Two years without leading guests because of Covid-19, Huu Duc feels “reborn” when he hears that he will open for tourism from March 15.
Vietnam will open to tourism from March 15, which is good news for many guides when they are about to return to the job that is their passion. After two years of not working, they are excited, mixed with anxiety and nervousness.
Nguyen Huu Duc, born in 1974, has more than 14 years of working as an inbound guide (welcoming international guests to Vietnam), feeling like he will be “reborn.” “Very happy for myself and my fellow travelers.
Last time, not only me but many people struggled and affected their income. Tourism is open, I’m very excited, I’m preparing everything for the day to come back,” Duc said.
Duc’s boarding house in Linh Chieu ward, Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh City. In front of the house is a sugarcane juice cart; inside are piles of coconuts. Germany also used to sell coffee at intersections and sidewalks. These are the things he does when he can’t lead a tour, like being “drowned on land,” looking for ways to make a living all the time.
“I still don’t have a house in Ho Chi Minh City, so I have to rent it. Last two years, the most challenging time was the fourth social distancing period, mid-2021. One month is okay, but 3-4 months it’s about food and drinks, I must calculate drinks.
After the distance, I thought I would make a living, but I couldn’t do anything. Recently I bought a fresh coconut to sell. When the New Year comes, I go back to carry flowers; anyone can do whatever they want,” he said, encouraging him to one day go back to work, unable to let Covid-19 stick around for the rest of his life.
“Next time I meet guests, I will explain what I have been suppressing for the past two years. I don’t think anything too negative. As long as I have the heart, responsibility, and passion for my work, I will overcome the situation. . I consider this a challenge that any tour guide goes through, not just me,” Duc shared.
Ly Boi Hanh, a freelance international tour guide in Ho Chi Minh City, is excited and a little worried: “After two years of struggling to make a living and survive, my colleagues and I are pleased to be returning to work soon. Familiar job, true passion and profession, worried because, after a long time returning to the profession, it is necessary to prepare more knowledge, learn new tour routes… especially to ensure the safety of themselves and tourists when traveling”.
Hanh has nearly 13 years of experience in bringing Vietnamese tourists abroad. In the upcoming return, he plans to work in the inbound field to expand and create more opportunities for himself.
“My major is the Chinese language; when I can’t lead a tour, I sign up for an extra pedagogical skill training class to teach foreign languages.
Not having enough money to spend, I got more jobs such as translating texts, online novels, interpreting construction sites, teaching Chinese online, etc. to earn money, “said Hanh. also review professional skills, knowledge about tourist destinations, learn and exchange skills with colleagues to collaborate and work more effectively after the epidemic.
“Currently, I still live on my side job as a translator and teach Chinese. I hope the translation will be stable and international tourism will come back strongly so that my colleagues and I can settle down,” Hanh said, ready to return.
Many guides said they hope to have a safe route for tourists to travel with peace of mind.
In addition, they also need more standards in terms of per diem, working regime, stable and reasonable tour prices, avoiding unfair competition after the epidemic, or business fees that are disproportionate to their efforts. The tour guide left.
“Looking at the good news of the industry, I also feel excited, preparing everything to be ready to return to my dream,” Mr. Hanh shared.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism statistics, in 2020, tourism businesses will cut 70-80% of their workforce. In 2021, the number of full-time workers will be 25% lower than in 2020.
From the beginning of February, according to the statistics of Hotel Job, one of the leading recruitment websites in Vietnam’s tourism industry, the recruitment demand doubled before Tet. It doubled compared to the same period before the epidemic.
The number of applications has tripled. The recruitment information focuses on hotels, resorts, restaurants, amusement parks, management positions, rooms, tables, kitchens.
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