips for foreigners" section:

https://vietnamteachingjobs.com/

Next, if you are on Facebook, look for and join some "English teachers in Vietnam" groups and  "English teachers in (name of city where you are living or interested in)" groups. You need to network with other teachers who can give you good first-hand advice.

You might also start looking at jobs teaching online.

Beyond that, you should look at the neighboring countries, namely Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

I will send you some additional web links in a private message, so look for that.

Finally, get your medications sorted out. Generally, it's very cheap in Vietnam and you should be able to find pharmacists who are helpful, knowledgeable and can speak (some) English.

That was my experience anyway when I needed daily medication in my last year there and also when I had an infected cut. I'm still grateful for those kind ladies.

Also, DO NOT consider that you are wrong and unreasonable! Instead, stay strong and keep the faith.

@jayrozzetti23 Thanks so much for the links and advice, and the reassurance ahaha. I am in quite a few of the groups for my city on Zalo, but my agent is in all of them, and I think some people who are affiliated with the company are in there too, because I've seen them post advertisements in there for the company. (They're looking for EU native speakers and offering them 2000-2500 USD when they can't even afford to pay the current teachers).

I was also blocked from entering one of the groups because the admin is one of the agents for the company haha.

who organized your DN1 visa?

Ditto that part about the English teachers groups. They should be able to help you get on the right path. I'm pretty sure they cannot keep or cancel your visa but rules and regulations change here regularly so check with the teachers groups. There are defiantly some shady schools here. You are not the first person to be used and abused. But there are a lot of good schools too so, again check with those teachers groups. One more thing, always, always, always sign a contract and make sure you get a copy! Good luck to you.   

    who organized your DN1 visa?
        -@cougarcar20

...and, for the benefit of other expats, what's the name of the school?

@cougarcar20 The company did, apparently. I'm not sure at this point if they're even legit haha. (I can't share the company's name right now cuz I'm way too scared)

Ok, I don't think they can cancel your visa but to get another job, yes you will need a letter from the school to confirm you are no longer working for them.

@Noelwastaken

The company did, apparently. I'm not sure at this point if they're even legit haha. (I can't share the company's name right now cuz I'm way too scared)

What do you mean apparently? They did or they didn't.

@cougarcar20 yeah the agent said I need the letter from my former boss, but she said it's very unlikely that my boss will want to at this point?? She mentioned that I have to pay 5mil vnd to my boss to cover her costs for rushing a visa for me, but even then she may not write the letter?? I also only learnt about this rushed visa today.

@cougarcar20 your guess is as good as mine. They haven't been super transparent with me.

@Noelwastaken

DONT EVER PAY THEM ANY MONEY. I have never been in this predicament so I cannot give you any advice but hope someone can.

All business visas require a sponsor.

If the sponsor formally notifies immigration that they withdraw their sponsorship, immigration will issue an exit visa.

Hi Noel, details matter. I am confused by your dates. I thought DN1 is for max 3 months (if someone knows better please correct me!), so if you have been teaching for nearly 2 - that makes 4 months. I thought you could only get DN1 on arrival in Vietnam ( please someone correct me if I am wrong), not when you were already here.

    Hi I just found this forum and I'm kind of typing this in a rush because I'm pretty freaked out at the moment.
I've been working as an English teacher in Vietnam for the past (almost) 2 months.

My boss showed me a contract at the beginning but I never actually signed anything. I am trying to look for new work because she 'fired' me like a month ago?? But I've still been working for her??

Basically, she told me at first that the company can't keep me because they can't afford teachers and I'm not good enough. But then she said I could stay at the accommodation while I find new work.

Then when a new company showed interest, she told me I can't change over because I'll get the company in trouble? She explained that she has to cancel my visa first. The agent says I need a letter from my boss that says I'm no longer working for her, but then admitted my boss doesn't want to write me one??

Go directly to the consulate in HCMC, get a ruling from there regarding your visa. Many shady things go on in that industry, however there are oggd schools, as there are good people, as there are also people who are manipulative.

I'm not sure if my visa can even be cancelled by this company?? Because I have a visa in my passport from immigration at the airport. It's super unclear to me at this point...

The agent is an acquaintance of my boss and is saying similar things - that I'm not experienced enough etc. and that if I want to work for the new company she found for me, they can only pay me 1300 USD at 100 hours a month instead of the original 1600 they offered. And that they may consider paying me the full amount after 3 months.

And yeah, to elaborate more on the current situation, my boss said I'm fired, but I've still been working some hours for the company. They said they'd pay me 1000USD initially, but then today I was told it's gonna be 500usd. Then it very quickly changed to me not being paid at all and that they 'don't owe me anything' because they paid my full salary of 1600 in the first month despite being on probation (they didn't say when it began or ended...). But in reality they paid me around 600 dollars short? One of the other teachers that left recently was owed 2 months of his salary and never ended up getting it. Aside from me, there's only one other teacher and he also only got paid recently (also short a couple hundred dollars even though he's been working full time).

This is my first ever job and first time ever living alone in a different country (I'm originally from South Africa and I'm 26 years old).

The majority of the details were only told to me by my boss and my agent today and it's been a huge mess. My business visa runs out on the 23rd of January and I'm kind of at a loss on what to do next. I've applied to some jobs and they're interested but again, I'm worried about running into the same issue as explained above. I can't really go back home.

I'm also really stressed out because I haven't been able to sort something out for my epilepsy and endometriosis medication that needs refilling with all the chaos that's been going on.

I dunno, maybe I'm the one that is in the wrong and being unreasonable. I'm mostly just super confused at this point and when I try to ask questions or communicate to find a solution, things are kind of just skirted around.

Any input would be great, otherwise thanks for reading.
   

    -@Noelwastaken

    Ok, I don't think they can cancel your visa but to get another job, yes you will need a letter from the school to confirm you are no longer working for them.
   

    -@GuestPoster327

The letter is only required if he has a WP. I don't believe he has a work permit. 

    @cougarcar20 yeah the agent said I need the letter from my former boss, but she said it's very unlikely that my boss will want to at this point?? She mentioned that I have to pay 5mil vnd to my boss to cover her costs for rushing a visa for me, but even then she may not write the letter?? I also only learnt about this rushed visa today.
   

    -@Noelwastaken

They are extorting money from you. Don't play their game.

Never deal with a company that steers you to an agent............ they are playing a nasty game. I believe you said you have your passport so you need to leave immediately. Legitimate companies do not use agents they will have a HR person who takes care of paperwork.