@OceanBeach92107 Thank you I am arriving in Da Nang on the 7 February and wanting to offer my ESL services to Disadvantaged students in Danang. Why did you say it was a minor detail.
😎
-@Eile
Hi Eileen,
Great news you are coming (back?) to our fine city!
Maybe you can meet my wife & I for coffee?
I say a minor detail, because unfortunately, that requirement is too often overlooked by kind-hearted and well-intentioned people such as yourself, and there are a lot of sad stories from those folks scattered throughout the forum.
If you don't mind me sharing what I know:
As you may already know, no one gets a TRC without a legal sponsor.
Even if the prospective sponsor is a charitable organization, it costs them real money to set up the approval for your associated permit with the government.
Usually, charities looking for the services of foreign volunteers will offer an experience package that includes the cost of travel & lodging & meals AND supports the program while also covering the cost of getting approval from the government (and maybe some of the fee will find its way into the coffee fund of the program operators).
Those are usually short-term experience packages lasting a couple of weeks.
The only other way the organization can bring you on board for 2 or 3 years is by officially applying for approval to have you work for them with an actual work permit.
In their application to the government they must declare the intended starting salary and it must be commensurate with the salary for a comparable foreign "expert" doing similar work.
Only after the government approves your hire AND your work permit has been issued will the charity be able to legally sponsor your TRC.
If you really don't need the income, you'd probably be better off locating a school that's offering a chance for voluntary part-time hours for people on tourist visas.
As long as you don't receive any compensation from them, it's not technically illegal, but you'd still be using 90 day tourist visas and there's always the chance that a disgruntled Vietnamese English teacher could make trouble for you with an immigration or police connection.
If they decide they'd like you to work for them regularly but still just part time, it's not unheard of for an employer to arrange your legal permission to work (given you have the qualifications) and have you pay their expenses.
I know at least 1 person working a few hours a week here who did exactly that after having worked illegally for an education outfit prior to covid.
He told the school he wanted to be hired legally with government approval of his qualifications and he'd work the hours they need (usually 4 to 8 a week).
They got the legal work permit and sponsored his TRC and he compensated them for their expenses incurred.
He's very happy working for them a day or two a week and he's relaxing without worries on his legitimate 2-year TRC... because he's now legally hired by them.
PS: I'm guessing you are aware you are arriving 2 days before the eve of Tết?
Fireworks start at the stroke of midnight on the morning of the 10th (evening of the 9th).
Good luck! 🧧
