"My first exposure to tour guides was on a trip to Đà Lạt sponsored by my aunt living abroad when I was in high school," said Duy.

"From that moment I decided I would become a tour guide, a profession which could mean I would be getting paid to travel."

He is currently in charge of guiding tourists around the intricate system of canals and floating markets in the South-Western Region. Looking back on eight years in tourism, he said it was the right choice to become a tour guide as the profession offers him a chance to quench his wanderlust.

Nguyễn Việt Hoàng, a 38-year-old tour guide from Hà Nội City, revealed that the average base salary for international tour guides ranges from VNĐ10 million (US$392) to VNĐ15 million ($588) per month while for domestic tour guides, VNĐ7 million ($274) to VNĐ8 million ($313) per month.

For experienced and highly qualified tour guides, the salary can reach between VNĐ30 million ($1,176) and VNĐ70 million ($2,751) monthly.

In addition to the base salary, tour guides can also receive tips from tourists, commissions from travel companies and allowances for meals, accommodation and transportation.

"There have been times when I've worked hard leading long-haul tours in Europe and the US, earning hundreds of millions of đồng in a single month," said Hoàng.

To get an international tour guide licence, you need to be a graduate with at least a bachelor's degree in tourism.

For those who studied other majors, a domestic tour guide licence or a professional training certificate is required in addition to proficiency in at least one foreign language.

However, the profession also comes with its challenges.

Nguyễn Thành Trung, a tour guide with more than 10 years of experience, said the demanding profession frequently keeps him away from home during peak tourism seasons. 

"Late nights, early mornings and an irregular sleep schedule seem to be an integral part of life for those in the profession," said Trung.

He believed that young people who enjoy traveling and are not yet married find it easier to meet the job demands, as the nature of the work requires full dedication and sacrifice of personal time.

Bùi Văn Chuyên, a 36-year-old tour guide, stressed that being a tour guide is no 'walk in the park' because the profession requires solid cultural foundation and language skills in addition to in-depth knowledge of geography, history and culture, which must be updated regularly.

Dealing with diverse groups of travellers also demands resilience, patience, a sense of humour and effective cross-cultural communication skills.

"Leading a group of tourists with different ages and personalities is never an easy task," said Chuyên.

Despite the demands, he has never felt bored or wanted to switch careers and it was brought home to him how much he missed it during the pandemic, when due to travel restrictions, he was forced to stay home.

"Only then did I truly appreciate the months spent roaming and exploring new lands, meeting and interacting with people," said Chuyên. "I have never regretted choosing this profession."

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, 1,175 new travel companies, 3,709 tour guides and around 3,000 accommodation facilities have entered the market since 2022. — VNS