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Vietnamese is a certified language under the Language Access Ordinance

Vietnamese is a required language under the local language access law, joining Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino.

What this means

Starting July 1, 2026, City departments will begin expanding language services in Vietnamese.  This includes translating important information about City programs and services, and training City staff on the new requirements.

The changes will happen gradually, and City departments must come into compliance by July 1, 2027.

Implementation timeline

Phase I: July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 

  • City departments notified of the new requirement
  • Initial guidelines provided
  • Mandatory training for City staff begins

Phase II: January 1, 2027 – July 1, 2027 

  • Guidance and office hours for departments
  • Training for bilingual City staff
  • Full compliance by July 1, 2027

Background

In 2024, San Francisco updated the Language Access Ordinance, the local language access law. The City lowered the number of people needed for a language to become a required language, from 10,000 Limited English Proficient speakers to 6,000. 

Vietnamese speakers living in San Francisco reached this number in January 2026.

You can request translation or interpretation from a City department in any language you need. Learn more about your language access rights in San Francisco.