North Vietnam Photography tour

Planet

In north Vietnam, we visit many hill tribes in rural areas and are aware of our environmental impact as tourists. We use a local tour operator and a long-term professional local guide who speaks the language to help us navigate intricate ecological issues.

Transport

We avoid internal flights. We feel it is better to travel at ground level as that is where the pictures are.

Waste

We are concerned about reducing plastic waste. We do not pack lunches or purchase food unnecessarily wrapped in plastic. We don't use plastic straws. We also try encouraging single-source clean water use rather than small individual plastic bottles. We do not encourage the purchase of gifts that will create unnecessary plastic.

Hotels and Restaurants

We advise all participants to use their A/C units, towels, and lights efficiently to avoid excessive electricity use. In addition, we use locally owned and run accommodations and restaurants, incorporating locally sourced produce to reduce unnecessary transportation.

Our Business

We do not have an office - we do not drive to work; all our staff work from home when not on the road. All correspondence is conducted electronically.

People

As this is a photography tour specializing in photographing local (often hill tribe) people, we think it critically important to treat the local culture with the utmost respect. Small group sizes We keep our tour sizes small, never more than eight photographers plus the leader, so we do not overwhelm those we photograph. All tour guides have an in-depth knowledge of local culture. We talk to our clients at length about customs and practices and how to respect them. We encourage learning a few basic phrases of the local language and some specific to photography, as we believe these few words go a long way in communicating and breaking down barriers. As we run the tour annually, we bring photos of the local people back to local communities the following year. Photograph with respect. On this tour, we visit many small hill tribe villages. Essential to the preservation of minority cultures is their unique textile designs. In this regard,  we feel it is necessary to contribute to its upkeep. Hence pledge a $100 donation per photographer to be shared across the weaving ( or similar) industry in the villages we visit. We also often encourage our photographers to buy a little something locally and advise that bargaining can be expected, but it should be respected that this is how it is done, and the aim is to end up paying a reasonable price for something that often entails much labour and skill to produce. We also advise on when it is suitable to tip people who have given us good service as, for many, this is a significant addition to their income. Finally, we encourage clients to act responsibly and with an insight and understanding of the host destination. Travel with respect We instruct on etiquette and dress, especially in the local temples or people's homes.