This article investigates the teaching motivation of 11 lecturers at a private university in the Mekong Delta, focusing on internal and external factors influencing their job satisfaction and performance. Through qualitative interviews, key motivators emerged: intrinsic passion for teaching, extrinsic factors like income and job stability, and community support. Altruistic motivations foster collaboration and job satisfaction. This study addresses a crucial gap in research on teacher leadership in Vietnam’s tertiary education, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to enhance teaching effectiveness and create a supportive academic environment.This article investigates the teaching motivation of 11 lecturers at a private university in the Mekong Delta, focusing on internal and external factors influencing their job satisfaction and performance. Through qualitative interviews, key motivators emerged: intrinsic passion for teaching, extrinsic factors like income and job stability, and community support. Altruistic motivations foster collaboration and job satisfaction. This study addresses a crucial gap in research on teacher leadership in Vietnam’s tertiary education, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to enhance teaching effectiveness and create a supportive academic environment.