Peace Tour: Pioneer in Vietnam Travel Sector

Early 1990s, the local tourism market faced many difficulties. Therefore, the company just focused on restaurant and wedding party business. One year later, it expanded to tourist transport. Despite having modest capital, the firm still decided to invest in this sector by buying cars under deferred payments. In June 1991, the company started working as an air ticket agent for both domestic and foreign airlines, becoming the first travel company in Vietnam equipped with Sita and Abacus system which is used for ticket booking on international flights. Peace Tour gained Vietnam Airlines’ award for high revenues. It is known for being the first applying computer advancement to introduce its products on CD-Rom. The firm is also among the first with internet connected to the Exit and Entry Management Department to help complete procedures for passengers more conveniently and quickly.

 

Today, Peace Tour is paying attention to developing the local market and opens offices in several cities and provinces in the north, central and south. The company now has a strong team of cars to serve travelers.

Besides, it has carried out hotel and restaurant projects in many localities nationwide. In 2003, the company formed Hoa An Construction and Real Estate Trading Joint Stock Company. In 2004, Hoa Giang Joint Stock Company was set up, building a sea-encroachment restaurant in southern Kien Giang province and joining hands with several local investors to build four-star Saigon-Quy Nhon hotel. Peace Tour also opened a representative office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In 2006, it put into use travel cars in Cambodia and established Hoa Binh Real Estate Company in 2007. This was considered as an important step for the firm’s market expansion in the region. Last year, it inaugurated two restaurants namely Hoa Cau and Hoa Dang in Kien Giang. The restaurants can serve 2,000 visitors.

 

The company has achieved increasing growth, gaining a firm foothold in the local and international market. It has 225 staffs, five offices and contributed capital to five partners.

 

Specialising in travel and cultural activities, Peace Tour always concentrates on maintaining national cultural identify, particularly Vietnamese people’s traditional hospitality. The majority of its staffs are women, which is a special thing for the company. High determination of heroines in past fights against enemies as well as their thoughtfulness and carefulness make successes for the company. Peace Tour Co. is now a warm house for all staffs to develop their ability.

The firm, an affiliate of Central Vietnam Women’s Union, not only operates in travel sector but also actively participates in the union’s activities such as financial support for the union’s members and social activities like building charity houses and health centres; taking care of 62 Vietnamese hero mothers  and carrying poverty reduction programmes.

For its efforts, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Vietnam Tourism Association have listed the company in the top ten of travel firms for the nine successive years (1999 - 2007). In 2003, it won the title of Labour Hero in the renovation time and many certificates of merit.

Flexibility, creativeness and enthusiasm of the company’s leaders and staffs are also key factors to make the successes. Director Nguyen Thi Hoa Le proves her important role in the firm management. When asked about keys to become a successful director and a member of Presidium of the Central Vietnam Women’s Union, she said “A female director must know how to arrange the work and be in harmony with staffs. More importantly, she must anticipate lantern risks. As for me, to fulfill the role of being a good director, besides virtuous characters, woman must have a vision and especially passion. For her attempt, she received the government’s title of Labour Hero and Vietnamese outstanding woman.

MN