In order to work legally in Vietnam, you will need a work permit. The basis of work permit is a labour contract with an employer in Vietnam who will also be some kind of a "guarantor" for your stay in Vietnam.
For now, if you work in Vietnam less than 3 months, you are not required to have a work permit - meaning, you may work less than 3 month without having a labour contract with an employer in Vietnam.
So, I believe, you may easy to apply for Vietnamese visa for up to 3 months max -as a visitor, maybe? You may need to check with your travel agent. And, as other comments, you may easy find a job as English teacher in Vietnam.
For your questions, please see below - hope this help and good luck. If you have any further question, PM me may be quicker!
Hi I am trying to find out information and am struggling to find the right information on the net.
I want to work in vn and have a degree, tefl and 4 years teaching in Korea.
My questions are
1. Do I need a crc from Korea or just the UK? (I have a Uk one now, but did not get one in Korea)
-> criminal record should only be required if you need to apply for work permit. I am not sure why you mentioned about your criminal record?
In any case, in practice, the criminal record must be issued less than 6 months up to the date you submit your application for work permit (or visa?!????)
2. What exactly do i need to get notorised etc.. I read somewhere i even need to get my telf cert done????
-> there are 2 basic ways to get your documentation legalised:
Either: (i) you have to go to your local department of foreign affair (I am not sure who will be the one in charge of this but in US, you have to go to department of foreign affair but in Singapore you may go to public notary) to acknowledge/notarise your documentation is true; (ii) then go to Vietnam consulate/embassy at your place to acknowledge the "acknowledgement / notarisation". Then you may or may not have to translate your documentation depending on application's requirement of each specific case.
Or: you do the (i) step as mentioned above; then (ii) bring your documentation to your consulate/embassy IN Vietnam to certify the acknowledgement; then (iii) bring the certified document at (ii) to Vietnam Foreign Affair Department in Vietnam for legalisation; finally, have legalised document to be translated into Vietnamese.
Note that: normally,the state agencies will require a Vietnamese translation based on legalised documents but not all the time. Some other authories may only require a Vietnamese translation a d certified by a private notary.
So, you may want to check what you want to do and what will be required - legalisation or translation of your documentation?
3. Someone said i should get everything translated into Vietnamese before I even go?? what??
-> answered above. If you have not been in Vietnam yet, 1st option for the legalisation may be an ideal
4. I never got proof of employment while in korea (smart i know) but i do have references...will this do?
-> not sure if it is required by your employer in Vietnam but if you have to geta work permit for more tha 3 months working in Vietnam, a reference is not enough. You may need a confirmation for your employment in Korea for application to get work permit.
I dont have a job there yet, this is the first time i have went to a country without having a job and seriously dont want to turn up and find out i missed something.
Oh by the way my degree is from Ireland (Is that gonna mess things up too?)
-> from legal point of view - NO