On 30 April 2026, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (TDT) announced the first evaluation shortlist for the ‘China Cultural and Tourism Supplier Preference Scheme’ (CSPS), with two Henan routes shortlisted: ‘Oracle Bone Script Origins + Yinxu Immersive Study Tour’ and ‘Shaolin Zen and Martial Arts Cultural Practice Camp’. This event marks a new stage of institutionalized coordination in the China-Vietnam cross-border study tour supply chain, creating substantive impacts on segmented fields such as outbound study tour service providers, intangible cultural heritage content operators, international education channel partners, and cross-border settlement service providers.

Event Overview

On 30 April 2026, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (TDT) officially released the first evaluation shortlist for the ‘China Cultural and Tourism Supplier Preference Scheme’ (CSPS). The two routes submitted by Henan, ‘Oracle Bone Script Origins + Yinxu Immersive Study Tour’ and ‘Shaolin Zen and Martial Arts Cultural Practice Camp’, were included in the first batch of evaluation candidates and will be incorporated into the priority recommendation catalogue for overseas study tour procurement by Vietnamese primary and secondary schools. The evaluation results are scheduled to be announced before 20 May 2026; institutions that pass the evaluation will gain access to direct procurement channels from Vietnamese education authorities and a green channel for settlement in Vietnamese dong (VND).

Which Segments Will Be Affected

Outbound Study Tour Product Development and Operations Companies

These companies are directly involved in route design, faculty allocation, on-site execution, and compliance filing. Since CSPS explicitly defines ‘procurement of overseas study tours for primary and secondary schools’ as the application scenario, elements such as curriculum structure, safety management systems, bilingual instructional materials, insurance, and emergency response plans must align with Vietnamese education procurement standards. The impact is reflected in the following ways: the evaluation results will directly affect procurement intentions of Vietnamese public schools; companies not included in the catalogue may face delays in channel access or increased costs from repeated certification.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Content Licensing and IP Operations Institutions

Yinxu oracle bone script and Shaolin Zen martial arts are both national-level intangible cultural heritage assets, and their conversion into study tour products depends on content packages with clear copyright ownership, strong teaching adaptability, and licensable intellectual property. CSPS will push Vietnamese procurement entities to impose higher requirements on content compliance, accuracy of cultural interpretation, and maturity of educational transformation. The impact is reflected in the following ways: purely display-oriented content will be difficult to meet the evaluation standards, and upgrades will be needed toward ‘verifiable learning outcomes + standardized lesson-hour packages + teacher training support’.

Cross-Border Education Channel Service Providers

This includes Chinese-side agents serving Vietnamese schools, localized education promotion agencies, and bilingual study tour coordination platforms. After CSPS establishes a ‘direct procurement channel’, the efficiency of the traditional multi-tier distribution model may decline, while the value of service providers with experience connecting to Vietnam’s education system, familiarity with VND settlement procedures, and the ability to provide localized translation of procurement documents and compliance endorsement will increase. The impact is reflected in the following ways: the role of channel partners is shifting from information intermediaries to compliance coordinators, with service capabilities moving toward deeper integration into education procurement processes.

Cross-Border Payment and Settlement Service Providers

CSPS explicitly establishes a green channel for VND settlement, meaning that Vietnamese education budgets will be allocated in local currency, placing requirements on settlement timeliness, exchange rate locking, anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, and the ability to open local bank accounts. The impact is reflected in the following ways: existing cultural and tourism service providers that mainly settle in US dollars/RMB may face longer payment collection cycles or additional foreign exchange costs if they are not connected to Vietnam’s local clearing network.

What Relevant Companies or Practitioners Should Focus On and How They Should Respond Now

Monitor the Detailed Procurement Implementation Rules to Be Jointly Issued by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Education

At present, only the evaluation shortlist has been released, while the scoring details, procurement frequency, budget cap per school, and contract templates have not yet been disclosed. Companies are advised to continue tracking announcements on the TDT official website and from Vietnam’s Ministry of Education before 20 May, with particular attention to practical clauses such as ‘safety qualification certification’, ‘curriculum credit articulation description’, and ‘requirements for co-teaching by Vietnamese teachers’.

Differentiate Policy Signals from the Pace of Business Implementation, and Avoid Premature Heavy-Asset Investment in Adaptation

The first batch of evaluations does not mean immediate large-scale procurement. Based on observation, overseas study tours for Vietnamese primary and secondary schools are still in the pilot introduction phase, and initial procurement volume is limited. Companies are better advised to understand CSPS as the institutional starting point for Vietnam to build a stable China cultural and tourism supply system, rather than as a signal of an imminent order surge. At present, priority should be given to sorting out core qualifications and preparing localized materials, while expansion of resident teams in Vietnam or investment in customized hardware should be temporarily deferred.

Launch Early Testing of VND Settlement Paths and Integration with Local Banking Interfaces

The green channel depends on licensed financial institutions in Vietnam for implementation. Companies already shortlisted or planning to apply are advised to contact partner banks in Vietnam before the 20 May announcement to confirm account opening conditions, per-transaction limits, settlement timeliness, and fee structures, and complete at least 1 simulated VND incoming payment test, so as to avoid missing the first order opportunity due to settlement obstacles after the announcement.

Strengthen Non-Transactional Engagement with Vietnamese Educational Institutions and Build Evidence of Procurement Trust

Procurement decisions by Vietnamese public schools rely heavily on on-site inspections and peer recommendations. Analysis suggests that the CSPS evaluation places emphasis on ‘verifiable local service capabilities’. Companies are advised to simultaneously prepare reception plans for Vietnamese education delegations visiting China, focusing on presenting process-based materials such as curriculum implementation records, student portfolios, and teacher training completion certificates, rather than merely providing brochures or video materials.

Editorial Viewpoint / Industry Observation

Observably, this event currently looks more like an institutional signal than a procurement outcome that has already taken shape at scale. Vietnam’s launch of CSPS is primarily driven by the need to standardize the introduction process for the growing volume of Chinese study tour resources and reduce education procurement risks, rather than simply expand procurement volume. From an industry perspective, its significance lies not in short-term order growth, but in bringing Chinese cultural and tourism products into Vietnam’s public education procurement framework for the first time, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation such as mutual recognition of standards, credit articulation, and teacher exchanges. The industry needs to continue monitoring the types of first-batch signed cases and execution feedback after the 20 May announcement, as this will determine whether CSPS remains at the catalogue level or truly triggers a restructuring of procurement processes.

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Conclusion
The launch of the first evaluation batch under Vietnam’s ‘China Cultural and Tourism Supplier Preference Scheme’ is essentially a critical node in the shift of China-Vietnam cross-border study tour services from spontaneous market-based coordination to institutionalized collaboration. It does not directly bring orders, but it redefines the threshold for supply and the logic of cooperation. At present, it is more appropriate to understand it as a policy anchor point that requires continuous monitoring, rather than a business opportunity that can be immediately realized. The core of a rational response lies in turning the question of ‘whether one is included in the shortlist’ into an assessment of ‘whether one can meet the underlying requirements of Vietnam’s education procurement’.

Information Source Note
Main source: announcement on the official website of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (TDT) (30 April 2026)
Areas requiring continued observation: CSPS procurement implementation rules, the first batch of publicly announced shortlisted names, and the actual procurement execution situation of Vietnam’s Ministry of Education