Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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If you’re interested in fair trade and are looking for an opportunity to meet the people behind the products then this is the holiday for you. Global adventures start with a local perspective – that's our philosophy. We focus on creating the most enjoyable holiday for our customers while benefiting the local people, economy and respecting the environment.
Traidcraft is the UK's leading fair trade organisation engaged in innovative and effective trade, and has been fighting poverty through trade since 1979. They work at the national and international level advocating changes in trade rules to make them work in the interests of the poor and mobilise public opinion to support fairer trade practices. Traidcraft sales are now worth more than GB £12 million a year, providing vital income for producers in over 30 countries.
Spending time with Traidcraft’s artisan suppliers, Craft Link and Mai Handicrafts you will visit many producer groups from pottery to crochet to woodwork. Craft Link works with 47 groups involving 5000 artisans in northern Vietnam helping to sell handicrafts locally and internationally to fair trade organisations. Goals include cultural preservation, income generation for small Vietnamese artisans and acquiring new markets in a changing economy. Artisans working with Craft Link receive tools, interest-free loans, education, training and literacy classes.
Working with our local partner, on fair trade terms, this itinerary offers an opportunity to see first hand how fair trade works in Vietnam and how Traidcraft’s effective sustainable trading and development projects can improve the lives of the local people while providing a general insight into different areas of Vietnam, its culture and its people.
Enjoying meals in local restaurants, spending evenings onboard trains and boats and in the homes of Vietnamese families, you participate and connect with the local culture providing a richer holiday experience.
We make sure that the local communities benefit directly. The range of accommodation and restaurants on this trip is designed to give you a sense of the history and culture of the area as well as the modern way of life. By collaborating with locally based people when visiting different areas we are able to contribute to the regional economy.
We provide guests with Travellers’ Codes to encourage the reduction of water usage, systems for collecting, recycling or safe disposal of litter and relevant suggestions to minimise damage to the environment, wildlife and marine ecosystems. All our holidays have a maximum group size of 12 to 14 people minimizing both the social and environmental impact. There is also the option to carbon-offset your flights.
Voted one of the Best Tour Operators in two categories in the Guardian / Observer Travel Awards 2010.
Voted in February 2010, by The Guardian newspapers list of experts as one of the top 75 outstanding green travel companies in the Guardian Green Travel List 2010. In 2011 the public and a panel of experts chose the tours to be featured as one of the top sustainable holidays in the Guardian's Green Travel List 2011.
Winner of the Guardian Observer Award for Best Small Short Break Tour Operator, runner up in the Online Booking Award and Best Small Tour Operator Award 2011.
Fair trade is at the heart of how this tour company operates, their principles include paying a fair price for services and developing long term relationships with their partners. These enlightening trips create real connections between travellers and the communities they visit. Guests get to see how certain products are made, who grows the coffee they drink or weaves the basket that sits on their mantelpiece, and the producers really enjoy seeing the people who buy their wares and how valued their products are. All tours are set up in conjunction with local guides who really know how to best showcase their country.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
