Post by : Shakul

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has clarified the current foreign language requirements for individuals applying for international tour guide licenses, especially for guides using the Chinese language. The clarification was issued after concerns emerged regarding upcoming changes to the Chinese HSK language examination system and how those changes could affect tour guide licensing requirements in Vietnam.

The issue was raised by Mr. Nguyen Nhat Giau, who is currently working as a domestic tour guide and plans to upgrade to an international tour guide license specializing in Chinese language tourism services. Mr. Giau questioned whether the existing Chinese language requirements would remain valid after the HSK examination system is upgraded from version 2.0 to version 3.0.

At present, applicants seeking an international tour guide license in Chinese are required to meet the language standards specified under Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Under the current regulation, candidates must hold Chinese language certificates equivalent to HSK Level 4 and Intermediate HSK under the existing HSK 2.0 system.

The concern emerged because the HSK examination system is expected to undergo major changes in the near future. The updated HSK 3.0 version will increase the number of language proficiency levels from six to nine. Many tourism professionals and tour guides have questioned whether this new structure will result in stricter licensing requirements for international tour guides in Vietnam.

In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirmed that the current regulations remain fully effective and unchanged at this time. Officials explained that the new HSK 3.0 examination system has not yet been officially implemented in Vietnam. Therefore, all applicants for new international tour guide licenses or license renewals must continue following the requirements stated in Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL until any official changes are announced by the competent authorities.

The ministry also noted that the current regulations are based on amendments made to Circular No. 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL and Circular No. 13/2019/TT-BVHTTDL, which provide detailed guidance for implementing several articles of Vietnam’s Tourism Law. These regulations are intended to ensure that international tour guides possess sufficient foreign language skills to communicate effectively with international tourists and provide professional tourism services.

Tourism experts believe that maintaining clear language qualification standards is important for improving the quality of Vietnam’s tourism industry, especially as the country continues attracting larger numbers of international visitors from China and other countries. Chinese tourists remain one of the largest international tourist groups visiting Vietnam, making Chinese-speaking tour guides highly important for the tourism sector.

Officials also emphasized that any future changes related to the HSK 3.0 system and tour guide licensing requirements will be officially announced through government channels once new regulations are finalized. Until then, tourism professionals are advised to continue preparing under the current standards and requirements already recognized by Vietnamese authorities.

The clarification from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is expected to provide reassurance for thousands of tourism workers and tour guides currently preparing for international tour guide certification exams. The government stated that it remains committed to ensuring transparency and consistency in tourism licensing policies while supporting the professional development of Vietnam’s tourism workforce in line with international standards.

#Vietnam #tourism #Travel and Tourism #Travel Guide