Vietnam South to North photo tour

Planet

In Vietnam, we are very aware of the environmental impact of all aspects of our photography business. We use a local tour operator and a long-term professional local guide who speaks the local language to help us navigate intricate environmental issues.

Waste

Our number one concern is to reduce 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 in the hotel rather than small individual plastic bottles. We do not encourage gifts that will create unnecessary rubbish.

Hotels and Restaurants

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

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

Because this is a photography tour specializing in photographing local people, we think it is critically important to treat the local culture with the utmost respect.

Photograph with respect.

On this tour, we visit many religious sites. It is often the case that we see the main temples at each itinerary point. We know from experience that the central temple in any town is often the architectural highlight and the heart of the community. In this regard,we feel it is essential to contribute to its upkeep. Hence we pledge a $100 donation per photographer to be shared across the main temples we visit. On this tour, we promise to donate to the temples we visit in HCMC, Can Tho, Hoi An, Hue, and Hanoi.

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.

We support the community.

On this tour, we visit many villages that rely on income from local crafts, and NHP will always buy something appropriate after we take photos. 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.