Passion Drives Da Lat Graduates to Choose Swim Coaching Careers
A growing number of university graduates in Da Lat are turning away from their trained fields to pursue careers as swimming coaches, driven by a shared passion for the sport and a rising local demand for water safety.
Choosing the Pool Over the Office
Among those who have traded their degrees for the poolside is Nguyen Chi Thanh, 33, from Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward. Despite graduating with a degree in Biology from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, Thanh chose to become a full-time swim coach. He credits the job for aligning with his love for swimming, physical activity, and social interaction, while offering professional autonomy.
Thanh’s passion began in the second grade during a basic course at a heated pool in Da Lat. By the eighth grade, he was already assisting with classes. While at university, he managed to pay for his tuition by teaching at major pools in Ho Chi Minh City, while simultaneously earning basic to advanced coaching certifications from the Vietnam Aquatic Sports Sports Federation. He has since returned to his hometown to teach at local heated pools.
A similar path was taken by Dinh The Duy, 31, also from Xuan Huong - Da Lat Ward. After graduating with a degree in Multimedia Communications from FPT Polytechnic College Ho Chi Minh City in 2017, Duy bypassed the media industry to stick with swim coaching. According to Duy, the profession offers stable employment as parents increasingly prioritize drowning prevention skills for their children.
The profession is also seeing a rise in female coaches. Lam Thi Hoang Yen, 33, from Lam Vien - Da Lat Ward, a former English teacher with a degree in English Linguistics from Da Lat University, recently transitioned into swim coaching. She specializes in teaching young girls, noting that many families specifically request female instructors for their daughters.
High Demand and Hidden Hardships
As the administrative and tourism center of Lam Dong Province, Da Lat maintains year-round demand for swimming instruction, with enrollment surging during the three-month summer vacation period.
Coaches work with a wide range of learners, from toddlers learning water familiarization skills to adults seeking swimming for health and rehabilitation purposes.
Despite its appeal, instructors say the profession requires considerable dedication and resilience.
According to Thanh, spending long hours in the water and daily exposure to pool chemicals can negatively affect skin, hair, and overall health. Female coaches often face greater challenges in this regard.
He suggested that more attention should be given to occupational support policies, particularly for women working in the profession.
Another challenge is the high cost of operating heated swimming pools in Da Lat’s cool climate. Significant investment is required for construction, heating systems, and maintenance, resulting in relatively high ticket prices and training fees.
Local coaches hope authorities and investors will support the development of additional swimming facilities, helping expand access to swimming education and water-safety training for the wider community.