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On this trip: By using a local Vietnamese ground agent and employing professional local Group Leaders we are able to make a real difference to the areas our groups journey through on this trip. Using family run hotels and eating in local restaurants we are able to distribute income into local economies evenly throughout our visit. Working closely with our ground agents, we support the Binh Luc Children’s Centre near Hanoi. Established in 1990, it provides a home for 41 orphans aged between 6 and 15 years old. Groups will have the opportunity to visit the centre during their stay in the area. Small gifts of; clothes (remember Vietnamese children are smaller than those in the UK), writing paper, pens, pencils and crayons, and sports equipment are always welcomed should travellers wish to donate and the local industry can further be supported if these things are purchased locally. Continued donations from our ground agent in Vietnam have already improved nutrition at the centre considerably. Other recent improvements include a better dining room and kitchen, and separate toilet building.
Our return to Hanoi from Halong Bay travels via the Sao Do Charity Centre. Set up in the early 90’s by a war veteran to help disabled children in the region, the centre was initially a small factory producing handicrafts, such as embroidery and stone carving to sell through shops in Hanoi and Saigon. Recently, they opened to people travelling to / from Halong Bay, allowing the centre to sell their products directly to the public. The centre now employs over 100 physically and mentally disabled people, allowing them to make a reasonable income on top of their lodging, food and training.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us.
Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Other charities that we work closely with include Born Free Foundation and The Travel Foundation, a UK charity that has been established to promote responsible travel practices throughout the whole of the travel industry.
Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full.
Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book.
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