Initial results

The tourism development plan for Can Tho City has been adjusted for 2020 with a vision towards 2030. As per the plan, it has been estimated that by 2020, there will be approximately 39,300 people employed in the tourism industry, out of which 13,100 will be direct workers and 26,200 will be indirect workers. It has also been determined that the workforce in the tourism industry should be professionally trained, with a target of over 80% being achieved.

The rate of trained workers in the Can Tho tourism industry was only 68.3% in 2020. This was partly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many workers in the tourism industry to leave Can Tho City to work in other areas or switch to other industries. To recover from this setback, the city's tourism sector plans to prioritize human resources and organize professional training courses to enhance the skills and knowledge of various personnel, including tour guides, tour operators, service workers drivers, etc.

Ms. Ha Thi Hong Thuy from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Can Tho City said that the department has been working on implementing Resolution No. 10-NQ/TU of the Can Tho Municipal Party Committee, which aims to promote tourism development in the new situation, develop tourism human resources, and raise awareness for the 2021-2025 period. As part of this initiative, the department has organized 10-12 professional courses yearly, with around 500-600 students. More than 70% of the human resources working in the tourism industry have received professional training. To enhance the quality of human resources, innovative training and coaching methods have been implemented. The Department collaborates with schools and specialized training institutes to develop training content that emphasizes practical application over theory. The focus is on updating the content with new and practical information to ensure effective and high-quality training.

Master Nguyen Minh Tho, the Principal of Can Tho Tourism College, stated that the school actively collaborates with Can Tho Municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to offer training courses on tourism operations. This initiative aims to improve the quality of human resources in the tourism sector and meet the actual needs of tourism businesses in the city. During the training, the school’s main focus is on practical sessions that enable students to apply their knowledge effectively in real-life situations. More than 90% of our students get jobs in their respective fields after completing their studies. Our graduates are highly valued by the tourism industry for their expertise and professionalism.

Gradually develop and diversify human resources for tourism

Since the beginning of 2023, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Can Tho City has collaborated with training institutes to conduct 14 training sessions for over 600 tourism workers in the city, exceeding the yearly target. These classes have been tailored to cater to a diverse audience, ranging from domestic and international tour guides to on-site tour guides, drivers, and staff in the service chain at tourism establishments.

Anh Võ Minh Trung, phụ trách điều hành tour, kiêm hướng dẫn viên khách quốc tế tại Victoria Cần Thơ, cho biết: “Tôi tham gia nhiều lớp tập huấn và nhận thấy đây là điều cần thiết. Qua mỗi chương trình, bản thân tôi cập nhật thêm kiến thức, các quy định mới, đồng thời có cơ hội gặp gỡ, chia sẻ kinh nghiệm với các anh chị đồng nghiệp”.

Mr. Vo Minh Trung, responsible for tour operations and serving as an international tour guide at Victoria Can Tho, expressed the importance of attending training classes. He stated that these classes help him stay updated with the latest regulations and knowledge related to his field. Moreover, he also gets the opportunity to meet and network with his colleagues, which enables him to share experiences and learn from them.​

Ms. Do Thi Kim Chi, a tour operator at Mekong Delta Adventure Travel and Events Co., Ltd., shares the same opinion that she has been a tour operator for over ten years. However, when she participated in training classes, she realized that there were still several things she did not know. She added that through these classes, she has acquired more operational knowledge and applied digital transformation in her activities, which made her work more effective.

Tourists' perception of tourism in a locality is significantly influenced by the quality of training given to guides and presenters. Therefore, up to 50% of training classes are dedicated to those responsible for these roles. Based on the statistics gathered from the tour guide management software system, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City has issued 875 tour guide cards, which are still in operation. Out of these, 224 cards are for international tour guides, 616 are for domestic tour guides, and 35 are for on-site tour guides. However, even though this number seems significant, it is still not enough to cater to the tourism market in Can Tho, especially when it comes to international tour guides.

Mr. Do The Vy is an international tour guide and tour operations manager at Con Son Agricultural Tourism Cooperative. He is also a student in tourism operations class and has taken courses in both international and domestic tourism operations. According to him, there has never been such a comprehensive training class organized before. Therefore, when he received information about the course, he immediately participated. Through the training content, he has gained knowledge on how to evaluate and build products, grasp tourism trends, learn about customer psychology, and better understand management and operations. He believes that this will help him apply his learnings to practical work more effectively. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lanh, a tour guide of Dai Viet Tourism Service and Trading Co., Ltd. stated that training programs help them to share knowledge and understand the routes better. This enables them to introduce the image, culture, and people of Can Tho and the Mekong Delta more simply and convincingly. On the other hand, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Quyen, an electric car driver at My Khanh Tourist Village, mentioned that previously, she only transported passengers to their requested destination. However, after attending training classes, she gained the confidence to introduce new services and features of the tourist area to tourists.​ Tourism businesses and tourist attractions pay great attention to training programs. According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoang, Deputy Director of My Khanh Tourist Village, the village has a large number of staff members that can be changed depending on circumstances. Therefore, when training programs are available, all the personnel are sent to participate. Those who have completed the training then teach others so that they can improve the quality of service and provide better experiences for tourists.​

The tourism industry in the city is emphasizing training and enhancing the skills of its workforce. As per the plan, by 2025, Can Tho aims to attract approximately 10,000 direct employees in the tourism industry, out of which 75% should have received professional training, professional development, and foreign language proficiency.

The orientation towards 2030 aims to attract around 12,000 direct workers in the tourism industry, out of which 80% will be professionally trained, have undergone professional development, and possess foreign language skills. The city's tourism industry is currently reviewing the outcomes of Program No. 01/CTr-UBND, dated January 3, 2018, of the City People's Committee, which focuses on developing tourism human resources and raising awareness. This program was implemented during the 2018-2020 period. Moreover, it will be adjusted and amended to suit the current situation. The emphasis will be on foreign language, communication, and situation-handling skills.