Live, Work & Travel in Southeast Asia
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Top Sites
Travelfish.org – Originally written travel intelligence covering Southeast Asia that includes anonymously written reviews by their researchers on over 4,500 places to stay and over 500 destinations in the region. We’re off to Southeast Asia again ourselves soon and I’m repeatedly turning to this site. Travelfish also hire ‘under paid and over appreciated’ writers living in the region.
SEA Backpacker – A free magazine distributed every two months in eight countries around the region. Plenty of information and articles are available to read on their website too while their Chiang Mai office is turning into a place where backpackers go to get advice and travel information. Digital issues are available to download.
Ajarn.com – An excellent guide to living and teaching in Thailand. The site includes information on jobs, TEFL courses, red tape, accommodation, schools and many other issues of relevance.
Bodega Hotels – Bodega is run by three American brothers who had expanded their operations from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai by the time we stayed with them. They’ve since expanded further and crossed the border into Cambodia. There is both a party and arty vibe that includes showcasing local aspiring artists and musicians and we have seen them using their social media to offer a free stay for artists and the occasional staff member. They also give discounts to TEFL Teachers.
Employment
Employers, Agencies & Placement Services
Amari Hotels – Hotel chain in Thailand. Some jobs, such as Italian chefs and general managers, are available to non Thai nationals.
AUA Language Center – Earn a SIT TESOL Certificate in Thailand. AUA has 18 branches throughout Thailand requiring teachers.
Chiang Mai Lanna Business Services – Visas and work permits are arranged for English, German, French and other European language speakers looking for call centre jobs in Thailand.
Chiang Mai Montessori – Montessori trained teachers and experienced kindergarten teachers and assistants, both Thai and non Thai, are employed.
ECC (Thailand) – The largest English language training institute in Thailand with over 50 branches throughout Thailand (both Bangkok and upcountry). Teachers should be qualified (CELTA/Trinity) and have a bachelor’s degree.
Flight of the Gibbon – An adventure tourism company operating in Chiang Mai and Chonburi. Though we have seen a classified ad for sky rangers, to guide customers through the trees on a zip line, placed by them requesting Thai nationals, the sentence ‘if you speak or want to learn Thai’ on their employment page suggest non Thais may sometimes be hired. We have also seen them looking for sales and call centre staff.
SEE TEFL – TEFL Courses in Chiang Mai and job placements in schools around northern Thailand.
St Stephen’s International School – Thai school.
Employment Resources
Advice & Useful Sites for Finding Work
Ajarn.com – An excellent guide to living and teaching in Thailand. The site includes information on jobs, TEFL courses, red tape, accommodation, schools and many other issues of relevance.
Badladz Adventure Resort – Two resorts – dive and beach – in Puerto Galera, Philippines. Long term accommodation available. The site includes a blog including information on living and starting a business in the Philippines.
IALF Bali – Earn a teaching qualification in an exotic local from an approved centre for the delivery of the Trinity College London Certificate in TESOL.
KoHub – A tropical island coworking community on Koh Lanta, ideal for entrepreneurs, digital nomads, workations and work retreats.
Phuket Delight.com – For living and working on Phuket, Thailand. Offers resident insider information on EFL employment, costs, housing, shopping, the best beaches and restaurants and more. Includes a section on teaching English and about TEFL schools in the area.
Sandbox Advisors – A career management and human resource consulting firm in Singapore that empowers people to achieve optimal levels of enjoyment and success in their careers.
The Stickman’s Guide to Bangkok – Living, teaching English, photography and naughty nightlife in Thailand, jumbled up with adult services ads. There are thousands of stories going back to the 90s told here.
Teaching Thailand – A job board for expat teachers in Thailand. Be careful with some of the most recent (non teaching or Thailand) ads on the board as they appeared to us to be scams. There were none further down the board suggesting they are cleaned up after a few hours and an irritating consequence of offering free job postings that I’m sure the site owner is aware of.
Gap Year & Voluntary Work
Unpaid Positions & Adventure
Ailola Quito – Organises volunteering programmes across Ecuador and cooperates with environmental, educational, social and health volunteering projects since 1988.
Asia Internship Programme – The Asia Internship Programme connects organisations based in Asia and talented young professionals who are looking for internships, including in hospitality, marketing, business development, finance, entrepreneurship, and engineering.
Baan Nokkkamin Foundation – I met a representative and a volunteer from this organisation during Chiang Mai’s Songkran celebrations and, in between chucking water in people’s faces, invited them to send over some information on what they do. They have a number of orphanages around the country, including Chiang Mai, and welcome help from volunteers with teaching English to the children at Baan Nok Kamin and also to their Thai employees. Other roles include building houses out of mud, organic farm projects and coaching sports. At the time, volunteers paid 300 to 500 baht, depending on how long they stay, towards lodging and two meals a day.
Bansabai Hostel – We couldn’t find any information on it on the new version of their website, so perhaps things have changed, but when we stayed here it was possible to be accommodated at a discounted rate in exchange for teaching English in and around Bangkok. Minimum stay one week. No fee to volunteer. We were told personally about this programme and one of our readers also had good things to say about volunteering here.
Care for Dogs Foundation – Travel volunteers are welcome to help out around the Care for Dogs’ shelter near Chiang Mai.
Children with Hope for Development – A grass roots Cambodian NGO based in Po Village, Takeo Province. They provide a free education programme to the poor children in the village and welcome the help of volunteers to aid their efforts. Volunteers pay for their own food and accommodation but costs are reasonable.
Concert Cambodia – A not for profit social enterprise based in Siem Reap, Cambodia, providing responsible volunteering information. Potential volunteers in or heading to the city can look through their member projects or use their volunteer matching service.
Development and Education Programme for Daughters and Communities – A non profit community based NGO working in Thailand on the prevention side of the trafficking of women and children into the sex industry. There are approximately six foreign volunteers at any one time who stay for six months or more. In the past DEPDC has had volunteers who taught English, handicrafts, origami, basic computer skills, run activities for children and dealt with English correspondence.
Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation – Volunteers are welcome to help out at this Koh Samui animal shelter, whether it is for an hour or a year. They have two shelters: a small one in Chaweng and a larger one in the south west of the island. Accommodation is sometimes available.
Elephant Nature Park – This nature park in Thailand needs experienced volunteer vets but also offers opportunities to student vets and to animal helpers with no previous experience. Tasks include assisting elephant keepers with bathing the elephants and general duties around the park.
Father Ray Foundation – A home for 850 orphaned, abused and disadvantaged children in Pattaya. Volunteer tasks include teaching English at the Vocational School for the Disabled, accompanying blind students on a trip to the beach, teaching English, daily walks with the elderly, spending time with the street kids at the Drop-In Center, arts and crafts at the Children’s Village. A six month commitment is expected, no fees are requested and accommodation and meals are provided.
Free The Bears – FTB have paying volunteer programmes at their sanctuaries in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, which allows people to go and help them care for the bears for short periods of time in exchange for a small donation towards their upkeep.
The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project – A research division of The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand. WARF is dedicated to preventing the maltreatment of wild animals and providing an environment in which rescued animals can live before returning to the wild. On this project they need forest assistant volunteers.
Headrock Dogs – Husband and wife team Verity and Thep run this dog shelter in Bang Saphan, Hua Hin province, in southern Thailand. They accept and need volunteers all year round and particularly welcome special skills like animal veterinary or physiotherapy. All volunteer work here is hands on and your skills will be immediately put to good use.
Juara Turtle Project – A conservation and research effort to protect the enviroment of Tioman Island, Malaysia. The main turtle season is from mid-March until the end of October, but volunteers can help out all year round. Short term volunteers stay a minimum of four days and support the project by paying for their accommodation. Around November of each year, JTP start to screen for experienced interns to fill positions such as hatchery manager, volunteer coordinator, gardener, semi-skilled labourer. These longer stay volunteers stay for at least four months, preferably six, and need not make a financial contribution.
Lanta Animal Welfare – A non-profit organisation which aims to relieve the suffering and pain of the animals on Ko Lanta island through sterilisation and care. LAW do not charge volunteers who go to help and those who stay a minimum of one month will have free basic but comfortable accommodation, subject to availability.
Life and Hope Association – Have a number of active programmes which aim to improve access to education for the vulnerable and disadvantaged youth of Cambodia. Volunteers can help by teaching English or at the head office or onsite at their projects. There is also the option of donating the funds needed to build a house and, if you want to, help build it too.
The Mad Monkey Hostels – We’re not sure if they still offer free eats, commission on bar sales, and a bed for tending bar at this hostel group (previous bar experience is required), as they did in their early days in Cambodia, but it is certainly worth checking if they need a hand if you happen to be staying with them. If not they still have a lot to offer working travellers, welcoming pitches from creatives, including musicians, writers, vloggers and artists. Find them in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and elsewhere in the region.
Marine Conservation Cambodia – This small non profit asks for $200 per week to cover your food, shared accommodation in a water front bungalow) and diving equipment. Volunteers are expected to stay a minimum of two weeks and participate in marine conservation and research, coastal management, teach English or conservation education, or provide health care. .
Mekong English Center – MEC now offers its own volunteer programme in Luang Prabang, where those with a decent knowledge of English and a sincere will can assist in their classes. There’s no fee to volunteer.
Mundo Antiguo – A Spanish school in Cusco that offer anybody, not only their students, the option to do volunteer work in Cusco. They charge a small one off fee for this service.
New Life Foundation – A mindful recovery community in northern Thailand for those who would like to work on self improvement and personal development. They offer low cost short term volunteering opportunities, along with a few opportunities for committed long term volunteers with professional building, architectural, and therapeutic skills.
No Limit Divers – Scuba diving internships in Pattaya, Thailand, for the professional and seasonal scuba diver looking for dive work.
Openmind Projects – Volunteering programme. Teach English, computer and other skills at schools, orphan homes or eco resorts in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
Orangutan Foundation – This charity is uniquely involved in the protection of the Orangutan and it’s Southeast Asian rainforest home. Their volunteer programme sends volunteers to the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve in Indonesian Borne and lasts for six weeks.
Peace and Happiness Foundation – Provides free English education to underprivileged children. Apart from English classes, they teach also other subjects in English such as Math, Science, Social Studies and Health. Volunteers who would help their team in writing lesson plans and teaching are wanted.
PhaNgan Animal Care – PAC provides nursing and veterinary care for the island’s stray and unwanted animals and always welcome an extra pair of hands.
Proyacto Caraya – The first and only primate rehabilitation centre in Argentina and the only one in the world that works with black howler monkeys. Volunteer activities include the feeding and care of the monkeys and other animals at the centre, including dogs, cats, geese, horses, llamas, donkeys, sheep, ducks, and chickens. There is a fee but it certainly isn’t outrageous for this type of volunteering, particularly for longer stays, and covers room and board.
Rainforest World Music Festival – Volunteer in Sarawak, Malaysia, with the Rainforest World Music Festival, Borneo Jazz Festival, and Asia Music Festival. Volunteer roles include liaising with the performing artists and schlepping about with the musical instruments.
SAELAO – A sustainable development project located in Nathong Village, near the city of Vang Vieng, Laos. The project consists of a small organic farm, a farm-to-table restaurant, a community centre that provides daily English classes, and a volunteer project for international visitors.
Sapa O’Chau – This grassroots social enterprise in northern Vietnam is reliant on volunteers to sustain its teaching requirements and help to transform the lives of others. Though they encourage longer stays where possible, volunteers can join their programme for as little as one day. While there are no specific qualifications, volunteers need to be over 18 and are expected to be flexible, patient, and respectful, and possess a passion and love for children and young adults. Volunteers not interested in teaching can also help out in other ways, such as writing articles, providing administrative support or fundraising.
Save Elephant Foundation – A well regarded organisation that takes care of Elephants in several parks and sanctuaries across Thailand, plus one in Cambodia.
Thai Animal Sanctuary – Volunteers are needed to help out around this sanctuary in Kanchanaburi by walking dogs, grooming, medicating, assisting with the treatment of animals, cleaning, updating the website, volunteer recruitment, and more.
Thresher Shark Project – Aspiring marine/shark scientists with dive qualifications may volunteer to work as a research assistant in the Philippines.
Trellis – A Japan based non profit organisation that provides cost free English and Japanese language education to the local community in Danang, Vietnam. Trellis provides its fee paying volunteers a safe and structured environment to develop their skills as foreign language educators. Volunteers are able to travel and experience Vietnam’s culture whilst making a positive impact on the community. In addition, they have the opportunity to progress onwards to full and part time teaching positions with their partners in Japan and Vietnam, should they wish to do so.
Tsunami Volunteer Center – A Thai NGO, based in Khao Lak, Thailand, formed to assist in the restoration of communities affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Volunteer Work Thailand – Comprehensive source of volunteer ideas and free volunteer work in Thailand.
Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand – Volunteer work is available in the elephant refuge or the rescue centre, a shelter for a large number of different wild animals.
WorkVenture – Matches professionals with career opportunities in Thailand. They offer jobs and internships from leading companies as well as volunteer opportunities.
WWOOF Philippines – The host list preview available on the site suggest there are ten host farms to volunteer with.
* Free or Cheap Volunteering *Your family might prefer if you go to Southeast Asia with a placement agency, but volunteering can be cheaper when travelling independently. Visit our Free or Cheap Volunteer Work Abroad pages to find NGOs and grassroots organisations in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam. |
Living in Southeast Asia
Real Estate and Resources for Staying Long Term
Chiang Mai Locator – Besides connecting tourists, expatriates and Thais living in Chiang Mai, CML’s aim is to list and map all the businesses of the city.
City News Chiang Mai – A well established Chiang Mai travel and news website. They no longer seem to have a classified ads section that includes jobs but they have occasionally recruited editorial staff and bloggers for themselves (usually via their Facebook page).
Khmer440.com – A sharply written look at Cambodian and expat life. Includes TEFL articles.
Living in Indonesia – A great site for expats in Indonesia.
Travelling in Southeast Asia
Accommodation & Getting Around
Adventures in Thai Cooking and Travel – Cultural and culinary trips to Thailand.
Asian Oasis – After doing next to nothing besides work for four months in Chiang Mai, we crammed in everything we’d missed, from cookery lessons to white water rafting, on their great Lisu Lodge and Khum Lanna Soft Adventure trip in northern Thailand.
BackHome Hostel – One of our forays into flashpacker territory. After three nights here we came to the conclusion that BackHome is a lovely place to spend the night in Kuala Lumpur.
Bamboo House Guesthouse – A peaceful guesthouse beside the River Kwai within view of the famous bridge.
Birdnest Guesthouse – A backpacker’s sanctuary in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. Willi opened the doors in 2009 and thousands of travellers have passed through since. Of the three guest houses owned by Willi dotted around the Chinatown area, we stayed in two and each had backpackers taking care of his business. We ourselves could have earned 50RM if we were prepared to help clean out a space into which Willi was hoping to expand his premises.
Bodega Hotels – Bodega is run by three American brothers who had expanded their operations from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai by the time we stayed with them. They’ve since expanded further and crossed the border into Cambodia. There is both a party and arty vibe that includes showcasing local aspiring artists and musicians and we have seen them using their social media to offer a free stay for artists and the occasional staff member. They also give discounts to TEFL Teachers.
De Lanna Hotel – This exquisite boutique hotel is a tranquil oasis right in the heart of Chiang Mai Inner old city, near Sunday Walking Street Market and Wat Phra Sigh.
De Talak Hostel – De Talak is close to the heart of Bangkok, making it easy for you to experience the most stirring and inspirational places all around city.
Evergreen Boutique Hotel – A lovely place that aims to be a relaxed, cosy and homey hotel for golfers and other nice people visiting Hua Hin. I had a eureka moment on realising it was possible to watch the footy while floating on a lilo in the pool. Surely life can’t get better than that?
Hitchhiking Vietnam: Letters from the Trail – Karin’s story, hitchhiking alone around Vietnam.
HQ Hostel – At the heart of Bangkok within walking distance to major attractions and transportation. Free Wi-Fi, 24/7 check-in and super comfy bed.
Khao San Road – Coverage of the farang ghetto of Bangkok, the rest of Thailand and Southeast Asia.
King’s Home – Homestay style accommodation in Hua Hin, Thailand.
PODs Backpackers – PODs provides affordable budget accommodation for backpackers and travellers. Supported and owned by fun and dedicated staff who are backpacker themselves, PODs is located a stone’s throw away from KL Sentral Station. Wah, the owner of PODs, told us he had employed someone in the past who had stayed at his hostel.
SEA Backpacker – A free magazine distributed every two months in eight countries around the region. Plenty of information and articles are available to read on their website too while their Chiang Mai office is turning into a place where backpackers go to get advice and travel information. Digital issues are available to download.
Travelfish – Originally written travel intelligence covering Southeast Asia that includes anonymously written reviews by their researchers on over 4,500 places to stay and over 500 destinations in the region. We’re off to Southeast Asia again ourselves soon and I’m repeatedly turning to this site. Travelfish also hire ‘under paid and over appreciated’ writers living in the region.
Villa Duang Champa – A small boutique hotel in the very heart of historical Chiang Mai. The 2008 winner of ASA for the Best Renovated Architecture in Lanna. Run by good people.
Other
Culture, News…
Bangkok Post – Fine example of an English language newspaper.
The British Council in Thailand
TEFL Campus Phuket – Offers a four week, 120 hour, onsite TEFL training and certification course with university level accreditation (from Fort Hays State University).
The Jakarta Post – An English language newspaper widely available in Jakarta and Bali.
The Nation – Thai English language newspaper.
The Phuket News – English language newspaper with a classified jobs section.
The Star – Malaysian newspaper.
The Straits Times – English language newspaper of Singapore.