Magnetic Cards for tourist guides to be used from 1st Sept

According to Document No. 510/TCDL-LH, from September the 1st, 2010, the current Tourist Guide Cards will be invalid; the magnetic ones will be used instead. From the beginning of July, 2010, provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism will begin to provide tourist guides with magnetic cards and finish allocating process in August.
Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has just released a document that requires provincial Departments begin to replace the official cards and contemporary cards. The old cards with proper requirements will be exchanged into magnetic ones. The others need tourist guides to complete certain documental procedures (taking some examinations or training courses by authorised centres).
The card replacement must be finished in August 2010. From September 2010, the old paper cards will no longer be valid.
About 10.000 new magnetic cards will be allocated to tourist guides, especially international ones. Tourist guides only need to send relating documents to their provincial Department to be examined, allocated or replaced with the new cards regulating in Tourism Law.