Class sizes differ by programme. On the Five-Star in-School programme, the majority of classes are roughly 25 students each, which is about half the normal state school class size. Due to the needs of certain schools, some classes may be larger, around 30-35 students.

We teach students at Primary (Grade 1-5), Secondary (Grade 6-9) and High School (Grade 10-12). Most teachers specialise in teaching a particular age range, but many teachers do have the opportunity to teach other age ranges as well.

The school year runs from early September to late May. Teachers have lessons from Mon to Fri, and usually teach at 2-3 different schools. Teaching hours remain consistent throughout the year, though may be lighter during at the end of each semester when students are taking their exams. The main holidays take place at Christmas/New Year’s and during the Lunar New Year in Jan or Feb. Depending on the contract type, teachers normally teach about 15-18 hours per week.

Schedules vary slightly by school. The Vietnamese school day begins at about 7.30am and finishes at about 5.45pm, and Atlantic’s lessons are scheduled between these hours. There is a long break in the middle of the day, normally from around 11am to 1.30pm.

Atlantic has a local Operations Coordinator (OC) for each school. OCs help to liaise with the school, get to know the students, and inform the teacher of any issues. Larger classes (30+ students), and all Primary classes, also have a Teaching Assistant (TA) in the lesson to help the teacher with managing behaviour, monitoring learneers, and modelling activities.

On the Academic side, each teacher has a Senior Teacher to support them and check in with any issues.

Teacher contracts last for a full academic year, beginning with induction in late August and finishing in May.

Pay is determined based on relevant experience and qualifications. Holding a Cambridge CELTA / Trinity CertTESOL or Cambridge DELTA / Trinity DipTESOL unlocks access to higher pay bands.

Full-time and part-time teachers receive a number of additional benefits, including paid work permit / visa support, paid holidays and annual leave, state and private health insurance and a year-end bonus. Part-time teachers also receive these benefits, on a pro-rated basis.

Atlantic will assist in the visa application process. You need to provide the following original documents:

· Passport

· University degree

· Teaching certificate

· English proficiency certificate equivalent to C1 on the CEFR scale (for non-native teachers, such as IELTS Band 8-9 across all 4 skills)

· Clean criminal record check from your home country or the most recent country of residence (issued within the last 6 months)

· Four 4×6 photos (HR will provide the specifications)

It’s important to submit these documents promptly upon signing the contract. Your original passport, university degree, and teaching certificate will be scanned and returned to you right away. The company will keep the photos and the original criminal record check, as they are necessary for processing your visa and work permit applications with the government authorities.

Your visa as an expat working in Vietnam is linked to your work permit and your visa will be valid as long as you are legally employed by the company that sponsors you.

If you finish one contract with Atlantic and wish to continue working for Atlantic, the company will renew you visa for the length of time of the next contract. If you choose to end your employment, the company is legally obliged to cancel your work permit and apply for an exit visa.

Many people believe that a business visa is all that you need to work legally in Vietnam. This is a misconception and you are required to have a work permit that proves you are legally working for the company that sponsors your visa.

Here are the documents required to legally obtain a work permit in Vietnam:

· Request form for the Vietnam work permit. (Atlantic will complete this based on your contract and documentation)

· Health certificate.

· Certified Criminal record check (issued within the last 180 days).

· Certified copy of your certificate/degree.

· Confirmation of working experience from former employers.

· Copy of passport and valid visa.

· Two 4x6cm photos.

· Employment contract.

Note: Some individuals may be exempt from the standard work permit requirements based on specific cases, as determined by Vietnamese regulations

Certified documents

· University degree

· Teaching certificate

· Criminal record check (based on the latest guidance from Vietnamese authorities)

You should provide these notarized documents to the company within 10 days of the contract start date. If the notarization and legalization occur in Vietnam (which is the case for most nationalities currently), the company will cover the associated costs. However, if this process happens outside of Vietnam (currently applicable to citizens of the UK and South Africa), you are responsible for covering all related fees.

Requirements for Getting a Work Permit in Vietnam:

You must:

· Be at least 18 years old.

· Possess suitable technical qualifications, relevant work experience, and good health that meet the job requirements. (In the case of teachers, this refers to your teaching qualification)

· Not be currently serving a sentence, have an unspent conviction, or be undergoing criminal prosecution under home country’s law or Vietnam’s law.

· Hold a position as an executive officer, manager, specialist, or technical worker with the necessary qualifications and skills.

· Obtain written approval for employment from a competent state agency.

· Not enter Vietnam on a tourist visa, except for specific cases permitted by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on a case-by-case basis.

As your work permit is linked to your employment with Atlantic, the company will process the application for a new work permit when required.

You may need to provide some documents again, such as a new health check (as it cannot be older than six months) as well as a letter of registration from your landlord, so that a new police check can be done for the time you have spent in Vietnam. You will also have to hand in your passport so that your new visa and work permit can be processed.

Atlantic can assist with spousal or family visas.

If you are arriving with your spouse, you need to legalize and notarize your marriage certificate in your home country.

If you are arriving with your parent/child, you need to notarize and legalize your/your child’s birth certificate in your home country.

There are many families that live and work in Vietnam and it is definitely possible.

Atlantic doesn’t assist with finding accommodation, but discovering a nice apartment is quite straightforward. There are various social media groups that regularly post apartment listings with prices ranging from as low as 6 million VND (around $250) to over 20 million VND (around $800). Many expats opt for shared houses to further reduce living costs, which are generally affordable.

Most expats tend to choose the Tây Hồ area (West Lake) due to the vibrant expat community, and stores and restaurants that cater to more western preferences. However, it should be noted that the east of West Lake is quite isolated from the rest of the city and commute could get stressful during rush hour.

If you are hired from abroad, Atlantic will arrange for an airport pickup and accommodation in a hotel for the first 7 days of your stay in Vietnam.

As for transportation within Hanoi, teachers are responsible for their own commute. However, the company offers car transport to and from schools located outside of Hanoi. Teachers will be picked up and dropped off at a designated point in Hanoi. Additionally, some schools in the outskirts may provide a travel supplement. The supplement is determined by the distance of the school from the center of Hanoi, measured from The Temple of Literature (5B Quoc Tu Giam, Van Mieu, Dong Da).

Foreign residents normally require the following documents to open a bank account

– a passport with valid visa

– a signed and stamped employment contract

We will help you to open a bank account at the beginning of your contract with us.

Teachers are paid the following month in VND via bank transfer to their local account. Atlantic withholds personal income tax (PIT) and pays this on the teacher’s behalf.

Cash is still common but has been overtaken by newer payment methods. Nearly all vendors accept payment via local bank transfer by scanning a QR code with your local bank’s app. QR code payments are instant and have no fees, and are accepted by nearly everyone from high-end shops to street food vendors. International debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard can be used in some ATMs and at many, but not all, higher-end shops and restaurants. You can also apply for a debit card through your local bank account.