The opportunity and the ability to travel and see other places and cultures can be a truly life-changing experience, opening us up to entirely different worlds with endless opportunities for exploration and happy discoveries. At the same time, travel should also be a symbiotic relationship benefiting local communities as much as the tourist, by giving them the means and resources to preserve their environment and traditions for generations to come.
In the case of Discova Vietnam Guide Nguyen Ngoc Qui, the travel industry provided him with a career path to rise above the economic circumstances of his childhood and make a name and career for himself on his terms.
Qui was born in the Mekong Delta in Southern Vietnam, about 50 km from the Cambodian border. He remembers the acute poverty in his commune, where many children died because their parents did not have any money to look after them. At the same time, Qui’s family tried their best to help him go to university and receive a higher education that would allow him to have more opportunities in life. Not just his family but even Qui’s neighbours gave him food (eggs, boxes of instant noodles, etc.) and lent him money to pay for tuition.
He says, “I worked hard so my family wouldn’t suffer from poverty. The tourism industry has helped me a lot, and I want to give back by ensuring that visitors to my country are happy and have a great time on their trip.”
After working in Discova for over 10 years and receiving several guide awards, Qui cherishes the high-quality training provided by the company. This has helped him excel at his job and feel respected and supported while also learning about important issues like ChildSafe policies and sustainable tourism.
According to him, the best way for a guide to foster a deep and meaningful connection between the local community and visitors is by informing the latter about a place’s history and the way of life of its residents.
“As a guide, one can be an interpreter for both sides and introduce local people to tourists. If guests are okay with it, they can share about where they come from, their occupation, etc. Most times, such interactions lead to surprised faces, understanding eyes, and emotional handshakes,” he replies.
Food is one area that requires a particular and passionate intervention on the part of the guide because although Vietnamese cuisine is popular all over the world, some tourists might still be hesitant to try something different.
“On the other hand, some guests say that coming to Vietnam makes them gain weight because Vietnamese food is so delicious. So, I like to introduce them to speciality dishes and reveal the story of how they are prepared. This helps visitors understand the significance and popularity of certain standout delicacies and makes them more eager to try those out.”
He especially recommends Discova’s Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City, which immerses tourists in a vibrant, bustling atmosphere, where they can join locals in eating and drinking across popular street-side eateries in Saigon that serve popular dishes from various parts of Vietnam.
Needless to say, Qui takes his job very seriously to ensure his customers have a good time. He takes pride in his sense of professionalism and awareness that tourists pay a lot of money to visit his country, and he is responsible for fulfilling their expectations.
“A good guide should take care of tourists like family members. We must ensure their health and safety, making them feel confident while travelling with us.
“Buddhism says everyone has their own suffering. But if you can make your guests happy, it not only changes their lives but also spreads the love to those around them,” he adds on a spiritual note.
Qui is very receptive to feedback and takes special care in further honing what customers love about him. He hopes to become a tour leader in the future so that he can oversee more tours with more guests.
“With Vietnam’s economy still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, I see many newly established companies chasing profits and not prioritising quality, thus creating a bad reputation for our tourism industry. I hope that all travellers have a great experience in our country, and their positive reviews spread the word about Vietnam being a wonderful travel destination,” he informs.
Looking back at his humble beginnings, Qui acknowledges that tourism is a very strenuous and difficult industry for newcomers. His advice for young, aspiring individuals who want to join the travel industry and become guides is to be patient and determined to overcome any obstacles that come their way.
“Of course, caution is also very important. And the final thing is to work with all your heart and eventually you will be rewarded for it,” he signs off.
Interested?
If you want to find out more about how Discova does Guiding differently, we’d love to hear from you!
and stay at the forefront of new product offerings, Discova behind-the-scenes, destination news, travel trends and thought leadership articles from our on-the-ground experts.
© 2024 Discova. All rights reserved.
and stay at the forefront of new product offerings, Discova behind-the-scenes, destination news, travel trends and thought leadership articles from our on-the-ground experts.
