From Local Porter to Adventure Tour Guide

The journey of local porters becoming tour guides

Recognizing the language barrier, many Oxalis Adventure porters have taken it upon themselves to learn English online, attended the company’s English courses, and learned from the tour guides during their trips. Several porters also gained additional safety skills to become safety assistants on many exploration tours, increasing their opportunities to interact with guests. Talking with visitors during the tour has become a regular activity for porters and safety assistants at Oxalis. This gives them a chance to improve their English skills and gain their first insights into understanding customer psychology, which helps them improve the quality of service.

These conversations with visitors marked the beginning of many porters and safety assistants' bigger aspirations. Their dream was to become professional tour guides, fully equipped with the necessary skills, ready to share the beauty of Quảng Bình with both domestic and international visitors.

The safety assistant will assist and ensure safety throughout the journey for visitors and staffs.

Many porters and safety assistants at Oxalis have identified key skills they need, such as English skills, guiding skills, situation handling, and ensuring safety during each trip. Lê Văn Huy, a safety assistant for the Sơn Đoòng Expedition tour, shared: “In my opinion, the biggest challenge in transitioning from a safety assistant to a tour guide is the responsibility that comes with the job. As a safety assistant, my main focus was ensuring the safety of visitors, supporting them on difficult paths, and carrying equipment for the tour. But as a tour guide, my responsibility increases significantly. In addition to ensuring safety, I also represent the company's image, sharing and promoting our services to visitors. Every decision I make on the trip needs to be carefully considered.”

Throughout their studies, Oxalis supports them in balancing work and study, allowing them to earn a living and gain practical experience. The program covers useful topics such as guiding skills, commentary, group and time management, handling situations, teamwork, and especially customer communication. Upon completing the course and passing their graduation exams, they will officially become tour guides and join Oxalis's team of guides.

A challenging journey

After years of focusing on work and family, many of the men had gradually drifted away from a learning environment. Returning to specialized knowledge and taking exams required significant effort. Additionally, balancing time between work, family, and studies was no small challenge. The formal academic program was equivalent to a university degree, primarily delivered online, which also required the men to be self-motivated and manage their time effectively.

Despite facing many difficulties, they continued to strive. A representative from the school, Mr. Phan Bửu Toàn, Head of the Tourism Department, recognized their dedication and determination: “The Oxalis students come from diverse backgrounds and age groups. Some graduated from high school many years ago, while others have only just graduated. Therefore, studying requires even more effort. However, with encouragement from both the company and the school, they have shown maturity in their thinking and determination to build careers for themselves. What’s encouraging is that the entire class has worked hard and performed well in the program.”

Community involvement: One of Oxalis' three business principles

Oxalis identifies community involvement as one of our three business principles. We believe that active community participation not only improves the quality of tourism services but also enhances the lives of local people, fostering the development of Phong Nha, Tân Hóa, and Cao Quảng in both tourism and livelihood security for its residents.

To implement this principle, Oxalis continuously creates opportunities for employees to participate in professional training and personal development programs. Every year, we organize training sessions for guides, safety experts, and other staff to enhance their skills. Notably, in the 2024-2025 internal training season, Oxalis' team of Vietnamese cave experts participated in a safety training course in the UK, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills. Additionally, the company ensures equal opportunities for all employees, offering them the chance to advance and develop in their careers.

Nguyễn Minh Lợi, former safety assistant, now a tour operator for Hang Tiên tours, is currently taking the tour guide course at Saigon Tourism College. He shared: "During my time at the school, I received both material and emotional support from the school and the company. This support has helped me realize the importance of striving to study hard and do my job well to live up to the trust placed in me."

Oxalis Adventure takes pride in creating a positive learning and working environment where everyone has the opportunity to grow, contributing to building a sustainable future for the community and the tourism industry in Quảng Bình.

The Oxalis Experience.