Following an article containing a quote from an education official that UK teachers demand a monthly salary of US$10,000 to teach English to high school students, Tuoitrenews has received comments from many expats denying the claim.

Le Hong Son, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education, recently told Tuoi Tre Newspaper that it would soon recruit 100 Filipinos to teach English at elementary, middle, and high schools because “Filipino teachers demanded a lower salary, a mere US$2,000 per month, while Australian teachers asked for $5,000 and UK teachers demanded $10,000 a month”.

Mr. Son said such figures were based on a survey, without clarifying further.

An American citizen currently working in Ho Chi Minh City named Michael Tatarski laughed at the claim, writing “most ESL teachers at language centers make roughly $2,000 per month. Teachers at places like RMIT or the international schools make more, but nowhere near $5,000 a month”.

Now, it may sound like $2,000 is a small salary, but in Vietnam, considering the low cost of living, the figure is huge.

According to official statistics from the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the average monthly salary in Vietnam last year was a mere VND3.8 million (US$185).

So a $2,000 salary is nearly 11 times higher than average, while the dubious $10,000 number is 54 times higher.

Also, the $10,000 monthly (or $120,000 annual salary) is even considered high in the US and UK.

According to the UK Department for Education, the average starting salary for a teacher in that country is 23,010 pounds, or $36,750. Experienced teachers can make up to $100,000, but only after long tenures and years of hard work.

Even college professors in the US make an average of just $73,000 per year. These are people who have Masters and PhDs and other advanced degrees, not a simple 4-week TESOL certificate, Tatarski wrote.

A reader introducing himself as Peter commented “This shows just how out of touch with reality the people behind education policies in Vietnam really are. We have long suspected it - this is categorical proof. Unbelievable”.

According to M. Joseph, $2,000 per month is the norm for British, Australian, and American teachers in Vietnam. RMIT University pays its English teachers around $2,900, and that is the best paid job in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Where did the figures of $5,000 and $10,000 come from? They are absolutely absurd numbers and reflect zero understanding of the teaching industry in Vietnam”, M. Joseph commented.

Also suspicious is Brian Lamprell, who suggests there are some "under the table" pay rates.

As for Stivi Cooke from Australia, currently teaching English in Hoi An and Da Nang, he admits he makes a modest $800 a month.

Meanwhile, Leo asked Tuoitrenews to interview Mr. Son to find out who demanded the astronomical $10,000 and determine which survey it was.

Readers also hotly debated the cost value of a Filipino teacher versus a native speaker.

For Muca, non-native teachers are often much better than native ones, since many native teachers don't know much about grammar.

“I do welcome new Filipino teachers, they speak flawless English, know the grammar better”.

Lamprell disagreed, revealing he had spoken with dozens of Filipinos in Australia and never heard one speak with the same intonation, inflection, expression and pronunciation as a native speaker.