Not too long ago, if you wanted to teach English in Southeast Asia, Thailand was the obvious choice. It had the jobs, the lifestyle, the famous smiles, and a support system that made even the most clueless gap-year escapee feel like a seasoned expat. 

Salaries were reasonable, cost of living was low, and if you ended up in the wrong school, you could always jump ship and find another one after lunch. No degree? Wait there for five minutes while the director of studies gets busy on his desktop and laser printer.

Fast forward to 2025 and things aren’t quite so straightforward. New TEFLers have more options, more info, and a loud chorus of YouTubers shouting 'Vietnam is the future!' or 'Cambodia has no red tape, bro!' from their rooftop condos. So, is Thailand still the top pick? Or has it become the TEFL equivalent of a once-trendy nightclub that now smells a bit stale and closes at midnight?

The case for Thailand

Thailand still offers a teaching infrastructure that most of its neighbours can only dream of. No, really. There are thousands of schools, language centres, and universities spread across the country, with a relatively consistent demand for foreign teachers. Job listings are everywhere!

The lifestyle is hard to beat. Public transport works, food is 24/7, there's air-con when you need it, and there's a decent flat white within a kilometre of wherever you are standing. If you want a combination of modern convenience and tropical adventure, Thailand still delivers in spades.

But it’s not all big portions of mango and sticky rice. Salaries haven’t really moved in over a decade. Entry-level TEFL jobs still hover depressingly around the 30-40K baht a month, which might have been comfortable in 2010 but now feels decidedly thin in places like Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Add in rising rents, creeping inflation, and the death-by-paperwork approach to immigration - and Thailand suddenly feels a lot less breezy and welcoming.

Vietnam – high pay and high blood pressure

Vietnam is apparently the big challenger - and the one Thailand should probably be glancing nervously over its shoulder at. It has serious momentum. Teaching jobs in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and even Danang are everywhere, and the salaries are often significantly higher than Thailand - even for teachers with no formal qualifications beyond a 120-hour TEFL.

The cost of living remains lower than Thailand in many areas, meaning a young, energetic teacher can live well and save money - an idea that feels increasingly far-fetched in Bangkok. And while you’ll deal with some red tape and a certain “organised chaos” vibe, many teachers are willing to trade that for higher income and a scooter-fuelled buzz.

That said, Vietnam isn't for the faint-hearted. The traffic is relentless, the noise levels are epic, and the admin side of things - work permits, contracts, taxes - can be a little... flexible. You’re not moving into an efficient, clearly-signposted system. You’re moving into a system where someone’s cousin’s friend 'handles it'.

Cambodia - easy entry but you'll need a calculator

Then there’s Cambodia, the Southeast Asian option for those who want things simple and casual. You don’t need a degree, you barely need paperwork, and you certainly don’t need to remember the acronym TM30. In many cases, you can rock up, land a job in a few days, and be in the classroom faster than you can say 'TKT Certificate'. The lifestyle is laid-back, the expat scene is tight-knit, and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap offer a decent blend of Western comforts and local charm. Plus, you’ll spend very little time dealing with immigration - a perk not to be underestimated.

However, the catch is the money. Salaries are low - often under $1,000/month - and unless you’re living extremely frugally, there’s not much left at the end of the month. The education sector is also underfunded, inconsistent, and lacks the structure many teachers rely on. Great for adventurers. Not great if you're looking to build a career or pay off a credit card.

Laos - lovely people, minimal prospects

Laos is a beautiful, underrated country with lovely people and a relaxed pace of life, but the TEFL opportunities are few and far between. Wages are rock bottom, schools are sparse, and unless you already have a side hustle, it’s more of a passion project than a viable way to earn a living. Laos is often chosen by those who’ve either fallen in love with the place or just need to escape the madness of its neighbours. You can teach there, sure. But if you’re looking to save money or find a long-term role, it’s probably not your best bet.

So, what do you want?

Ultimately, the “best” place to teach English depends on what you’re after. If you want stability, a developed TEFL infrastructure, and a lifestyle that’s both adventurous and relatively comfortable, then Thailand is still the best overall package. It’s the Toyota Corolla of Southeast Asia: maybe not the sexiest, but reliable, familiar, and unlikely to blow up on a mountain road.

If your main goal is to save money fast, Vietnam edges ahead. If you just want to get in and start teaching without worrying about degrees and bureaucracy, Cambodia’s got your name on it. Laos? That’s for the romantics.

Thailand still wears the crown... but just slightly crooked

Thailand’s teaching throne might be a little wobbly these days. The cost of living is climbing, salaries are stuck in the past, and immigration feels like a never-ending paperwork obstacle course. But when you factor in all the key ingredients - jobs, lifestyle, infrastructure, healthcare, safety, food, transport - it still offers the most balanced TEFL experience in the region.

It’s not the wild frontier it once was, and it’s not the best place to save a ton of cash. But if you're looking for somewhere to live, work, and not lose your mind while navigating the school year, Thailand is still hard to beat. Why else would there be so many foreign teachers here?