Tran Ba Duy

Tran Ba Duy – Founder of Autour Asia and Expert in Tourism Across Southeast Asia

About Tran Ba Duy

Tran Ba Duy is the founder of Autour Asia, a locally based French-speaking travel agency specializing in tailor-made journeys throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. For more than two decades, he has dedicated his career to inbound tourism for French-speaking travelers, building his expertise on authenticity, in-depth local knowledge, and a long-term commitment to customer satisfaction.

His vision is simple: to create meaningful travel experiences designed by local experts who genuinely know the destinations they recommend.

Academic Background in French Language

Passionate about the French language and culture from an early age, Tran Ba Duy studied at the Faculty of French Language, Hanoi University (HANU), one of Vietnam's leading institutions for French language education and Francophone studies.

His academic background enabled him to develop advanced French language proficiency while gaining a deep understanding of the cultural expectations and travel preferences of visitors from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and French-speaking Canada.

In addition to his university education, he earned the Professional Certificate in International Tour Operations and Management in 2018, further strengthening his expertise in travel planning, tour operations, logistics, and destination management.

Professional Experience Built in the Field

Before founding his own travel company, Tran Ba Duy gained valuable hands-on experience working in several hotels that primarily served international travelers.

He worked as a receptionist at hotels located in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, including:

Prince Hotel – 24 Quan Su Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nam Hai Hotel – 55 Duong Thanh Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Viet Anh Hotel – 11 Ma May Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

Working directly with guests from France, Europe, the United States, and Australia, he assisted travelers on a daily basis while organizing excursions to many of Vietnam's most iconic destinations, including:

Hanoi
Halong Bay
Ninh Binh
Tam Coc
Sapa
Ha Giang
Mai Chau
Pu Luong

This close interaction with international visitors gave him first-hand insight into their expectations, travel habits, cultural preferences, and the practical challenges they face when planning a trip to Southeast Asia.

Professional French-speaking Tour Guide Across Southeast Asia

Between 2004 and 2008, Tran Ba Duy worked as a professional French-speaking tour guide, accompanying numerous Francophone travel groups throughout Southeast Asia.

He successfully led tours across:

Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Thailand
Myanmar (Burma)

After guiding hundreds of departures, he developed extensive expertise in:

cultural itineraries,
historical heritage,
local traditions,
regional gastronomy,
transportation systems,
tour logistics,
and the unique expectations of French-speaking travelers.

This extensive field experience remains one of the foundations of the travel expertise that defines Autour Asia today.

A Personal Journey Across France

In 2012, Tran Ba Duy traveled to France to reconnect with several long-standing clients while gaining a deeper understanding of French culture and the expectations of Francophone travelers. During this journey, he explored the country from Paris to Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Cannes, and the Principality of Monaco.

This experience further enriched his understanding of French culture and continues to help him design travel experiences that better match the expectations of visitors from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec.

More Than 8,000 Tailor-Made Tours Successfully Organized

Between 2005 and 2019, Tran Ba Duy worked alongside a co-founder to design, organize, and manage more than 8,000 private tours across Southeast Asia.

During this period, over 25,000 international travelers trusted him to discover:

Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Thailand
Myanmar

His operational experience covers every stage of a successful travel experience, including:

designing personalized itineraries,
selecting and booking accommodations,
coordinating French-speaking tour guides,
arranging transportation and logistics,
handling unexpected situations,
and providing personalized assistance before, during, and after each journey.

Years of hands-on operational management have enabled him to develop a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of inbound tourism, ensuring that each trip is carefully planned and smoothly executed.

Developing an Eco-Lodge in the Heart of Pu Luong

Between 2019 and 2022, Tran Ba Duy partnered with two co-founders to develop a 31-room eco-lodge in Pu Luong Nature Reserve, located in Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam.

Nestled among the region's spectacular terraced rice fields, the property was created with a strong commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental responsibility.

The project emphasized:

seamless integration with the surrounding natural landscape,
environmentally friendly architecture,
support for local ethnic communities,
sustainable tourism practices,
and authentic cultural experiences for international travelers.

Through this project, Tran Ba Duy gained valuable expertise in hospitality management, eco-tourism development, resort operations, and sustainable destination management.

The Creation of Autour Asia

In 2023, Tran Ba Duy founded Autour Asia, a locally owned travel company dedicated to providing authentic, tailor-made journeys throughout Vietnam and Southeast Asia for French-speaking travelers.

Built upon more than two decades of practical experience, Autour Asia was established with a clear mission:

"To exceed every traveler's expectations."

Today, Autour Asia is recognized as one of Vietnam's trusted French-speaking local travel agencies, offering fully customized journeys designed by local destination specialists.

Supported by a passionate team of experienced travel consultants, guides, and local experts, the company primarily serves travelers from:

France
Belgium
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Quebec (Canada)

Every itinerary is carefully designed around the agency's core values:

authentic local encounters,
tailor-made travel experiences,
responsible and sustainable tourism,
cultural immersion,
personalized French-speaking assistance,
and exceptional customer service from the first inquiry until the end of the journey.

Autour Asia believes that every trip should be unique, meaningful, and created around each traveler's interests rather than following standardized tour programs.

A Reputation Built on Trust

Since its establishment, Autour Asia has earned the trust of thousands of international travelers seeking authentic and personalized journeys across Southeast Asia.

Today, the agency has received more than 1,000 five-star reviews on internationally recognized travel platforms, including:

Google Maps
Tripadvisor
Le Routard
Trustpilot

These reviews consistently highlight:

outstanding travel planning,
responsive and professional customer service,
fully personalized itineraries,
knowledgeable French-speaking travel consultants,
and dedicated support before, during, and after every journey.

This strong reputation reflects Autour Asia's commitment to delivering high-quality travel experiences and building long-term relationships with travelers from around the world.

Areas of Expertise

Over more than two decades in the tourism industry, Tran Ba Duy has developed extensive expertise in a wide range of travel-related fields, including:

Tailor-made travel in Vietnam
Private tours across Southeast Asia
French-speaking inbound tourism
Tour operations and destination management
Eco-tourism and sustainable travel
Hospitality and resort management
Development of local travel agencies
Management of French-speaking tour guides
Customer experience and service excellence
Tourism marketing and digital transformation
Cross-cultural communication between Southeast Asia and French-speaking countries

His practical experience allows him to combine strategic planning with on-the-ground operational expertise, ensuring that every itinerary is both authentic and professionally executed.

Why Trust Tran Ba Duy?

With more than 20 years of hands-on experience, over 8,000 tailor-made tours organized, and the trust of more than 25,000 international travelers, Tran Ba Duy has established himself as one of Vietnam's experienced professionals in French-speaking inbound tourism.

His expertise extends far beyond designing travel itineraries. Throughout his career, he has worked as a hotel receptionist, a professional French-speaking tour guide, a tour operator, an eco-lodge developer, and now the founder and director of Autour Asia. This diverse background gives him a comprehensive understanding of every stage of the travel experience, from the first inquiry to the successful completion of each journey.

Rather than offering standardized packages, Tran Ba Duy believes that every traveler deserves a unique itinerary designed around personal interests, travel pace, and cultural curiosity. This philosophy has become the foundation of Autour Asia and continues to guide the company's commitment to authenticity, quality, and responsible tourism.

Today, through Autour Asia, Tran Ba Duy continues to share his passion for Vietnam and Southeast Asia by creating meaningful, tailor-made travel experiences for French-speaking travelers from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Quebec, and many other countries.

His mission remains unchanged:

To create authentic journeys, foster genuine cultural connections, and consistently exceed travelers' expectations through local expertise, personalized service, and responsible tourism.