Russian visitors explore Nha Trang Bay in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

Russian tourists can currently be seen in large numbers at hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and resorts along many of Nha Trang’s seaside roads.

However, companies specializing in bringing Russian visitors to Khanh Hoa say they are struggling to recruit enough Russian-speaking guides to meet rising demand.

Nguyen Huong Thuy, human resources manager at Anex Vietnam Travel and Trading Co. Ltd., a company focused on Russian inbound tourism to Khanh Hoa, said the period from April to October each year marks the peak season for Russian tourists visiting Nha Trang.

She said the number of Russian-speaking tour guides holding international tour guide licenses remains extremely limited.

Her company has reviewed all available recruitment sources but still cannot meet the demand from Russian tour groups.

As a temporary measure, the company has been using English-speaking tour guides who possess international tour guide cards.

Russian tourists experience traditional craft villages in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province. Photo: Tran Hoai / Tuoi Tre

However, Thuy acknowledged that the approach is ineffective and only serves as a short-term emergency solution.

“We hope the authorities and Khanh Hoa’s tourism sector will promptly introduce solutions to address this difficulty while ensuring compliance with regulations,” Thuy said.

Meanwhile, Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairwoman of Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel, another company specializing in Russian tourism to Khanh Hoa, said the number of Russian visitors to Vietnam has continued to rise this year, creating major difficulties for tourism businesses seeking to recruit qualified professional tour guides in line with regulations.

Thu also suggested that training institutions in Khanh Hoa Province open Russian language courses to help proactively develop a workforce of Russian-speaking tour guides.

Need for both short-term and long-term solutions

Nguyen Long Bien, vice-chairman of the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that local authorities are aware of the concerns raised by tourism companies serving Russian visitors.

He said the provincial government has directed the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work on solutions to address the issue.

Russian tourists play volleyball on Nha Trang beach in Khanh Hoa Province. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

Cung Quynh Anh, deputy director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the department will coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs to develop plans related to foreign language training, including Russian language programs, to meet the current needs of tourism businesses.

According to Anh, tourism companies should temporarily consider combining tour groups and allocating available Russian-speaking guides more effectively.

He also stressed that businesses must continue complying with regulations governing the use of licensed tour guides.

Nguyen Quang Thang, standing vice-chairman of the Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, said tourism businesses urgently need support from state management agencies to address the shortage of Russian-speaking tour guides.

He suggested allowing companies greater flexibility in using language support staff to better serve tourists while still complying with regulations.

In the long term, Thang proposed that Khanh Hoa Province and the tourism sector continue implementing training programs to increase the number of Russian-speaking tour guides and close the current workforce gap.