Off the beaten track Vietnam holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 16 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
This trip tries to avoid the use of large buses tours of cities and instead use cyclo rides which not only help to support local are a great way to help the local environment. On this trip cyclo’s are used in your visit to Hoi An and Hanoi.
Throughout this trip we encourage all of our travellers to travel responsibly and offer advice on how they can best help local people through charitable donations and the purchase of certain goods. We also offer guidance, both verbal and written, on how travellers can best help and preserve the local environment. This covers water conservation in hotels and energy conservation throughout the trip.
This company is also committed to measuring and assuming responsibility for our carbon emissions. We have worked with Cleaner Climate to offset emissions from our Australian, United Kingdom and USA offices during 2011. The emission reductions are generated from Clean Technology (Kyoto compliant) projects in India (run-of-river hydro), Thailand (rice husk biomass), and China (hydro). These not only reduce emissions, but also contribute to the sustainable development of disadvantaged communities.
Community
On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different areas throughout Vietnam. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions.
On this trip you will have an opportunity whilst sailing down the Mekong Delta to stop and sample fruit at local orchards. In the valley of Mai Chau you will also experience a home-stay in a Tai family house which gives you insight into daily life here and an opportunity to support local people.
Within Vietnam this company also supports various charities and foundations including:
The Loreto Vietnam – Australia Programme: this inspirational organisation has operated as a registered charity association and non-government organisation (NGO) in Vietnam for ten years.
Creativity for Humanity: CFH’s mission is to build sustainable business enterprises in Vietnam’s handicraft sector by providing a platform linking designers and businesses with Vietnam’s underprivileged artisans.
Know One Teach One: KOTO has now trained nearly 250 Vietnamese street and disadvantaged kids to be chefs or bar & service staff. We have also been involved in various disaster relief campaigns across the country
This small group tour to Vietnam include visits to the Streets International in Hoi An and the Spiral Foundation in Hue. Both of which are not for profit organisations that aim to help Vietnamese form a grass-roots level.
Often from significantly disadvantaged backgrounds Streets provides young Vietnamese with skills, from front of house to qualified chef’s, in the hospitality industry that will last them a lifetime. Based from the streets Cafe and Restaurant ,we have arranged for some of the students at Streets to give members of our groups a walking tour of one of one of Hoi An’s rarely visited markets as well as a walking tour of some of Hoi An’s back-streets that are rarely seen by tourists. In a group of two or three, and with a supervisor from the organisation present, these tours will help the students earn valuable credits towards their qualifications and give our travellers a truly unique insight into everyday life in Hoi An. Upon returning to Streets Cafe and Restaurant you can relax with a cold drink and sample some of the cafe’s and students incredible food.
The Spiral foundation aims to help deaf and mute Vietnamese become self-sufficient and fully independent members of Vietnamese society. As artisans the employees of Spiral make jewellery and personal souvenirs with all profits going to various medical causes around Vietnam. As part of a small group you will see how they do this first hand and have a go at making your own souvenir to take away with you. We also make a donation for every client that visits the center that will hope will fund 15 open heart surgeries over the course of the year.
Our offices in Vietnam (Saigon, Danang and Hanoi) are staffed with local people wherever possible and we have a long term aim of filling management roles with competent local staff. This presence means we are much better able to control the content, the actions of our suppliers, and the style of our small group journey.
We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Vietnam’s beautiful natural environments. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that well-planned itineraries and well-informed tourists contribute positively to cross-cultural understanding and the livelihoods of local people.
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