Travel Indochina is giving 12 Vietnamese university students from Ho Chi Minh City an opportunity to learn vocational skills and receive practical training to become local tour guides.
Travel Indochina’s local guide coordinator in Vietnam, Thai Hong Duc, has designed and implemented an intensive six month training programme to provide the next generation of local guides in Vietnam with the skills to be able to work across small group journeys and independent tours.
Sponsored by Travel Indochina, with no cost to the students or school, 12 students were selected to participate from a shortlist of 50 who demonstrated an interest in travel and tourism.
The three young men and nine young women selected have been spending every Sunday morning since December taking part in both theoretical and practical lessons, including understanding the role of a local guide, delivery techniques and communication skills. Classes are taught in English.
Thai says students have no prior training or experience as local guides, so the programme provides them a useful understanding of what being a tour guide with Travel Indochina is like, prior to undertaking the six month guide training required for government licensing.
Travel Indochina managing director, Paul Hole hopes to extend the programme into Hanoi and central Vietnam.
