Vietnam’s translation market is currently in a state of flux, described as a “mixed bag of gold and brass”—meaning high-quality and poor-quality work coexist. This assessment was a key theme at a recent seminar hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Peace and Development Foundation (HPDF) and the Saigon Translation & Interpretation Club, aimed at evaluating the profession’s role in the nation’s development and global integration.
A Market of Contradictions: “Too Much, Yet Too Little”
Nguyen Thanh Nam, Deputy Director of Tre Publishing House, summarized the core dilemma facing the Vietnamese translation workforce: it is both oversupplied and undersupplied.
- Oversupply: There is a surplus of young, trained translators, particularly in the field of literary fiction and for the English language.
- Undersupply: A critical shortage exists in specialized areas, such as science, technical subjects, and niche languages like Spanish and Portuguese.
Nam noted that historically respected translators like Nguyen Hien Le devoted their lives to the craft. Today, however, many younger translators treat it as a side hustle due to low compensation, preventing them from achieving similar long-term commitment and recognition.
Quality Crisis and Market Dynamics
Tran Thi Khuyen, Deputy Director of Alpha Books (a company specializing in complex, advanced knowledge books), reinforced the assessment of uneven quality. Alpha Books outsources all its translation work, actively seeking individuals with deep subject-matter knowledge alongside linguistic skill.
However, the market’s “mixed bag” nature creates a quality crisis driven by cost-cutting:
- Subcontracting Issues: Many translation agencies simply “bid low” for projects and then hire inexperienced or unqualified translators to reduce costs, resulting in subpar quality.
- Lack of Dedication: Many young translators view the work merely as a way to earn extra income, lacking the passion and commitment required to produce truly excellent translations.
Khuyen states these factors lead directly to unreliable translation quality across the industry.
The Path to Professional Integrity
To overcome the current market turmoil, experts called for fundamental shifts in approach and regulation:
- “Authentic Translation” (Dịch Thật): Following the view of translator Hoàng Thúy Toàn, the consensus is that translators must commit to “authentic translation”—meaning working honestly and thoroughly, rather than rushing through projects carelessly.
- Professionalization and Ethics: Khuyên argues that translation must be treated as a proper profession with established codes of conduct and ethics. Since book translation is more than just language conversion, translators need deep subject knowledge to truly be “co-creators” with the author. She suggested a system of professional certification to ensure both competence and ethical conduct.
- Rethinking Compensation and Value: Tôn Nữ Thị Ninh addressed the common complaint about low pay by challenging the translators themselves: “What are they selling?” She argued that those who sell low-quality products perpetuate a chaotic market that naturally drives down wages. Conversely, those who are passionate and dedicated can still make a living, thus breaking the vicious cycle of low quality leading to low pay.
Ultimately, there was broad agreement that translation is vital for bringing advanced global knowledge to Vietnam and accelerating the country’s comprehensive integration. To support this, many suggested the establishment of a state translation fund and suitable government mechanisms to encourage more private-sector participation in importing new global knowledge.
