Over recent years, Da Nang has seen a rapid growth of tourism in which a growing number of foreigners are involved. This issue has posed a challenge to the city authorities about how to effectively manage such a large number of foreigners.

Foreign artistes performing at a regular street carnival in the city

Since 2016, the city has issued many documents requiring relevant local agencies to tighten up monitoring and inspections of foreign labourers in a bid to ensure the security, hereby partly helping to build a safe and healthy tourism environment for visitors from both home and aboard.

According the latest statistics released by the municipal Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, as of late January, the city is now home to 590 domestic and foreign organisations and businesses in which a total of 1,557 foreigners work for, of whom 1,264 are male hailing from 57 countries worldwide. 

The majority of the total foreigners are working in the tourism industry, especially working as tour guides and managers for accommodations and holiday resorts.

Of the total foreigners, 531 are managers, 313 are chief executives, 270 are experts and 443 are technical workers.

Between January and April, the Department granted work permits to 131 foreigners in total, and re-granted these papers to 54 others.

The Furama Resort Danang now employs a total of 13 foreigners, one from Switzerland holds the position of the General Director, whilst the 12 remaining ones  from such countries as the Netherlands, Finland, France, South Korea, Hungary and Japan, are managers.

Ms Nguyen Thi Minh Tam, the Human Resources Director of the Indochina Beach Hotel JSC, said, as a 5-star resort, the Furama Resort Danang has always paid special heed to recruiting new employees, especially foreigners.

Apart from holding degrees and possessing qualifications in accordance with the Viet Nam Labour Law, foreign employees must meet the company’s strict requirements regarding knowledge, skills and experience, and attend intensive training courses as required.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, there are a total of 3,631 tour guides catering for both domestic and foreign visitors.

Many foreigners holding important job positions in local hospitality businesses

Over recent years, many foreign individuals and organisations have been found that they conducted illegal tourism activities in the city.

Many foreigners were reported to illegally work as tour guides in the city, adversely affecting the tourism environment and the security.

The problem became worse as some foreigners took on the role of tour guides themselves to tell false stories about Viet Nam’s history and its culture to other tourists at local attractions.

Between January and May, 2 foreigners were fined a total of 35 million VND for working as illegal tour guides in the city.

In an attempt to resolve foreigners-related matters of deep concern, the city authorities have tightened the management of foreign labourers in the city, with joint efforts made by relevant local agencies.

Many effective measures have been taken to monitor over foreigners’ compliance with the national regulations on their entry, exit, and residence in Da Nang.

Meanwhile, the traffic police have increased their checks on tourist coaches with foreign registration plates operating in the city in order to detect and deal with any violations.

Local travel agencies and accommodation providers have been instructed not to sign contracts with owners of tourist coaches with foreign registration plates for carrying passengers from foreign countries to Viet Nam.

Local transport service providers are prohibited from using such coaches to offer their services in Viet Nam.