From August 20, international tour guides must comply with new regulations on foreign languages.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung has just signed and issued new regulations on foreign language proficiency standards for international tour guides, effective from August 20.

This regulation is contained in Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL detailing a number of articles of the Law on Tourism and Circular No. 13/2019/TT-BVHTTDL amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL detailing a number of articles of the Law on Tourism.

Accordingly, international tour guides must ensure foreign language proficiency standards. A person who is proficient in a foreign language as prescribed in Point c, Clause 2, Article 59 of the Law on Tourism is a person who meets one of the following standards: Has a college degree or higher in languages ​​or foreign languages, foreign language interpretation, or foreign language pedagogy; Has a college degree or higher in a training program in a foreign language or foreign language. In case the diploma or diploma appendix does not show the training language, it is necessary to provide additional documents proving the language used for training; Has a college degree or higher abroad in a training program in the official language of the host country. In case the training is in a language other than the official language of the host country, the diploma or diploma appendix does not show the training language, it is necessary to provide additional documents proving the language used for training;

Have one of the following valid foreign language certificates issued by a competent organization or agency: Foreign language certificate from level 4 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam; foreign language proficiency certificate equivalent to level 4 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam or equivalent to level B2 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference or meeting the required level according to regulations.

Diplomas issued by foreign training institutions must be recognized according to the provisions of law on education, higher education and vocational education.

Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BVHTTDL takes effect from August 20, 2024.