Three Irish Travel Counsellors – Andre Bedford, Kathy O’Sullivan and Mary Foyle – were included in an exclusive Travel Counsellors educational trip to explore southern and central Vietnam, in conjunction with Emirates and Travel Counsellors’ destination management company, Easia Travel.
The trip was a chance for the Travel Counsellors to familiarise themselves with the country and arm themselves with vast, detailed knowledge to pass on to their clients. The group spent a total of nine days in the Southeast Asian country, initially flying to Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon), and exploring the amazing Cu Chi tunnel network.
They enjoyed an excursion to the Mekong Delta area and exploring the local culture, before heading to Hue – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Vietnam. After sightseeing in Hue it was on to Da Nang and finally Hoi An Town, where they relaxed in the beachside resort.
Gold Travel Counsellor Mary Foyle said: “I have visited many areas of Southeast Asia but I feel that Vietnam has it all – great cities, culture, beaches and fabulous people. I am already planning my next trip! This whole area of Indochina is really popular among my clients, particularly those in their 50s and 60s. It has great relevance to them as they all remember the Vietnam War and the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia and because of these educational trips I gain specialised knowledge to pass on to these clients.
“It is just wonderful to visit these countries and find out all about their history and, thanks to Emirates and Easia Travel, we could combine this with a stay at some fabulous beach hotels.”
Cathy Burke, Travel Counsellors Ireland General Manager, commented: “Educational trips are a very important element of our training and continued development. These trips help to build on the knowledge of our Travel Counsellors and ensure that they are up to date with different locations. This year alone we have Travel Counsellors travelling to India, St Lucia, South America and many more exciting destinations.”
