Pre-Arrival Handbook 2023

C ONTE N T

W E L C OM E TO R EIG ATE G R A MMA R S CH OO L V IE TN A M

A very warm welcome to Vietnam, to Hanoi, and to RGSV. Whether this is your first overseas position or whether you are an international veteran, this guide is designed to help you orientate yourself in a new country, a new city and a new school.

We do not aim to replicate the many excellent travel guides available, but rather to give an overview of key information from personal experience. The guide, therefore, reflects our own preferences and should be considered a 'work in progress' to be amended and extended by your own experiences for future incoming faculty.

Patrick Glennon Acting Headmaster

VI ETNA M

Vietnam is a slender fertile country clinging to the coastline between the Chinese border on the Gulf of Tonkin in the North to the East Sea and the Gulf of Thailand in the south. Measuring 1,650 kilometres from north to south and only 40 kilometres across at its narrowest, its scenery range from the Alpine-like mountains surrounding the Red River Delta and the prosperous capital of Hanoi in the north to the commercial centre of Ho Chi Minh City and the vast Mekong Delta in the south. In between, are dense rainforest in the west; the mountains, hills and plateaus of the central highlands; and long stretches of beautiful empty beaches. Abundant flora and fauna thrive in this ecological diversity alongside an ethnically mixed population of 96 million people.

H AN O I

Hanoi, situated within a bend on the right bank of the Red River, has been the capital city of Vietnam since AD 1010 (apart from a period in the early 1800s when the Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty decided to rule from Hue and the additional use of Saigon and Da Lat as the capital of French Indochina) - and 2010 marked the 1000-year anniversary of its establishment. Hanoi's cultural heritage is rich, combining aspects of this ancient city development with the colonialism brought by the French in the mid 19th century.

Hanoi is a ‘small’ capital city with a compact historic centre, lakes, tree-lined boulevards, narrow alleys, villas, churches, temples and pagodas, shared by a population of nearly 8 million people using about 5 million motorbikes.

Hanoi has a warm humid subtropical climate (i.e. it rains a lot). Summers (May to September) are hot and humid, with most of the year's 1.68 metres of rainfall (and sticky at 80-100% humidity). Winters (November to March) start mild and relatively dry becoming more humid, with spring (April) bringing the chance of light rains. There is usually cloud/fog in the winter (for example, February only has 1.8 hours/day of sunshine) and it can be cold especially around Halong Bay to the east. Temperatures have ranged from 2.7oC (36.9oF) to 40.4oC (105oF) but more usually 13oC-25oC in winter and 24oC-32oC in summer.

The local people of Hanoi are friendly, hard-working, busy about their everyday lives and helpful when you are trying to make yourself understood in order to buy those particular bananas or to get the taxi driver to go exactly where you want.

REI G ATE GR A MMA R S CH O O L V IE T NA M R G S V

Reigate Grammar School Vietnam is situated in the south of the city in the district of Hoang Mai at 6-7 Dai Kim-Dinh Cong New Urban Area, Dai Kim Ward. Being south of the city centre means that there are fewer expatriate facilities in the area including housing, restaurants and shops but within 2 minutes walk, there is a supermarket, ATM machines, and local co ee shops and pavement food places. There is space behind the school to park motorbikes or bicycles, which is watched by a guard at all times.

The school is 4 floors tall. The 1st floor consists of Prep classrooms, an entry hall, administrative o ces, a courtyard, a football pitch, an undercover basketball court, a multi-purpose sports hall, two swimming pools, and the Prep student canteen. The 2nd floor has additional Prep classrooms, the library and media centre, the Secondary canteen, and the Bamboo Cafe. The 3rd and 4th floors contain the Secondary classrooms, science labs, and Computing department.

Each classroom has a projector, a whiteboard, display boards, a teacher desk, and seating for students, as well as year-groupl/subject-specific materials. Teachers are provided with a school laptop (currently Macbook) that connects to the projector. There are no schoolwide devices for student use, but students from Year 4 (Grade 3) and up are asked to bring a device to use in class. Teachers who want to order lunch from the school must arrange it ahead of time with the section o ce.

Teachers are able to access the building between the hours of 7:15 am and 5 pm on weekdays. Working hours are 8 am to 4:15 pm. Teachers can use the sports facilities, provided they are not being used for extracurricular activities but should be warned that the doors are locked at 5 pm. However, there is a 24-hour security team monitoring the building. Tra c does pick up around 4:30-4:45 pm, so most sta aim to leave before then.

Hanoi District s

Hai Ba Trung

Hoan Kiem

Hoang Mai

Thanh Xuan

Cau Giay

H AN OI DI S T R ICTS AN D H O U S I N G

Hanoi Districts and Housing

There is a wide range of di erent types of housing in Hanoi: villas, serviced apartments, houses - and also a wide range of sizes, quality and age.

Most places are available fully furnished - a typical apartment would include an oven, 2 ring gas burner, a basic pan set, dishes, plates, cutlery and bed linens but they all vary so be sure to check that you're getting what you want.

They include wifi Internet access, cable TV (there are some news, sports and film channels in English), and tap water (bottled water will be at your own expense). Electricity is also usually at your own expense, but some landlords will include a certain amount in the monthly rent, and then you just pay for anything above this. This is the opportunity to negotiate.

Housing prices vary depending on size, facilities and location. Commuting time/cost to school is also a factor to take into account. Always ask the Agent about this. There are newly built/renovated apartments and also narrow traditional multi floored Vietnamese houses, many of which have the kitchen/living room/bike park on the ground floor with 2 or 3 floors of bedrooms above.

Even in the busy centre of the city, residences are often in quiet alleys and therefore reasonably peaceful while still only a few minutes walk from bakeries, shops, restaurants and the ubiquitous pavement cafes.

Information on some of the housing websites can be misleading or inaccurate so make sure you see the actual apartment before signing anything. They are very helpful in showing a range of properties and locations, and very flexible viewing times. In the northern parts of the city, Tay Ho and Truc Bach are lovely places but be aware that they are around 45 ‐ 50-minutes taxi ride from school, depending on tra c. Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung districts are closer options, combining a central location with a reasonable commute time to school.

It is normal to pay one month's rent as a security deposit (returned when you leave the accommodation) and you may be asked to pay your rent one, two or three months in advance, so initially, you may, in an extreme case, need to pay four month's rent. However, this is negotiable. In order to claim your school housing allowance the contract needs to be o cial i.e. with the landlord's formal red stamp and VAT paid.

We recommend using a professional agent who works with expatriates and speaks good English. They will help you to negotiate prices and amenities and will prepare the contract in both Vietnamese and English.

Here is a list of agents in Hanoi that are familiar with the needs of sta that work at RGSV. It's typically best to find something on the website and then share the apartments you're in with your agent(s). Using WhatsApp or Zalo the agents will also make suggestions with links to photos and sometimes video viewings. As part of their service, they will make arrangements to pick you up and take you around the properties for viewing. Take your time, view as many as you can and the agents are also open to taking you back for second viewings.

• Vietlong Housing

• Vietnam Home

• Hanoi Real Estate

• Toan Tien Housing

• Hanoi Housing

Specific recommended agents:

Hendrik: +84 90 435 6724 (WhatsApp)

Quynh +84 96 791 62 62 (both phone and WhatsApp)

Potential areas to live .

A RR I VA L I N HANO I

Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport is about 30-kilometres north of the city centre. Once you have passed through passport/visa control and collected your luggage, but before you leave the luggage area, remember to fill out and have stamped the white custom declaration arrival/departure card if you are having goods shipped in. You must have this for your goods to be allowed in.

It will take 45-60 minutes to reach the city centre. For initial arrival, RGSV will arrange pick-up so watch out for someone with your name on a board when you come into the arrivals hall. At other times, the main transfer options are: city bus to Hoan Kiem Lake with request stops on the way; Vietnam airlines shuttle bus; pre‐paid airport taxis; metered taxis; and ride-hailing app taxis (such as Grab).

As you travel in from the airport you experience about 15-kilometres of swift travel and relatively quiet road, then you join the “excitement” that best describes the tra c system in Hanoi. There are cars, some buses, many taxis, many more motorbikes, scooters, mopeds and bicycles, together with rubbish trolleys, street-vendors, carrying‐pole ladies and other pedestrians - all sharing the roadway. There are rules of the road, lane lines, some tra c lights and a few marked pedestrian crossings ‐sometimes you will see them being used! Because the centre is compact it is easy to get around on foot, although pavements everywhere are decorated by parked motor bikes, cafes and tree‐roots.

Taxis and motorbike taxis can be waved down or the taxi firms' telephone response services are very quick (providing you can describe where you want to be picked up). The taxis are metred although prices are inexpensive. The easiest way to call a taxi, however, is to use the hail-riding apps such as Grab, as you can use the map to pin your location and track where your driver is. You can also request a 4-seater or a 7-seater taxi.

The ‘xe om’ (hug a rider) motorbike taxis are still in existence, and you will have to negotiate the price. However, many people use ride-hailing apps like Grab, Gojek, & Be for clear pricing, including paying by card. Weaving amongst the other tra c can be exhilarating (and dangerous) but speeds are generally low and all other road users are familiar with close proximity driving/riding.

Negotiating the price is the method if you want to take one of the pedal-powered cyclo-tricycles with two wheels at the front that operate in the more popular tourist areas. Similar motorbike tricycles are also a common form of goods transport and some of the loads you see are impressive, confusing and just plain bizarre.

H EA LTH & S AF ET Y

You should check with your home country’s own medical services for current recommendations regarding immunisations as there is a large amount of information on the internet and in guide‐books which may be confusing. Recommended immunisations vary depending on your individual health and practices as well as the amount and nature of travel you plan to do in Vietnam.

Some diseases are spread by insects (mosquitos in particular) including Malaria & Dengue fever. Dengue fever has been known in Hanoi; malaria is rare but it becomes more frequent once you leave the city limits. To prevent bites, wear lightweight long-sleeved shirts and long trousers outside whenever possible. If you will not be sleeping in an air conditioned or well-screened room in risk areas then using bed nets treated with insecticide (permethrin is one recommendation) can help, as will using insect spray to help clear rooms of insects. Plug in insect repellents and/or Mosquito coils to burn may also be useful.

Medical care is available at facilities such as The French Hospital, Hanoi Family Medical Practice, International SOS (all of which have consultation, screening and pharmacy services), Vinmec and Westcoast International Dental Clinic. For any major medical problems evacuation to hospitals in Bangkok or Singapore is an option. There are many local pharmacies for everyday items although it’s best to check the expiry dates on all medicines. A health check will be done before going to Vietnam as part of your work visa process.

Non-bottled drinking water should be avoided and you should also be cautious using ice cubes unless you have made them yourself. Most people drink bottled water, which is widely available - delivery of 19-litre plastic bottles with a built-in tap is a normal way of ensuring a regular supplyone being used and one for backup. There is a deposit to be paid for the initial purchase of these bottles and thereafter a replacement costs about 80,000 VND. If you would like to have heated or cold drinking water, you can use a dispenser, which you can purchase if it is not provided in your apartment.

The streets are safe to walk from a security point of view but sometimes hazardous because of uneven surfaces, tra c, pavements blocked with parked motorbikes, trees and cafes. Obviously, as for any busy capital city, you should watch your money and valuables and be aware of minor scams especially regarding motorbike taxi negotiated fares ‐ it’s easy for people to claim a ‘misunderstanding’ due to your inability to speak Vietnamese.

P O W E R

The standard electricity supply is 220 volt 50 Hz with Continental European, 2 round pin sockets and plugs although many will also take American 2 flat pin plugs. Plug adapters are readily available, as are automatic voltage regulators and transformers. Electricity supply is generally reliable although there can be power fluctuations and cuts, especially in the summer months when everybody has their air conditioners turned on. Good brand-name electrical appliances (large and small) can be bought locally as can Vietnamese and Chinese equivalents at much cheaper prices.

C OMM UN IC AT I O N

There is English spoken in Hanoi, especially in the very central tourist areas and areas with a high density of expatriates, for example, the Tay Ho district. Learning some words in Vietnamese will be appreciated. Literacy rates are high so taxi drivers will understand a written street name or a map on a smartphone. In markets and shops with unmarked prices, sellers will usually show you the price on a calculator or by showing you the bank notes they want. They may also hold up a number of fingers but beware: 3 fingers can mean 3,000 VND (e.g. for a bunch of herbs) or 30,000 VND (for a kilo of apples) – they assume you know the magnitude to begin with. Keep in mind, however, that even if you get it wrong and accidentally pay 30,000 VND for the herbs, it's only £1 or $1.20 so you won't be too out of pocket!

The mobile phone system in Hanoi works well -‐ with multiple providers and ready available contracts or pay as you go services. The main options are VinaPhone, MobiFone and Viettel Mobile [we will help you get a Vietnamese SIM card when you arrive at the airport]. There are many mobile phone shops selling unlocked mobiles and all peripherals and additionally, many local shops sell sim cards and top-‐up cards for pay as you go. You can also top up using your internet banking (if you use Standard Charter bank) or via mobile phone company app (Viettel is currently only in Vietnamese). Typical phone prices start from 800,000 VND (US$40/£28) for a simple no-frills Nokia, and a 200,000 VND pay as you go card (US$10/£6.50) could last you several weeks although obviously, this depends on how often you use it and where you call. Home internet is normally good for Skype, Whatsapp, or other internet-based app calls, so this can keep costs down as well.

The Main Post O ce is located on the east side of Hoan Kiem Lake and is open daily from 6:30 am to 10 pm. FedEx and UPS have locations in the same block and DHL and TNT are also available. There are also other smaller post o ces around the city. All items are subject to inspection both outgoing and incoming and the service is reported to be a little erratic.

TR ANS PO RT

Many foreigners decide to ride a motorbike while in Vietnam. If you’re comfortable riding a bike you can purchase a bike from a number of di erent places:

• Rent a bike

• O -road bikes

If you would like to learn how to ride a motorbike, you can contact: a driver training company run by women called Chicks With Bikes

It is highly recommended that you organise to get an o cial licence to drive a bike. If you do not have a licence and are injured in an accident MHS insurance will not cover the expenses.

S H O PPI N G

Most foods and household goods you will need are available in Hanoi (including Vegemite, Hershey's and HP sauce for our Australian, American and British colleagues) but not necessarily in one shop or location.

Shoes are generally only available in Vietnamese sizes, so you will need to bring large sizes with you, or you can have them made quickly and cheaply. As mentioned, while there are pharmacies and stores to buy medicines and cosmetics, you might want to bring a supply of your ‘favourite’ items to avoid extensive search shopping.

For general food supplies and international foods, there are several supermarket chains such as Vinmart, Fivimart, Citimart and Intimex; 'Big C' hypermarket; and numerous smaller convenience and mini-‐stores, wine shops, delicatessens and bakeries. Local shops and street vendors selling fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables are on most streets. There are international ‘malls’ such as Aeon, IPH Indochina Plaza, Vincom , Syrena Centre and The Garden Centre with well-known brands and restaurants/cafes. Apps such as Lazada, Tiki and Shopee will deliver almost anything to your doorstep and allow for convenient and fast delivery of a wide variety of products. You will have to pay upon their arrival. Baemin, Shopee and Grab apps also deliver groceries, goods, and services as well.

In addition to a wide range of imported beers and wines, South-Eastern Asian beers, rice wines and some locally-produced wines are also readily available, as is the very local, very fresh, very cheap Bia Hoi beer which is brewed daily for consumption the same day at pavement bars and cafes all over Hanoi. There are many co ee shops/mini restaurants serving Vietnamese as well as foreign-style co ees and French bakeries on most street corners. International restaurants are numerous with French, Moroccan, Russian, Australian, Argentinian, Italian, Czech and many others.

MO NE Y

The currency of Vietnam is the Dong (code VND; symbol ₫) which means 'money'. VND is not usually available outside Vietnam. Because the value of the currency is so small (1 Dong is about 0.000048 of a US dollar and 0.000031 of a British pound) people and shops often ignore the thousands when showing prices, i.e. 3 might mean 3,000 or 3,000,000 and you are expected to know the magnitude for the item or amount you are buying. The easiest way is to be shown the amount on a calculator that most vendors use.

On 1st January 2023, the conversion rate was:

£1 = 28,867₫

$1 = 23,496₫

€1 = 25,454₫

There are notes worth: 500,000; 200,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500. There are no coins.

Several of the notes appear similar so be careful not to mistake one for another (our tip is to keep them separated or in sequence within your purse or wallet). Take extra care when paying taxis at night as they are often quick transactions in inadequate lighting. Some vendors may refuse to take damaged notes: even slightly torn or curled at the corners. Our tip is to keep trying until someone takes it (or in extreme cases, you can take it to the bank and they will exchange it for you).

B A NKI N G

There are many banks in Hanoi including several internationals such as ANZ, HSBC, Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank. You can choose which bank to use and the school will help you set up your account. You will need to go to the bank to do this in person. Note, we do invite banks into school and have had HSBC and Standard Chartered come into school in the past to help teachers open accounts. There are English speakers to greet you as soon as you enter the international banks; all the online services work the same way as in the UK and are in English, and the ATM locations are widespread (HSBC collaborates with Techcom Bank which extends their ATM network). ATMs are everywhere and you can draw cash at any ATM but you may be charged if it is not your own bank. Debit cards can also be used at many restaurants, supermarkets and expat-style shops.

International transfers

Most national and international bank transfers can be done easily online at the international banks. Transfers take between one to three days. Transfers are not processed after 3pm, on weekends, or holidays, so plan your transfers around those times. To transfer funds with a local bank (VCB, for example) you go to the main branch and write a transfer order and they do it in front of you – it takes about 30 minutes.

Online banking apps

All of the banks have online banking apps, but it is required to have a local mobile telephone number to set up the app, and your o cial bank account. Therefore before you try to set up an account, assure that you have a local mobile phone number. Apps work di erently depending on the bank, some are better than others, but are in English.

Use of foreign credit/ debit cards

Foreign credit and debit cards can be used here. In some countries, you may want to ensure that you inform your bank that they will be in use in a new location, or you may find that transactions are not completed. Also, remember that for each payment your bank could charge you both a foreign transaction fee and an additional currency exchange fee. Check with your bank before leaving your home country so this is not a surprise upon arrival.

The school uses VietcomBank. If you also use VietcomBank your salary will transfer immediately to your account on the day school sends the salaries (usually the last working day of the month). If you use a di erent bank, the salary may take one or two days to reach your account.

CUI S I N E

Vietnamese cuisine is characterised by freshness, an abundance of herbs and vegetables, condiments for dipping/tasting and the use of broths for a wide range of soups. There is much historic influence both from China and the colonial French period which has resulted in three distinct food regions of the North, Central and South. The fertile soils and climate of southern Vietnam results in an abundance of fresh produce. Livestock and fresh seafood are combined with coconut milk, garlic, shallots and fresh herbs to produce a sweeter blend of flavours than the rest of the country with more Indian and Thai influences.

The Central mountainous region is known for more spicy food with chilli peppers and shrimp sauce featuring heavily. This region is also influenced by the culinary tradition of Hue’s ancient Royal cuisine. In the North, a cooler climate influences a less spicy approach using black pepper rather than chili. A distinct Chinese influence is also apparent with soy, prawn and fish sauces mixing with lime juice to balance the herbs, vegetables, meat, fish and shellfish. In Hanoi, all of these cuisines are available from eateries ranging from extremely cheap street cafes with low plastic seats alongside pavement kitchens to relatively expensive 'table-clothed' restaurants.

H OL I D AY S

The biggest and most important public holiday of the year is Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) marking the arrival of Spring, on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month. The actual holiday duration can vary but from 1 day before to 3-5 days after is common.

Traditional activities centre on preparation, New Years Eve and the first few days of the new year and include: a ceremony for the 3 kitchen guardians before they depart to report to the Jade Emperor on the events in the house over the previous year; washing away the bad luck of the old year by cleaning & polishing; decorating the house with flowers; decorating a festive tree/bamboo pole; setting o fireworks/firecrackers, banging gongs/drums/bells to ward o evil spirits; playing games (try blindfold ‘catch a greased duck’); making special festive foods in anticipation of no-one going hungry in the coming year - this may also involve some ‘good health’ drinking; first footing to bring luck to the household; clearing debts and disputes for a fresh start; buying new clothes/shoes - especially for children; giving them ‘lucky money’ in red envelopes. This is a no‐work period including no sweeping during Tet – no problem given the extensive pre-cleaning. The visiting of friends, family, teachers and respect and worship for ancestors is a major feature with five fruit o erings made at the family altar, and visits and donations to temples/pagodas/churches.

Immediately before and during the holiday people travel back to their families/hometown so transportation may be fully booked. There is much shopping and stocking up for the festivities and shops/businesses may be closed. Expat Vietnamese also often travel home from abroad at this time so international flights may also be busy.

The second most important festival is the Tet Trung Thu, celebrating harvest near the time of the Autumn Equinox during a full moon (15th day of the 8th Lunar month). With an emphasis on children, the main features are colourful, costumed lantern processions, lion/dragon dances and mooncakes filled with lotus seeds, ground beans and orange peel.

Other key holidays include Hung Kings and Reunification (Victory) Day in April, Labour Day in May and Vietnamese National Day in September.

Extended school holidays are in October, December, February (Tet), April, and June-August. For specific dates consult the school calendar that will be shared with you.

WH AT TO D O, WH AT TO SE E

There are many places to visit in Hanoi in addition to the restaurants and cafes, museums, temples, pagodas, churches, modern as well as traditional theatres and some very grand hotels.

There are numerous lakes and parks within the city with good walking paths: Hoan Kiem Lake, Bay Mau Lake, Truc Bach Lake or part of the large Tay Ho (West Lake) as well as a myriad of smaller ones scattered across the city. The Botanical Gardens is also a pleasant park for walking.

Hanoi Opera House is host to a wide range of international musical performances (as well as being a superb example of French colonial architecture) and features regular performances by the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra of the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

There are cinemas showing films in English such as the CGV and Beta multiplexes in many shopping complexes and the French art-house cinema, Hanoi Cinematheque, which shows original language films with English subtitles. Hanoi Water Park is a family attraction north of the city centre with the usual wet rides and play areas as well as discounted entry for anyone shorter than 110cm!

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex is a tra c-free area with parks, pagodas, memorials, monuments and museums located in Ba Dinh Square where the Vietnamese leader read the Declaration of Independence on September 2nd 1945 establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The imposing structure is modelled on Lenin’s tomb in Moscow.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is a treat for adults as well as children with live music, singing and a unique story-telling model.

The Army Museum details Vietnam’s struggle against colonial powers, with photos and exhibitions from both the French and American wars appropriately located on Dien Bien Phu Street ‐ named after the city near the Laotian border west of Hanoi and the significant defeat over the French in 1954.

The National Museum of Vietnamese History is housed in the old French consulate with a collection of historic relics from prehistoric carvings to Buddhist and Han tomb artefacts.

One‐pillar Pagoda is a wooden reproduction of a pagoda built in 1049. Quan Su Pagoda is a very important Buddhist temple constructed in the 15th century now the headquarters of the Vietnamese Central Buddhist Congregation.

Hoa Lo Prison was built by the French in 1896 and used to house prisoners of war including Lt. Everett Alvarez, the 1st o cial American pilot shot down over Vietnam; Pete Peterson, the ambassador to Vietnam; and U.S. Senator John McCain. Nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton, it documents the prisoners’ history from a Vietnamese perspective.

Other museums include the Revolutionary Museum, Vietnam Ethnology Museum, Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts and the Women’s Museum: enough to keep you steeped in Vietnamese history and culture throughout your stay.

Beyond Hanoi, Vietnam o ers endless possibilities: mountains, wetlands, forests, national parks, animal sanctuaries, beaches and coastlines... and further afield an amazing array of Asian opportunities awaits.

Welcome to Vietnam, to Hanoi and to RGSV: enjoy your time here.

A FE W S AMP L E RES OU R C E S

Facebook groups: Hanoi Massive, Hanoi Beautiful, Hanoi Foodies

The New Hanoian -‐ (tnhvietnam.xemzi.com/en)

Lonely Planet Vietnam Travel Guide -‐(lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/hanoi)

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Vietnam and Angkor Wat

YouTube ‘Hanoi time lapse’ for video footage of Hanoi tra c.

Available Apps for your phone:

Transport

• Grab

• Gojek

• Be

• Mai Linh Taxi

Travel within Vietnam

• Vietnam Airlines

• VietJet Air

• Bamboo Airways

Covid

• Dịch Vụ Công (Electronic Health Admin. from Ministry of Health)

• PC-Covid (for Medical & Travel Declarations)

• Sổ sức khỏe điện tử (vaccination records from Ministry of Health)

Shopping/Services

• Shopee

• Lazada

• Tiki

• Grab

REIMBURSEMENTS

Visa Items

The school reimburses expenses related only to entry visas. Keep all your receipts and submit these to Accounting as soon as possible.

You will not be reimbursed for any expenses related to work visa requirements: educational documents, translations of those documents, authentication embassy fees, mailing costs, or travel fees to collect the documents. If possible try to do as many translations and authentications of documents here as they will be less expensive here.

Luggage/Shipping

Reimbursement for luggage or shipping expenses is reimbursed relatively quickly. All you need is your receipts for the extra luggage fees. Remember to declare this at Customs in the airport’s arrival hall and keep a copy of your boarding passes for smooth reimbursement.

Shipping reimbursement also requires a copy of the receipt for the expenses and will be reimbursed after you have received your shipment. Some teachers have sent the shipping bill directly to RGSV’s HR department, they paid their amount and then the teachers paid the remaining amount. This is another benefit of working with EVO (see below) because RGSV is familiar with them.

Our HR will have recommended shipping companies to make inquiries with. These are the preferred choice as the complex invoice system can then be best managed through shared email communication and (depending on whether you come under the allocated amount) have all arrangements be made with the company. One company our teachers have had success with is EVO moves and our school. The contact person at EVO moves who can help you get started is Elisa (elisa.vo@evomoves.com). EVO seems to be one of the more a ordable options and because they have their home o ce in Vietnam, they make it easy when it comes to clearing customs.

Flights

All incoming flights for the first contract will be paid for by the school. Flights home during the contract will usually be paid by the school (please check your contract) unless you decide to pay for the flight yourself due to needing to purchase the ticket through a di erent option than the school's travel agent. However, before you do this, you want to be sure that the cost of your flight matches what the school would deem the maximum price they would pay to the location as you will only be reimbursed up to that amount.

Medical Expenses

MHS (the school medical cover provider) should cover all of your medical expenses after you cover your $100 deductible. In some cases, there is a limit to the amounts that will be covered during one year. Read the policy carefully to identify these items. For instance, homoeopathic care will only be reimbursed up to $500 annually and you will need a referral from a medical doctor for it to be recognised as necessary.

Currently, the only medical centre that has easy direct billing without pre-approval is Family Medical Practice. All other centres require that care will either have to be pre-approved by MHS for payment, or you will have to pay the full sum and then request reimbursement from MHS. Be sure to request a medical report and invoice so the process goes smoothly. If you have laboratory tests or a prescription you will also require a copy of these too. For all reimbursements, you will need formal receipts showing that you have fully paid for the service.

Pre-approvals are usually in or outpatient procedures that have been deemed necessary by your doctor. They will not usually be doctors appointments or medications.

A claim can be made either online or by filling out a claim form and submitting it via email. It will take up to 15 days for the claim to be processed and approved, and up to three days to receive the approved sum in your account.

Buddy System

New teachers are paired with an RGSV teacher who has been in Hanoi for one or more years. This teacher has agreed to help answer questions and direct the newbies to the appropriate resources, both school-related and personal.

Money Requirements to Support Transition

Once the bank account has been set-up, the first month’s salary should arrive at the end of August. Prior to that, it may be necessary to pay for a number of items which will require arriving in Hanoi with access to money. The most substantial of these costs will be for accommodation. This is normally the first month’s rent payment (which is reimbursed with your salary at the end of the month, in accordance with the amount stated in the contract) plus deposit (typically one month’s rent - this is not reimbursed by the School). Other factors to consider include living expenses (food and travel around the city), and initial settling in costs (gym memberships, bike rental/ purchase, household items and decoration where applicable, uniforms for children, …).

It is not easy to state a precise figure for this however $4000 per couple (including $2,200 for rent plus deposit) should be su cient to cover the transition period.

Travelling Spouses

Arriving in a new city may seem daunting at first. However, there are a number of social media groups that can o er invaluable help with the adjustment. These include the Facebook groups Hanoi Massive, Hanoi Beautiful (females only), Hanoi Handsome (males only) and Where to Get In Hanoi, and the Instagram group Where In Hanoi. These o er invaluable tips on a range of activities and opportunities for life in Hanoi.

Throughout the year, there are many things to see and do in and around Hanoi. Mobility is recommended and for those seeking a little more freedom and flexibility than is o ered by taxi, and riding a motorbike may be the most convenient method of navigating around the city. It is relatively easy to take lessons and obtain a licence if this is something you may consider. Chicks and Bikes are a friendly, knowledgeable, Tay Ho-based company o ering lessons at a very reasonable rate and can be found on Facebook.

Depending on one’s preference, there are a variety of social, wellness and sporting activities available within the city and a range of clubs to suit. Some parts of the city (Tay Ho and Ciputra, for example) have dense expat populations and cater accordingly.

R E Q UIR E D D O CUME NTS P R IO R ARRI VA L

Note: In order for HR Department to process your Work Permit in Vietnam, please have the following documents prepared in advance. We strongly suggest you to bring along all the originals.

1. Health Check Certificate

The School shall arrange and pay for the required Health check appointment for the Teacher. Date and time will be set according to the Teacher’s available schedule.

2. Police Clearance Check (Criminal Record)*

Criminal Record issued by the Judiciary Department or Police Clearance Check issued by Authority Government in the city that you have been living in for the most recent six (06) months.

Note: Criminal Record from some country only valid for 3 months (e.g. UAE). Please double check with the issued country for validity.

Criminal Record or/and Police Clearance Check must not be expired at the date applying for Work Permit.

3. Original Education Certificates*

All certificates relevant to your position at RGSV. (E.g. University Degrees, Masters, Teaching Qualifications, etc.). Originals are strongly recommended to be brought to Hanoi.

4. Certified Copy of your Passport

A complete certified copy of your passport (details pages). This MUST be done in Hanoi after your arrival as the entry visa will be required.

5. Dependents’ Documents (if any)

If you have signed the contract with dependents, please provide the followings being translated into Vietnamese and certified true copies by either an authorised agency.

- Marriage Certificate (for spouse)

- Birth Certificates (for children)

6. Four 4x6cm sized Formal ID Photos (with White background)

7. Covid-19 Vaccination Card/Passport (if applicable)

A scan copy of your Vaccination Card/Passport is required.

Note: If your country's Vaccination Card/Passport has not been recognized in Vietnam, it needs to be verified by the Vietnamese Embassy or General Consulate in the country issued.

8. Experience Certificate/Employment Letter

All Foreign Experts (non-teaching positions) must have at least three (03) years of work experience in their field and at least five (05) years in total for Foreign Executive (chief or deputy of the organisation) and Foreign Operation Director/Manager (department head and responsible for the department operation).

Therefore, please provide references and/or employment verification letters from your previous employees to certify at least five years of experience relevant to apply for the position.

Name on all the above documents MUST BE consistent and correct.

Note Passport(s)/Visa(s) Expiration date

Ensure to always have the Passport Valid date at least 6 months before submitted to the HR Department for Visa Extension. Any penalty due to in-su cient Passport Validity or late in submission for Visa Extension purposes will be covered by the Sta s.

Please kindly inform the HR Department 2 months before your Visa run-out.

Personal Contact (Phone # & Home Address)

Please kindly share with the HR Department and School O ce any change in your personal phone number as well as your current Address in Hanoi.

A scan copy of your new Rent Contract will be appreciated.