Graduating with a degree in French and a desire to bring Vietnamese culture to the world, Mr Hoàng Hợi has spent nearly two decades tirelessly travelling up and down the Mekong River. For him, each trip is not merely about guiding, but a journey of “reviving” cultural values amidst the vast waterways.
After 5 p.m. on the deck of the La Marguerite cruise, as the sun begins to set behind rows of nipa palms, the sky of the Mekong Delta suddenly transforms. Shades of gold, purple, and pink blend together, reflecting on the calm water like a living watercolour painting.
“I’ve been doing this for over ten years. Sometimes emotions can feel saturated, but at this hour, standing here, I still feel completely captivated. The Mekong Delta is fascinating — every day it shows a different shade,” shared Mr Hoàng Hợi, an experienced tour guide who has long been with Focus Travel”.
From lecture halls to boundless journeys
After graduating from the Faculty of French Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, he chose not to pursue a stable office job. His dynamic personality and passion for sharing and inspiring others led him to a career as a tour guide in 2008.
If science relies on precise formulas, then in Mr Hợi’s work, the only formula is “empathy.” After nearly 20 years in the profession, the Mekong Delta, through his eyes, is not just a network of rivers, canals, and fruit-laden orchards, but a land where people live harmoniously, and where nature is wrapped in a soothing green serenity.
“Being a tour guide for over 20 years, I’ve never seen myself as a talking machine. Even if I’ve visited a place a thousand times, each time I stand before new guests, my passion reignites. I revisit my stories, refine my narrative, and search for new perspectives so that the river always feels alive in my storytelling,” he shared.
Where happiness blossoms from the simplest things
On journeys deep into riverside hamlets, Mr Hợi often witnesses the amazement of international visitors at the everyday lifestyle of Southern Vietnamese people. They are not impressed by luxury, but by the warmth, sincerity, and surprising neatness of modest homes.
“There are houses without air conditioning or modern conveniences, yet they are always spotlessly clean. Guests often wonder how people can live so simply yet remain so happy and cheerful. That is the essence of the Mekong people: hospitable, gentle, and content with what they have,” he said proudly, comparing this peacefulness with rural areas around the world.
When the sky and river are held within a heart devoted to the homeland
Working in the service industry — often described as “serving a hundred different expectations”— Mr Hợi always maintains a positive mindset. He loves the Mekong’s rainy season, when vegetation turns lush and green, and the river carries fertile alluvium.
He believes that modern travel trends are shifting toward “returning to the roots,” where people seek to escape urban life, rediscover peace, and allow children to experience simple rural life — seeing buffalo, catching fish, and living close to nature.
Closing the conversation, Mr Hợi smiled warmly: “Come to hear the river tell its stories, to taste the richness of alluvium in dishes like bánh xèo and lẩu mắm, and to see just how lovely Vietnamese people truly are.”
For Mr Hoàng Hợi, the Mekong journey will never end. As long as the river flows, he will remain there — keeping the flame of heritage stories alive amid the waters of the Mekong.
Personal identity is the most enduring companion
At the end of the conversation, when asked about his “home base” at Focus Travel, Mr. Hợi confidently and humorously remarked:
“In this profession, one side is the office team handling paperwork, the other is us guides working on the ground. Though our roles differ, at Focus, everyone is supportive, easygoing, and great to work with.” He added with a playful smile:“Honestly, I’m quite likable myself, so wherever I go, I receive warm hospitality and great support from everyone!”
That confident and charismatic demeanour, combined with an unwavering passion for his work, is exactly why on every Mekong journey, people encounter a radiant and beloved Hoàng Hợi. For him, when you give genuine values rooted in your personal identity, the river and its people will always embrace you with open arms.
