Vietnam’s Public School System
Learn all about Vietnam’s public school system and what to expect
throughout the school year.
CLASSROOM TIME
Class time (periods) will vary from grade, ability and school. The average time for primary school is 45 minutes to 1 hour. The average time for secondary and high school is 45 to 90 minutes.
Hours of teaching in a school day: The maximum number of hours an foreign teacher can teach in a single day (Monday-Friday) is six hours. This usually applies only to secondary and high school. (*Note: Some secondary and high schools might have Saturday classes)
The average teaching contract is 20-25 hours per week (full-time). Most foreign teachers can’t do more than 20 hours per week in public schools because of the effects on his/her voice.
SCHOOL LEVELS
Primary Schools: Grades 1-5
Secondary Schools: Grades 6-9
High Schools: Grades 10-12
SCHOOL YEAR & SCHEDULE
Typical English teaching programs begin in September and end around mid to late April. The academic school year for the rest of Vietnam usually begins in mid to late August and ends around May/beginning of June.
Vietnam Exams: In December and April, there are Semester exams for all classes. These exams can go from 2-3 weeks. During the school exams, foreign teachers do not teach/work.
Lunar Holiday: All teachers are also off for a minimum of two weeks during the Lunar holiday.
MOET (Vietnamese Government): MOET has a lot of control over the public school schedule and it does change every year.
TEACHING PROGRAMS
Public School Classes + Programs: The majority of these classes taught by FT’s are English speaking and listening. There might be some writing, but limited.
Grammar + Writing: Most are taught by the school's Vietnamese-English teacher. On a side note, most public school Vietnamese-English teachers can be quite good at writing, but their English speaking and listening skills are far from adequate.
Activities + Games: The foreign teachers will also do different types of activities/games in addition to the lesson. However, the “activities” will vary depending on the school, grade level, English level in the classes and length of the class period.
Teaching Material: The material that the foreign teachers use will vary. Average to good schools might use a professionally published English book (written by foreigners). However, some schools still use old English books written 20 years ago by the Vietnamese government’s publishing companies.
Inside the Classroom
Operations
Size: The average size of classrooms ranges from 40-60 students. Additionally, there is one Vietnamese teacher per academic class.
Teacher’s Aide: English classes (speaking/listening) will have one foreign teacher and typically a Vietnamese Teacher’s Aide (TA) provided by the language center. The TA’s are usually university students that are in the classroom to assist the FT in basic translation. *Note: TA’s have little or no experience in the classroom.
Facilities
Most classrooms have multiple fans and limited air conditioning to keep cool. The students will usually sit on wooden chairs or benches (3-4 students per bench). There are limited fans and ventilation. There are traditional chalkboards in the classrooms.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at public schools can have extremely different personalities. The local Vietnamese teachers and staff tend to be very traditional. Interaction between the foreign teachers and school staff should always be kept to a minimum for at least the first semester. Any issues with the school are to be communicated by the foreign teacher’s TA and/or the Language Center to the public school. Classroom discipline will always vary depending on grade level and the school. Many foreign teachers that are new and/or experienced tend to become upset because the classrooms are very noisy and there is little the foreign teacher and their TA can do. Classrooms are often staffed with a Vietnamese “homeroom teacher” who maintains order while the English teacher gives lessons, but Vietnamese students, like all members of Vietnamese culture, hold teachers in the highest regard, so teachers are treated very respectfully.
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