In Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa Province, a surge of travelers from Russia and CIS countries in 2026 highlighted a shortage of Russian-speaking staff. While this is news reflecting tourism recovery, the figure of "only 12 licensed guides" from an older article does not represent the total for the entire province. It is important to read company-level data and province-wide figures separately.
16 is one company's count of Russian-speaking guides
In VnExpress reporting, 16 of the 43 guides employed by Anex Vietnam were Russian speakers. This is not the total number of licensed guides across Khanh Hoa Province; it reflects the staffing composition of a single company. Even if separate reporting or a different point in time cited "12 out of 40," that figure cannot be substituted for the province-wide total of licensed holders.
183,000 is also that company's projected intake
The company projected it would receive more than 183,000 visitors from Russia and the CIS between April and October 2026. This too is a business plan for that company, not the total visitor count for Khanh Hoa. Meanwhile, provincial statistics show that Russian travelers to the province from January to April 2026 exceeded 386,000—roughly five times the figure for the same period the previous year. Reports indicate 10 to 12 flights per day bringing approximately 2,000 to 2,500 arrivals, with stays of 9 to 14 days. It is important not to add together figures that cover different time periods and different subjects in the same table.
How the shortage affects travelers
Russian-language tours face challenges in securing guides, managing working hours, and providing interpretation at tourist sites. That said, Japanese travelers do not need to uniformly consider avoiding the period when Russian visitors are present. The impact varies by hotel, beach, flight, and the times when group tours arrive. If crowding is a concern, ask before booking whether a hotel receives many group arrivals, and secure a cancellable reservation early.
Don't judge tourism growth by visitor numbers alone
While long-stay visitors contribute to the local economy, growth will not be sustainable if it leads to overworked guides, unlicensed interpretation, or declining quality of service. Authorities and the industry are discussing how to develop Russian-speaking human resources. For travelers, confirming the company name, guide credentials, insurance, and what is included in the price on any tour also contributes to personal safety.
Sources & Related Articles
- VnExpress International: staffing shortages and statistics
- Khánh Hòa newspaper: industry requests
- International flights to Nha Trang
Check the update date
Check the update date in the body of the article, not just the search result excerpt. If you are unsure whether figures or proper nouns are still current, go to the primary source from the company, organizer, or government authority. If no official page can be found, treat that fact itself as a factor in your judgment, and do not make bookings or long trips based on old articles alone.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Russian visitors in January-February | About 250,000 (up more than 300% year on year) |
| Summer charter arrivals (to Khanh Hoa) | Around 183,000 (183,270) |
| Operations | April 1-October 31, 222 flights/month from 19 cities |
| Stay | Average 6 to 9 nights, mostly 3- to 5-star |
Before using figures to make travel decisions
The meaning of rankings and monetary figures changes depending on the surveying body, the period covered, the sample, the currency, and whether a calendar year or fiscal year is used. Rather than simply copying headline numbers, check the title and notes of the primary source, the date of publication, and whether the figures are preliminary or final. It is also important not to apply national statistics directly to individual shop prices or crowd levels.
