Updated travel business conditions in Vietnam under Circular 04/2024

Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL, issued on June 26, 2024, amends and supplements several provisions of Circular No. 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL, which provides detailed regulations for the Law on Tourism 2017, and Circular 13/2019/TT-BVHTTDL. Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL is expected to enhance the quality of travel services, ensure professionalism, and meet international integration requirements. So, what should be noted about the updated travel business conditions in Vietnam under Circular 04/2024? Viet An Law Firm will shed light on this update in the following article.

Basic information on Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL

• Reference number: 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL
• Issuing authority: Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
• Date of issuance: June 26, 2024
• Effective date: August 20, 2024
• Signatory: Nguyễn Văn Hùng.

Context of issuance

Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL was issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on June 26, 2024, to amend and supplement several provisions of Circular No. 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL and Circular No. 13/2019/TT-BVHTTDL, which provide detailed regulations for the Law on Tourism 2017. These changes are aimed at:

• Enhancing the quality of travel services: Meeting the increasingly high demands of tourists for service quality and travel experiences, while also boosting the competitiveness of Vietnamese travel businesses in the international market.
• Promoting sustainable development: Aiming towards sustainable development, protecting the environment, and preserving tourism resources, contributing to the nation’s overall goal of sustainable tourism development.
• Facilitating business operations: Minimizing administrative procedures, and creating a favorable, transparent, and fair business environment for companies operating in the tourism sector.
• Meeting international standards: Ensuring that Vietnam’s travel business regulations align with international standards, facilitating cooperation and international integration in the tourism sector.

The specific content of Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL includes adjustments to the foreign language proficiency standards for international tour guides, revisions, and replacements of appendices in Circulars No. 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL and No. 13/2019/TT-BVHTTDL to enhance quality and ensure professionalism in travel business activities.

The issuance of Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL marks an important step in improving the legal framework for Vietnam’s tourism industry, ensuring sustainable and effective development while facilitating deeper integration into the global economy.

Key points to note in Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL

What are the new foreign language standards for international tour guides?

New regulatory content

To maintain and further develop the status of tourism as one of Vietnam’s key economic sectors, the quality of tourism services must be continuously enhanced. One critical factor is the foreign language proficiency of international tour guides.

Overall, adhering to the new language standards not only helps improve the quality of tourism services but also brings several benefits to tour guides. These include the ability to communicate effectively with international tourists, contribute to promoting the image and culture of Vietnam, and enhance confidence and professionalism in their services.

According to Article 13 of Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL, as amended by Clause 2, Article 1 of Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL, effective from August 20, 2024, a person proficient in a foreign language is defined as someone who meets one of the following criteria:

• Having a college degree or higher in a foreign language or language-related field, such as foreign language interpretation or foreign language teaching.
• Having a college degree or higher from a program taught in a foreign language.
• Having a college degree or higher from a foreign country where the degree program was conducted in the official language of that country.
• Having a valid foreign language certificate issued by a recognized authority, with proficiency at Level 4 or higher according to the Vietnam 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework, equivalent to B2 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), or meets the required standards as outlined in Appendix I attached to Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL.

Specifically, for English language proficiency, international tour guides are required to have one of the following certifications: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, B2 FCE, C1 CAE, among others.

Details on the scoring levels of required certifications for international tour guides as specified in Appendix I attached to Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL.

Comparison with previous regulations

Comparing the updates introduced in Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL with the provisions of Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL, the new regulations have:

• Expanded training fields: Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL has broadened the relevant fields of study to include translation and foreign language teaching, instead of only requiring a college degree or higher in a foreign language major.
• Clarified requirements for additional documentation: Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL has more clearly specified the need for additional documentation if the diploma or its appendix does not indicate the language of instruction.
• Detailed provisions on foreign language instruction abroad: The new regulation provides more detailed requirements regarding the official language of instruction in the foreign country and mandates supporting documents if the language of instruction differs from the official language.
• Acceptance of foreign language proficiency certificates: Circular 04/2024 has made it clearer regarding the acceptance of foreign language proficiency certificates from other countries and their equivalent standards.
• Updated regulations on recognition of foreign diplomas: Circular 04/2024 updates the regulations on the recognition of foreign diplomas in accordance with the laws on education, higher education, and vocational education.

New application form for tour guide card issuance

Updated form

The application form for the issuance of a tour guide card in 2024 has been updated with certain changes.

Form No. 04 in Appendix II, issued with Circular 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL, replaces the form in Appendix II issued with Circular 13/2019/TT-BVHTTDL. Specifically, the personal information section of the applicant now includes the personal identification number/national identification number in the new form, while the fields for Place of Issue and Date of Issue (of the citizen ID or national ID) from the old form have been removed.

Conditions for card issuance

According to Clauses 1 and 2, Article 59 of the Law on Tourism 2017, the conditions for the issuance of a tour guide card are as follows:

• Must be a Vietnamese citizen residing in Vietnam;
• Must have full civil capacity;
• Must not have infectious diseases and must not use narcotics;
• Must have graduated from college or higher in a tourism-related field;
• In case of graduation from another field of study, must have an international tour guide training certificate;
• Must be proficient in the foreign language registered for the profession.

Fees for tour guide card issuance in 2024

According to Clause 2, Article 4 of Circular 33/2018/TT-BTC, the fees for the evaluation of tour guide card issuance (including new issuance, renewal, and reissuance) are as follows:

• International and domestic tour guides: 650,000 VND per card;
• On-site tour guides: 200,000 VND per card.

However, from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, based on Clause 1, Article 1 of Circular 43/2024/TT-BTC, a 50% reduction in the evaluation fees for tour guide card issuance has been officially enacted. Therefore, the applicable fees for tour guide card evaluation (including new issuance, renewal, and reissuance) during this period will be:

• For international and domestic tour guides from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024: 325,000 VND per card.
• For on-site tour guides from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024: 100,000 VND per card.

Related Questions

What are the necessary conditions to practice as a tour guide?

According to Clause 3, Article 58 of the Law on Tourism 2017, one of the essential conditions to practice as a tour guide is to have a tour guide card. Based on Clause 3, Article 58 of the Law on Tourism 2017, the following three conditions must be met to practice as a tour guide:

• First, possess a tour guide card;
• Second, have an employment contract with a travel service business or a tourism guide service provider. If such a contract is not in place, the tour guide must be a member of a social-professional organization for tour guides as required by law;
• Third, have a guiding contract with a travel service business or a guiding assignment document according to the tourism program as prescribed by law.

Is proficiency in a foreign language required for domestic tour guides?

According to Clause 1, Article 59 of the Tourism Law 2017, the conditions to obtain a domestic tour guide license are as follows:

• Must be a Vietnamese citizen, residing in Vietnam;
• Must have full legal capacity;
• Must not have infectious diseases or use narcotics;
• Must have graduated from a vocational school or higher in tourism guidance; in the case of graduating from a vocational school or higher in another field, must have a domestic tour guide training certificate.

With these regulations, proficiency in a foreign language is not required for domestic tour guides.

If you require consultation on the updated travel business conditions in Vietnam under Circular 04/2024, or related amended regulations and decrees, please feel free to contact Viet An Law Firm for the best support.