Move to Southeast Asia as an English Teacher: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Ever dreamed of living in a tropical country, funding your travels, and making a difference? Teaching English in Southeast Asia offers exactly that. It’s the ideal adventure — immerse yourself in new cultures, gain valuable experience, and explore beautiful places while earning an income. 

Southeast Asia is highly popular among first-time English teachers due to the strong demand for language education and affordable living costs. Cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, alongside scenic beaches in Thailand and Indonesia, provide an excellent quality of life and travel opportunities on a modest salary.

Why Teach English in Southeast Asia?

Teaching English here is an opportunity to experience vibrant cultures, stunning landscapes, and meaningful interactions.

Here’s why:

• Affordable Living & Travel: Lower salaries are offset by significantly lower costs of housing, food, and transportation. Weekend trips and exploring nearby islands are easily affordable. 
• Deep Cultural Immersion: Living locally lets you join festivals, taste authentic cuisine, learn languages, and form genuine connections, making your experience richer than typical tourism. 
• High Demand for Teachers: Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia have year-round job openings, meaning you’ll easily find meaningful work. 
• Flexible Qualifications: Hiring requirements are generally flexible—Cambodia, for instance, doesn’t require a four-year degree—ideal for newcomers or recent graduates. 
• Adventure & Personal Growth: Southeast Asia promises adventure—from beaches and rainforests to bustling cities—helping you develop independence, adaptability, and cross-cultural skills.

Moving to Southeast Asia: Visas, Work Permits, and Requirements

Below, we break down the basics for the major teaching destinations in Southeast Asia, including what qualifications you’ll typically need.

General Qualifications

Typically, to teach English abroad, you’ll need to be a native or fluent English speaker with at least a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certification.

A bachelor’s degree is usually required or preferred, along with a clean criminal background check. These requirements are straightforward and achievable, often completed within weeks.

Several Southeast Asian countries stand out as favorites for foreign English teachers. Here we highlight four of the most popular destinations:

Thailand

To teach legally, obtain a Non-Immigrant “B” visa (Non-B) and work permit through your employer. You’ll need a notarized bachelor’s degree and a recent criminal background check; a TEFL certificate is preferred. Schools guide you through the paperwork, making the process manageable.

Vietnam

Vietnam requires a bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certificate, and an authenticated criminal check for a work permit and LD visa. Documents must be officially legalized. Expect a health check on arrival. Schools typically assist with the application process, ensuring you’re fully prepared.

Cambodia

Cambodia offers a simpler route: enter with an Ordinary (E-Class) visa (around $30, extendable locally). Officially, no degree is required—only fluent English and ideally a TEFL certificate. Background checks aren’t always mandated, making Cambodia accessible with fewer hurdles.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s stricter policies require a bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certificate, a passport from an English-speaking country, and a clean background check. Visa processing (KITAS) can take months, but it provides a fully supported, legal teaching environment. Non-native speakers might consider other countries or short-term volunteer options first.

Try Volunteering: Teach English in Southeast Asia Without a Long-Term Commitment

Not sure about a year-long teaching commitment? Volunteer teaching in Southeast Asia offers short-term programs lasting weeks or months.

It’s a rewarding way to gain hands-on experience, immerse in local culture, and test if teaching abroad suits you, without long-term obligations. 

Reputable organizations provide structured placements with training, accommodation, and support, ideal for first-time travelers. You’ll return inspired, enhance your resume, and make a meaningful impact, all while discovering if expat teaching is right for you.

Here are some top picks:

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

A well-established, budget-friendly volunteer program provider, IVHQ offers 200+ projects worldwide with many options in Southeast Asia. They partner with local NGOs to ensure your work is meaningful. 

IVHQ has teaching English programs in countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, among others. For example, you could volunteer teaching schoolchildren in Siem Reap, Cambodia, or in rural villages in Chiang Rai. 

IVHQ is known for its comprehensive support: you receive an information booklet, pre-departure training, and 24/7 in-country assistance to make your volunteer trip smooth and impactful.

GoEco

Founded in 2006, GoEco features 150+ volunteer projects around the globe, including teaching placements in Thailand and Bali. 

GoEco provides lots of support to volunteers, including 24-hour emergency assistance and help arranging travel insurance. Their programs often combine community service with adventure, so you get to contribute and also enjoy experiences like cultural tours or weekend excursions.

Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad is a large international organization that offers both volunteer and internship opportunities. 

In Southeast Asia, they run programs in countries such as Cambodia, and the Philippines. They cater well to younger volunteers by offering flexible start dates and durations – you can go for just two weeks or up to several months. 

Projects Abroad emphasizes making a positive impact and provides extensive pre-departure guidance, in-country staff support, and cultural immersion activities for volunteers.

Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)

IVI is an Australian organization that facilitates affordable volunteer placements. They have programs in multiple Southeast Asian locations, including Bali, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. 

IVI focuses on sustainable development and ethical volunteering, ensuring projects are driven by local needs and that volunteers are truly helping instead of taking away local jobs. 

They provide accommodation (often shared housing or homestays), meals, and on-the-ground coordination, so you’re well taken care of during your stay.

Volunteering Solutions (VolSol)

VolSol has been around since 2006, offering meaningful travel experiences that benefit communities. In Southeast Asia, Volunteering Solutions runs programs in Thailand, Cambodia, Bali, and the Philippines. 

A unique experience is to volunteer teaching English to Monks in Thailand! VolSol programs are quite flexible in length and start dates, making them popular with students on summer break or gap year travelers. 

They also ensure you get support through an orientation, and you’ll often volunteer alongside others, so it’s a social experience too.

Global Vision International (GVI)

GVI specializes in high-impact conservation and community development projects, and they host programs in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia in the Southeast Asian region. 

GVI projects tend to be very well organized and have long-term goals aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. GVI has some unique offerings – for instance, you can volunteer to teach English to Buddhist novice monks in Cambodia, which is a truly immersive cultural experience. 

GVI provides extensive training and has field staff guiding you, so even as a younger volunteer, you’ll feel safe and supported. It’s a fantastic way to contribute to communities and also develop yourself professionally and personally.

Taking the Leap to Teach Abroad

Teaching English in Southeast Asia can transform your dreams of adventure, cultural immersion, and meaningful work into reality. Whether you commit to a year-long contract or choose a short-term volunteer experience, this vibrant region offers affordable living, flexible teaching requirements, and unmatched opportunities for personal growth. 

Programs by trusted providers ensure a supported, impactful journey. Ready to make a difference while exploring tropical beaches and bustling cities? Southeast Asia awaits — start your teaching abroad journey today and experience why so many educators fall in love with life in this captivating region!