The 4th Talented Tour Guide Competition – 2026 represents a significant milestone in affirming both the quality of training and the strong passion for the tour guiding profession among students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT). This achievement is particularly notable in the context of Vietnam’s tourism sector experiencing robust growth in the post-2025 period.

The competition was structured into four distinct rounds, designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of participants’ professional competencies. These included leading a city tour through prominent attractions in the city center—such as Lang Ong Ba Chieu, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History, the Saigon Special Forces Weapons Bunker, Nghia An Assembly Hall, and the Fine Arts Museum—followed by on-stage presentations, situational response tasks, and team animation activities.

Each round offered contestants the opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills, specialized knowledge, and adaptability in handling real-world scenarios. The judging panel, comprising experienced professionals in the tourism industry, commended the contestants for their thorough preparation, confident demeanor, and engaging storytelling techniques.

Following a highly competitive semi-final round with over 30 participants, the top 10 finalists delivered outstanding performances in the grand finale. The overall champion, Nguyen Tran Hoang Kim, was awarded First Prize for the topic Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, impressing the judges with a well-structured, compelling presentation and a dynamic performance that clearly reflected a deep passion for the profession.

The Second Prize was awarded to Nguyen Thi Ai Nhien for her presentation on Quang Tri Ancient Citadel – a Special National Heritage Site. Meanwhile, Nguyen Hoang Long and Nguyen Quoc Toan jointly received Third Prize in recognition of their sharp situational analysis and expressive delivery.

In addition, several special awards were presented to recognize distinctive individual strengths:

• Best Animation Performance: Nguyen Hoang Long
• Best Situational Response: Nguyen Tran Hoang Kim
• Best Tour Leadership Performance: Dao Minh Phuc
• Most Impressive Narrative Voice: Lu Minh Hang

Beyond serving as a competitive platform, this year’s competition also provided a valuable opportunity for students to exchange knowledge, learn from peers, and engage with industry experts. As an annual event, the Talented Tour Guide Competition continues to play a pivotal role in developing high-quality human resources for Vietnam’s tourism industry in the context of global integration.