According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of Chinese visitor arrivals to the city.  In the first half of this year, the city welcomed a total of around 280,000 Chinese visitors, up 15% against the same period last year.  July and August were peak months for Chinese tourist arrivals in the city with a monthly average of between 70,000 and 80,000. 

A Chinese tour guide (2nd left) at the Linh Ung Pagoda (An image taken from a clip)

Da Nang now has over 400 Vietnamese guides who can speak Chinese.  However, over recent days there have been many reports of Chinese nationals working illegally as tour guides for Chinese visitor groups to the city.

Deputy Director of the Department Tran Chi Cuong affirmed that no foreigners, including Chinese nationals, are allowed to work as tour guides in the city in accordance with Viet Nam’s regulations about tourism activities.  

He, therefore, remarked that his Department has frequently cooperated with relevant local agencies to increase their checks and tighten the management of local travel agents which organise tours for Chinese tourists.  In addition, importance has been attached to asking local travel agents to sign commitments to comply with the Vietnamese regulations about tourism activities.

Deputy Director Cuong noted that stricter penalties would be imposed on any local travel agents using  foreigners working illegally as tour guides.

According to the latest statistics released by the Department, between January and August, administrative fines of 763.7 million VND in total were imposed on 93 local travel agents and Chinese tour guides for violating Viet Nam’s regulations about tourism activities, an increase of 60.5% compared with the same period last year. 

In addition, 1 Taiwanese, 2 Chinese and 8 South Korean nationals were given fines for conducting illegal tourism activities in the city.  A total of 49 domestic and foreign tour guides were given fines totalling 145.2 million VND for using fake tour guide cards, using domestic tour guide cards for doing their jobs in foreign countries, and lending other people their tour guide cards.