Most rail tours of Vietnam and many Cambodia and Laos tours are escorted by Frank O’Brien; a former LTCOL in the Australian Army who served as a soldier/linguist in South Vietnam during 1969/70. (1)
As a young soldier, Frank studied Vietnamese in Australia for a year and then spent his tour of Vietnam living within the local community at Ba Ria, in Phuoc Tuy Province. The experience led him to continue his studies of the language, culture and history of Vietnam long after he returned home in 1970.
Frank has returned regularly to Vietnam since 1989. On one visit, in 1992, he participated in the very 1st "rail tour" ever conducted in Vietnam. After that tour he left the Army and became a tour guide/escort on Dorothy Button’s (Vietnam Ventures) rail tours in Vietnam. In 1995 he started a small import/retail business and by 1996 he ceased touring but continued visiting Vietnam on business - sometime later (before 2000) Dorothy closed her rail tour business.
In 2003, following renewed and growing demand by Australian tourists and encouragement by the Vietnamese Government, he set about resurrecting the rail tourism sector in Vietnam and established his own travel company:
FRANKO’S Rail Tours of VIETNAM
Over the years he has witnessed the war era, the years of economic hardship, and the later re-emergence of Vietnam as an intriguing tourist destination following years of isolation from the West. After more than 50 visits, he remains fascinated by the people, their past, their future and their beautiful country.
His passion is THE TRAIN!
His football team is the mighty GEELONG CATS!
Note: (1) At least one tour each year is organised and escorted by Frank’s daughter, Natalie. "Nat" is an experienced traveller and tour escort who has the happy "knack" of leading happy tour groups. Besides touring, Natalie also assists in the travel office, advises travel clients, and designs tour itineraries ...so when you call FRANKO’S you will likely be chatting with Nat.
TOUR GUIDES
Besides an Australian tour manager (Rail Tours) on tour with you, FRANKO’S employ the services of a national guide (Vietnamese) to accompany each tour group for the duration of the tour.
Our guides do more than show you the sights, they become your best friends on tour! Need laundry done? Help with finding an address you want to visit? Not up to drinking warm beer (like most other tour groups)?
Fear not ...our guides are informative, friendly and very helpful towards ensuring your tour becomes a great holiday.
UPDATE: MAY 2010 Frank recently visited Laos again ...to enjoy a break after 2 back-to-back rail tours ...but most importantly to road-test a proposed 2 day extension to FRANKO’S time proven 5 day Laos tour. The trip from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan was truly memorable - 270km eastwards from the Mekong , over the mountains, through local villages, to the most heavily bombed region of the planet (60s 70s war) on the plains of NE Laos, and our real objective: the mysterious, ancient, PLAIN of JARS.
The new 7 Day/6 Night Laos itinerary was a great success. We had all seen a lot of Asia ...but this offered something truly special - wonderful scenery, good hotels, interesting locals, and a grand sense of adventure ...something different! It’s on the List! See "Group Tours - Laos". *See peaceful Luang Prabang before the inevitable tourist crowds ...take yourself back to another time.
Frank calls it "nineteen fifty seven" ...you soon see why!
Information / Presentation Nights
For Club/Association organisers: Frank and/or Natalie are happy to respond to any requests to provide a Presentation or information session to your club members. Our formal presentation is around 40-45 minutes (including DVD) then happy to respond to questions from attendees. A Free DVD will be available to audience members.
Interested persons/clubs should contact us initially on 0414 403038 or via email to: feonsnotes@yahoo.com.au
The French Connection
- The Perfume Salesman! During an Army sponsored language study trip to Vietnam in 1989, Frank discovered that the Vietnamese produced very good perfumes ...a legacy of Vietnam’s French colonial period. In 1995 he established a work-from-home company - FEONS P/L, and began importing perfumes called "Sai Gon" and "Co Saigon" (Miss Saigon) into Australia and selling them via mail-order. Along came the internet and FEONS began reaching customers around the globe.
Besides perfumes, FEONS’ product/gift line has today grown to include an eclectic offering of: hand-made SILK TIES, microfibre SILK SHIRTS, and cotton CARGO VESTS for the guys, ...plus a ’magic’ medicated (massage or inhalent) oil, and a fantastic range of MARBLE statuary - all sourced from Vietnam of course!
Most rail tours of Vietnam and many Cambodia and Laos tours are escorted by 
