Vietnam & China vacation

Environment

Northern Vietnam and Southern Yunnan are both areas reknowned for their pristine, undeveleped environment - stunningly beautiful, we aim to keep it that way! We are very aware of the economic, ecological and ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures and fragile environments. We realise that taking clients through such a region can have a negative impact on the environment if not handled responsibly and as such, on all of our trips we go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive… after all, there are also many good things that the traveler can bring.

Our “Leave No Trace” ethic is applied to this trip to China and Vietnam. We have a strict environmental policy to make sure that the fragile eco-structure of the land is not damaged or spoilt in any way. Our guides are trained to uphold this policy and all clients are fully briefed on appropriate/responsible behaviour whilst in wilderness areas. On this trip you will go off the beaten track and see places seldom visited by tourists, places that haven't yet been affected by tourism so it will be vitually important not to leave any litter.

In each area we employ and develop close relationships with drivers and guides. We feel the interaction between our friends and our clients offers both parties a valuable understanding between cultures.

By keeping the group size to a maximum of 12, we can also minimise the human impact on the fragile sites we visit – particularly important as this trip visits some remote sites that aren’t policed by tourist regulators.

When you take one of our trips, we make a contribution to “Carbon Clear” – an organisation devoted to ‘offsetting’ or ‘neutralising’ harmful greenhouse gas emissions caused by your flight. This is done by funding projects across the world that will reduce greenhouse gases on your behalf through sustainable energy or rainforest restoration. We also support several NGOs around the world such as the Hope Foundation, A-Cet and Adopt-A-Minefield, which are all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit.

Community

How this trip makes a difference:
· Visiting the hill tribes of Northern Vietnam & staying in homestays here allows funds to go directly to local communities
·Visiting local markets with the opportunity to buy local produce
·Staying at a very traditional Chinese hotel in Jianshui and visiting the historical town here – supporting tourism here means there is less chance the authorities may “redevelop” the town.

As with any trip that visits ethnic minorities, the tour operator has a responsibility to ensure that traditions, culture and local practices are respected. This trip really gets beneath the surface of the landscape, meeting some of the less fortunate people of these troubled countries. Such visits not only help the communities financially but also break down boundaries over decades of misunderstanding. It will enable close interaction with clients and local people offering the chance to see how people live and learn about their livelihoods and culture through first-hand experience. Secondly and probably most importantly, you will be contributing directly communities and homes some of those most in need.

In order to facilitate an enduring support structure for the communities we visit, and to show a commitment to these values, in January 2009 we set up a charitable foundation through which we can directly channel funds to both existing NGOs and our own development projects. In addition to organising ethically sensitive tours, having our own charitable foundation allows us to raise money – through the cost of our tours, charity trips and fund raising events – which can then be used to fund various projects in education, sanitation, reforestations and a number of other important issues facing developing communities.