THE CON TRĂ‚U TIMES Issue 6 - June - 2012
Inspirational Travel 1
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
Credits Publisher Hr Department Designer Bui Minh Tan Staff Writers Ly Man Nghi Thuy Tran Hanno Stamp Vu Thuy Tu Mi Hang Do Tuyet Huong Somz Michele Whealy Editor Bev Taylor Ray Petts Customers’s contribution Barbara
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
Table of Contents Joining & leaving Buffalo tours Travel Events 1. Training in Victoria Chau Doc 2. Mai Chau Trip for Newcomers 3. VET Conference 4. BT Cambodia – Unforgetable Summer Trip 5. Cholon Tour – New Rep Office in Beijing 6. How Awesome – May Birthday Celebration at BT Sai Gon 7. VIVU Again 8. New Member at BT Thailand Guest feedback Vacancies in Hanoi Tips 9. Overcome The Awkward Silence Birthday and anniversaries 8.List of June birthdays
Joining Buffalo tours Ms. Nguyen Thi Van – German Sales Executive Hi. My name is Van and I’m 24 years old. It’s my pleasure to be newcomer at Buffalo Tours. Since 15th June I have started my probation period as sales executive in the German team. So far I have been very impressed by the professional working environment and friendly colleges. It’s very nice to meet all of you in Buffalo Tours!
Mr. Vo Duy Tien – Travel Consultant BTA – Sai Gon Tien started with Buffalo Tours on Wed, 30th May and graduated from The University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and has good experience within the Tourism Industry.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga – Accounting Executive in Thien Minh Group Nga joined Buffalo Tours on Tuesday, June 5th 2012. She graduated from Thang Long University Ms. Nguyen Thi Duc Hanh - Marketing Assistant Marketing Department Hi! My name is Hanh, 23 years old. I started working at Buffalo Tours since June 25, 2012. My first day was fulfilled with beautiful flowers, sweet chocolate, and extremely warm welcome from my colleagues. I am, therefore, enjoying working in such a professional, dynamic and friendly environment.
Leaving Buffalo tours Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Agent Sales Executive I hope you are all doing well. Today is my last day at Buffalo Tours. It has been a nice journey with you since Dec 2010. I’m not so good at writing nice words and actually I couldn’t sleep last night so I made a short video for you all (2 mins only). Let’s put your headphone on and make it full screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiUWj9mbDAc&feature=youtu.be I wish you all the best in your life, With my best regards, Hai
2 Inspirational Travel
Inspirational Travel 3
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
n i g n i n i a r T ctoria Chau Doc Vi 21 staff members from Buffalo tours, Buffalo tour agency and Victoria Vietnam ( Can tho, Chau Doc, Hoi An, Phan Thiet & Sapa ) participated in Training Design
4 Inspirational Travel
and Delivery Skill course in Victoria Chau Doc from 04 to 09 June 2012. Despite the fatigue of long journey being on different kinds of transportation, everybody
was very excited waiting for the courses. Mr.Tue from Learn Smart introduced to everyone practical lessons engaging with brainstorming activities. Ms.Huong continued with her “teaching techniques to attract listeners” skills the next 02 days. It was touched to see how all the students were giving mutual support for the final exam preparation in the last days. As the result for hard work and diligence they all passed the course with satisfaction and happiness.
Moreover, the participant also joined in the Green Day event on 05 June 2012 morning organized by Victoria Chau Doc Hotel in collaboration with local government to help cleaning garbage in the nearby area. With the Learn Hard – Play Hard spirit everybody did have a good time enjoy Chau Doc local cuisine and have fun with other Tour Guide came from Victoria Can Tho and more others exciting activities. Hope that everyone will have another chance to do this again next time. By Nguyen The My - Training Manager
Inspirational Travel 5
p i r T u a h ai C
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
M for
s r e m o c w e N
B
y having the opportunity of staying six month in Vietnam many people would consider me as a lucky person. My friends back home in Germany mostly think that working in the tourism industry is like being on holiday all year long. For a Destination Management Company (DMC) one of the main assets is skilled and knowledgeable staff. Therefore I got lucky and my company sent me on a weekend trip to Mai Chau. Apparently Mai Chau is one of the upcoming destinations in the area and I was really excited to find out what all the fuss is about it. After the minibus left Hanoi it was about an hour drive through buildings, construction sites and even more buildings. Hanoi is developing so fast and sooner or later it will break all limits. Once we were able to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind the landscape became more and more scenic. After two hours of driving a well deserved coffee break gave us the first
6 Inspirational Travel
opportunity to make some nice photos. The landscape totally changed within those two hours from the typical Hanoi low lands with the Red River Delta into some “Halong Bay” look-a-like limestone mountains with some lush vegetation. After another 90 minutes we finally left civilization behind and the western looking villages changed into picturesque wooden stilt houses and the background scenery was just amazing. Well, after arriving in Mai Chai we all got pretty hungry from sitting in the van and a local family surprised us with a very sumptuous local meal. For me, the meal was the perfect opportunity to enjoy a local “Hanoi Beer” and to take a walk through the village of Mai Chau. I was amazed by the unique combination of tradition, simple lifestyle and development. All buildings seemed to have a power connection, water boilers, some had air condition and everything was quite developed but still very authentic. Chickens were running
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
around the road and some pigs, while having a delicious meal of rotten fruits didn’t really seem interested in my presence. Finally it was time to go on the hike. I was a little bit disappointed of the weather at first because after having weeks of sunshine in Hanoi the weather finally changed into deep hanging clouds and a light drizzle. Nevertheless what I found out later, the weather does not really affect the overall atmosphere a lot. While sunshine offers wide views, green rice paddies and a good chance of sunburn, cloudy weather puts the whole destination into something magical and mystical. After hiking a short way suddenly water buffalos appeared nearby and they also seemed pretty bored due to the weather conditions. After an easy hike we arrived save at our home stay for the night. The guesthouse was very simple but clean and mosquito nets ensured a relaxing night in the
mountains. Our private cook again made a very sumptuous meal after a day hiking in the mountains. Some staff even tasted some homemade Vietnamese vodka to have the real village experience. I adjusted my behavior according to the locals around me, so I went to bed at 9pm and woke around 5:50 in order to get some Vietnamese breakfast. A good hardworking Vietnamese farmer’s breakfast (Rice, egg and bread) is the perfect basis for another six hour hike through Mai Chau. The scenery was amazing and the crazy weather combined everything from rain, clouds, fog up to sunshine. A good hint to all fellow travelers is to wear good trekking shoes with you as conditions were muddy. At around 5pm we finally arrived back in Mai Chau and hundreds of nice photos are the best proof of having an awesome weekend away. “By Hanno – German Intern”
Inspirational Travel 7
e c n e r e f n o C VET
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
T
his two-day workshop developed skills & values for participants to facilitate activities across a range of Buffalo Tours business situations.
In particular, participants practiced facilitating learning activities (leadership, team-building, environment and community-development based themes) which will be conducted in the field that will add great value and uniqueness to all VET products. Through the Workshop, VET team did obtain the following Objectives: • Developed a definition of a Buffalo Tour VET Facilitator; • Identified skills required to be a Buffalo Tour VET Facilitator; • Prioritized skills each participant needs to improve to be a Buffalo Tour VET Facilitator; • Created an action plan for each participant to improve to be a Buffalo Tour VET Facilitator;
With twenty-four participants including free-lance guides, full-time BT guides, Victoria Hotel staff, BT HAN operations staff and all BT VET team from CNX, HAN, LPQ & REP offices we had two fun days together learning a lot of new useful things. Over the next six months there will be a follow up with the team to see how well they accomplish their objectives and apply the skills learned from the workshop to their daily work. “By Thuy Tran – VET Team leader”
• Assessed how and when they will apply the skills required to be a Buffalo Tour VET Facilitator;
8 Inspirational Travel
Inspirational Travel 9
s r u o T n o g n i j i Chol e in B
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
a i d o b m p i a r C T r e T B Summ
e l b a t e g Unfor
A
t 4pm the bus was waiting outside the office to take us to Battambang. We headed off with 8 staff and 4 bikes as our team are avid cyclists and would not accept to use the local bikes for their cycling adventure. We arrived in the dark and went straight to dinner at the restaurant we use for our clients. After dinner everyone was tired so we checked into the Stung Sangke Hotel. The next morning, everyone was up early and either swimming or relaxing by the pool before breakfast. After a hearty breakfast we headed off for our first adventure which was an 11km kayak down the Stung Sangke River. We paired off into mixed teams for the paddle down the river. Some of us were faster, some were stronger, some were better at teamwork and one kayak had a mind of its own and went in circles all the way. It was enjoyable to paddle down the river and see local life along the river banks. In the afternoon we visited Cambodia’s only winery and
10 Inspirational Travel
e c i f fi f O w e N
Cholon Tours’ representative Office in Beijing has been officially opened on June 06, 2012, located in Chao Yang Street, Beijing, China. Our office is specially aimed at advertising all tourism services of Cholon Tours, Viet Nam Travel Consultancy and in connection with our key Chinese travel agents to extend our sales market. With a new office based on Chinese outbound clients we do believe that Cholon Tours will enjoy solid growth and development in the future. “By Ly Man Nghi – Cholon Tours”
although it was not the season to see the grapes or for harvesting it was interesting to see the farm and taste the wine, grape juice and brandy made on site. Towards the end of the day we all went on the bamboo train, which consists of 2 metal axles, one small motor and a bamboo platform that goes along the single track at approx 17-20 kms/hr. The fun begins when you meet another “train” coming the other way. The unwritten law says that whoever has the least amount of cargo must give way and their “train” is taken apart on the side of the track, the bigger “train” goes through and then the small one is put back together on the track. We met 2 other “trains” and since we had 9 people on ours we never had to give way. Tonight we all had fun at karaoke singing some crazy songs to enjoy our last evening of our trip together. On our last morning on Sunday, some staff went shopping while others went cycling in the countryside. We had lunch together before the 3.5 hour drive back to Siem Reap. “By Michele Whealy – Cambodia Country Manager”
Inspirational Travel 11
HOW AWESOME THE CON TRÂU TIMES
May Birthday CELEBRATION
This was the first time I had a “group birthday” with 7 other staff from the Saigon office which was a great surprise and very exciting. At 15:00 pm lots of presents arrived with promotions staff from Nest Cafe. All Buffalo staff stopped working to look at and recognize all the gifts were for the 7 staff enjoying their birthday within the month. I jumped with excitement as
12 Inspirational Travel
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
one gift was Hoang Bach a famous singer. Oh my god, my idol. He sang “ Happy birthday “ and many songs with us. These moments were so fantastic. Thank you Buffalo Tours very much . I’m proud to be an employee of Buffalo . “By Vu Thuy Tu Mi – Operation Executive – SG Branch”
Inspirational Travel 13
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
VIVU Again Hello everyone! It’s been a busy month for iVIVU. We launched a new site, with iVIVU with our logo, the cat in summer beachwear and a number of new features and content. It’s really cool. We have posters now in over 300 office buildings in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. A new membership program is on the way, so that everyone can “vivu” now more easier than ever.
Lastly, check us out on Facebook (facebook.com/ivivu) and participate in our photo contest, “What to eat on your vivu trip?” It’s mouth-watering. I know its shameless self-marketing right here, but more than ever, we need everyone in Thien Minh and Buffalo Tours to support and spread our brand around. Wish us luck! “By Hang Do – GM – iVIVU.com”
14 Inspirational Travel
Inspirational Travel 15
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
Feedback on what our staff members have been doing
THE CON TRÂU TIMES
Hi Huong, Many thanks for the creating the wonderful trip for us. We had an unbelievable trip and were really impressed by everything that Buffalo Tours did. The tour guides were highly professional and very nice. The restaurants you chose for the included meals were excellent, as were the accommodations. It is probably the best tour I have ever had with a travel company and you should be so proud of the wonderful job you did putting our trip together. Many thanks for the lovely gift that you brought to us. I just want you to know that my sister-in-law is planning a trip to Vietnam this winter and I will really encourage her to work through you to use Buffalo Tours. Again, many thanks for your wonderful arrangements. The trip was absolutely perfect. Sincerely, Barbara
New Member at BT Thailand Thanakorn Surasonthi (Moo) Moo is our new driver in Buffalo Tours (Thailand). He is interested in traveling, photography, swimming and playing football. His favorite quote is always at his side to remind him, “Doing my best to do my duty” (Written by Som) Pattaranida Lohakul (Som) I graduated from the faculty of science and worked as a patent examiner in Ministry of Public Health. Now I am a personal assistant to General Manager (HR & Admin) in Buffalo tours, Thailand. I’m interested in photography, designing, and dancing. I love to meet new people, visit interesting places and see interesting things. My passion is traveling around the world. Since I joined the Buffalo Tours team, I have learnt new things and known how to be a good worker. We have a good teamwork and everyone knows that great things can happen if individuals master the fundamentals and work together as one unit, the belief that “none of us is as good as all of us.
Vacancies in Vietnam 1. Online sale Executive 01 2. Sales Manager – BTA (Hanoi) 01 3. Sale & Reservation Executive – UK Agent (Hanoi) 01 4. Travel consultant_BTA (SGN) 02 For detail job description, please visit our website at: http://www.buffalotours.com/about-us/careers.html Please send us email to: nhanh@buffalotours.com if you would like to apply or if you know any qualified candidates. Thank you.
Overcome The Awkward Silence Discussions during meetings can be feast or famine. Either you can’t get a word in edgewise or no one speaks up. Next time your meeting falls silent, try these tactics: • Let it be. Wait a moment before breaking the silence and offering a suggestion. The group may need time to reflect on an idea. • Name it. Call out what’s happening, and ask the group about it, “It seems we’ve gone quiet. Does anyone want to talk about what’s going on?” Take a break. Sometimes a short break gives people the chance to refocus.
I believe everything I have been given in life, good or bad, is always for the best.
16 Inspirational Travel
Inspirational Travel 17
& Anniversaries
THE CON TRĂ‚U TIMES
Birthdays
Birthdays: Nguyen Thi Mai Lan Phatchadaphon Netibud Luyen Kim Sau Phan Thi Kim Ngoc Vu Minh Hieu Natthapat Verawattanaporn Dang Hong Hai Nguyen Van Hung Ly Man Nghi Tran Thanh Loan Pornrapat Chimpee Thai Thi Kim Nhut Cao Thi Minh Ngoc Vu Thi Ngoc Thao Phung Quoc Tuyen
1-Jul 2-Jul 2-Jul 3-Jul 6-Jul 10-Jul 11-Jul 20-Jul 22-Jul 23-Jul 25-Jul 27-Jul 29-Jul 29-Jul 31-Jul
German sales Accountant Ticketing Executive Accountant Agent sale executive - Team Leader Chief Accountant Driver Technitian Chinese Inbound Manager - Cholon Tours Agent sale executive Reservations Executive Guide - Cholon Tours GR executive - Team Leader Chief Accountant Guide - Cholon Tours
Anniversaries: Nguyen Trung Cong Le Dinh Chien Ho Viet Ha Nguyen Thi Bich Van Ha Thi Hue Pham Thi Khanh Ly Hoang Ngoc Loc Nguyen Manh Cuong Pham Ngoc Minh Ta Thi Tham Sayan MongPho
18 Inspirational Travel
CTO Project CFO Finance Controller Agent sale executive Online sales Tour guide Tour guide Tour guide Airport Rep. Driver
03 years in services 03 years in services 03 years in services 03 years in services 06 years in service 04 years in service 05 years in service 07 years in services 07 years in services 03 years in services 02 years in services