Ms. Huynh Thi Thi is a tour guide working at Xuyen Mekong Co., Ltd (Ninh Kieu district). For nearly a year, her work has been negatively affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, about 5 months ago, Ms. Thi lost her job. Consequently, her life ended up in a stalemate. Through the circular on the implementation of donations to support tourist guides affected by the COVID-19 pandemic issued by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, Ms. Thi is eligible to submit a letter of request for financial assistance. “The letter of request for financial assistance was approved very quickly and the money was transferred to my bank account not long after”, Ms. Thi said excitedly.

As the first person to receive the financial support, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Trang, a freelance tour guide in Can Tho City, said: “3,710,000 VND for me right now is really meaningful. The sum of money helps me to overcome my difficulties. The financial support makes us, tour guides feel the care and encouragement from the Government”.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, said: “Up to now, the People's Committee of Can Tho city has decided to support 14 tour guides (phase 1), with the amount of 51,940,000 VND. That sum of money was transferred directly to the supported person's bank account. On August 9th, 2021, the People's Committee of Can Tho city issued Decision No. 1725/QD-UBND on the list of tour guides (12) receiving financial support (2nd phase), with the amount of 44,520,000 VND. The Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Can Tho City is coordinating with the Department of Finance to carry out the procedure for the second payment as soon as possible.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho city previously issued Official Letter No. 2422/SVHTTDL-QLDL dated July 9th, 2021 on the implementation of support for tour guides affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and sent it to the Can Tho Tourism Association, businesses, travel agencies, Can Tho Tour Guide Association. Under Decision No. 23/2021/QD-TTg dated July 07, 2021 of the Prime Minister on implementing supporting policies to employees and employers hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho city will have specific instructions on the subjects, conditions, dossiers, and other paperwork, for the tour guide to carry out the procedure. “In the coming time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho city will strengthen propaganda, and receive dossiers of tour guides according to the procedures to quickly submit to the People's Committee of Can Tho city for timely support, thus helping tour guides overcome difficulties due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan.

During the difficult time due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial support from the Government has helped tour guides overcome difficulties and give them the warmth and motivation to keep on sticking with their profession. Ms. Huynh Thi Thi said that the pandemic not only affected her but also the whole tourism industry. So what she wants most is for the pandemic to end quickly so that she can return to the job she loves and has been with for nearly 20 years. And tour guide Tran Thi Thuy Trang takes advantage of this free time to hone her skills and widen her knowledge so that when she returns to work, she will do better and more effectively.