Tour guides need to be… tough!

Mr. Pham Thien Vu began his career as a tour guide in 1999 after graduating from the first course at Saigontourist Vocational School. In 2002, he received a scholarship to study Tourism Management in the Netherlands. He founded ITE SERVICE travel company in Ho Chi Minh City in 2009. In 2013, he settled in the United States and established VUS LINKS TRAVEL, providing land tours for the Asian and Vietnamese markets. Throughout his career, he has traveled to over 60 countries, present on all continents of the world.

Mr. Pham Thien Vu - the keynote speaker at the exchange session "Travel - Guiding: Preparation and Opportunities" organized by the Faculty of Tourism Studies on September 21, 2016.

Explaining his burning passion for the profession, Mr. Vu said: "I love the feeling of conquering and exploring beautiful lands all over the world. New spaces, magically beautiful places, and interesting customs and cultures in different regions give me endless passion. And at the end of each trip, no matter how tired or exhausted I am, I am always eager to start new journeys."

Addressing concerns about career opportunities for students, Mr. Pham Thien Vu affirmed that careers in the tourism sector have a very promising future, especially in Vietnam. Once people have met their basic needs for food and clothing, they will focus on expanding their knowledge. This is an increasingly urgent and ever-growing need. This promises that the tourism industry that students are investing in is entirely the right direction.

“Being a tour guide requires… resilience,” Mr. Vu emphasized. Leaving aside professional knowledge for now, a tour guide needs to be selfless in their work, unafraid of rain or sun, and undeterred by the difficulties and hardships on long journeys. “A tour guide is first and foremost a service provider, but they are also a cultural ambassador,” Mr. Vu said. In Vietnam, many travel companies don't yet value the position and role of tour guides, but in the US, it's a highly respected profession. It's not an exaggeration to say that tour guides are the soul of the tour. Whether customers fully experience and are satisfied with the tourism service and receive cultural and historical knowledge in each region depends on their direct interaction with the tour guide.

A good tour guide needs both extensive knowledge of regional cultures and history, as well as professional skills. "Knowledge and English are the two things that help us succeed," was Vu's motto from the very beginning of his career. Vu could confidently communicate with foreigners at the age of 15. He can use English fluently for many different activities, from conversation and small talk to singing. He enjoys reading, especially books on history, culture, and politics, considering it a valuable investment for his career and future. Thanks to this, he can talk for hours about Hanoi culture or explain in depth the Indian custom of eating with one's hands. Vu has traveled throughout all the states of the United States and is extremely familiar with famous landmarks in Europe, even more so than the locals themselves.

One of the secrets to Pham Thien Vu's success and appeal as a tour guide is his many talents and excellent professional skills. All of these are the result of self-study and practice. He can speak all three regional accents of Vietnam, knows how to cook, has worked in restaurants abroad, and studied at the Ho Chi Minh City College of Arts… It is his passion for food that has enabled him to successfully connect with tourists from many regions around the world, promoting Vietnamese cuisine to international friends. As a bridge between tourists and locals, a tour guide must understand local culture; understand customer psychology; know how to present in an impressive and engaging way; and be able to plan and flexibly resolve problems that arise during a trip…

The speaker's advice to tourism students was to always be inquisitive, observant, eager to learn, and always prepare thoroughly before each trip. To compete in today's tourism job market, each person needs to "know themselves and know their opponent," recognizing their strengths and weaknesses to effectively market themselves, quickly identify gaps in the market, and create breakthrough opportunities when the time is right.

Above all, what makes a tour guide successful in their profession? Without hesitation, Mr. Vu stated: it's passion for the job, sincerity in relationships, dedication to customers, and a conscious effort to maintain a positive image. The speaker concluded his speech with practical advice for young people: cast aside all fears and insecurities, dare to take risks, and strive to become a true tour guide.