7/27/2019 2012 - 10 - 07 S

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TOPIC SEAMAP 07/10 

There is no denying that our commitment to a career hardly persists if it is unable

to give us a living to ensure a decent life. Yet, the reality shows a paradox. In our 

country, under the government law, the base salary in any job is average within 3-4million Vietnam Dong which is just enough to buy food, gasoline. The idea of subsisting

on this salary to travel, own a house sounds even more unrealistic.

Worse still, media, in stead of diluting our temptations to match national current

status, repetitively rekindles our desire to consume and own more what we can afford.

That is a car, house, beautiful wife, upscale friends and far-away exotic places. That is

why most of us struggle with at least two jobs at the same time. You may have many Dr or PHD friends who study abroad under the 322 scholarship program for distinguished

students, and not only work in laboratories but also wander themselves outside as expert

real-estate dealers. Teachers, who are honored to receive free training and while lecturingin famous universities, can get involved in different projects outside and perhaps open a

non-related major business like fashion, restaurant.

These people perhaps have great interest in career, but circumstances reduce them

to activating other senses, especially, business acumen to dive in other competitive pools.

All for a better living! This, indeed, results in escalating cases of brain-drain between

fields. It seems the whole nation is in the race of business, in stead of creating and producing. Immediate money seems more attractive than long-term one. Are these people

to blame? The answer is itself obvious, but hard to materialize. Only when the

government reconsider their salary distribution in response to people’s true abilities canthey think of something in the long run.

Written by Pham Thi Le Na

Questions:

1. What is your current salary level or your parents’? Is it sufficient to afford their lives?Why or why not?

2. In your view, what should be the average level of salary for normal people in Vietnamto survive? Let’s compare with that in other countries and analyze the reasons in detail as

to why there exists a striking gap between our country and others in this issue.

3. Why doesn’t the government in our country make sure our salary is high enough toafford a good life?

4. What are consequences of low salaries given?

5. What are factors people consider in choosing a career? Which one is the most and the

least? Discuss.