Vietnam and Cambodia tour, along the mighty Mekong

Planet

Our ground agents take caring for the environment around the Mekong Delta, and throughout Cambodia and Vietnam very seriously. The staff organise regular clean-ups of the areas they visit to ensure that no wildlife is hurt by left litter and that the area remains pristine and unspoiled.

During your trip you will visit Nam Cat Tien National Park. The park helps to protect the forest and animals within it, especially the Asian primates which are risk of extinction. Rangers in the park work to keep the waterways clean and protect the parks resident animals from poachers and illegal loggers. Surveys are carried out regularly on the small population of Javan Rhinoceros, and the park provides the opportunity for these endangered species to breed. Rangers also carry out a range of forestry activities: regular tree plantings, preventing illegal logging and protecting the area from the demand to clear the way for crops to be planted rather than trees. Their ‘sponsor a tree’ initiative is supported by the WWF.

Eco-tourism plays a vital role in the parks upkeep. By paying to enter the park as part of your itinerary you are contributing towards its upkeep and the employment of local guides and rangers. Visitors to the park can also pay to take a day trip to visit one of the several ethnic communities who call the park their home. Visits take place by bike or river boat – helping to limit vehicles within the park– and visitors have the chance to witness daily life and purchase a range of handicrafts.

Throughout your trip you will employ several modes of transport for accessing sites – many of which are eco-friendly and kind on the environment. For example, you will enter Nam Cat Thien National Park by canoe and explore it by bicycle., soar over Angkor in a tethered balloon and spend plenty of time exploring on foot – the best way to really get to the heart of the country.

Throughout your journey along the Mekong, you will be escorted by local guides who will show you how to travel through the Delta responsibly, to ensure that you take nothing more with you than incredible memories and photographs. Your trip includes visits to historical sites and ancient temples – it is vital that these places are maintained and left as undisturbed as possible for future generations so we ask that you take care when exploring these sites and leave any loose rocks or artefacts there. By booking a tour through Odyssey World and our local ground agents,

People

During your trip you will stay with a local family in their home. This gives you an unforgettable opportunity to see how they live day to day, while helping to support them. You will have the chance to learn the trades of the family, help prepare dinner, discover more about their daily life and share their food and hospitality.

Our ground agents are all natives of Vietnam and Cambodia and come from the areas around the Mekong Delta. They are always looking for new ideas for sustainable tourism to help protect the area they work in, while still encouraging visitors to their countries.

They also work closely with local charities to help support their community. Their first project is with a Secondary School in Binh in the Mekong Delta – they have provided the equipment and resources needed to supply two classrooms in the school. Their second project is to help provide sanitary equipment in a primary school in Cai Be.

Local guides are employed throughout your trip who will show you how to travel through the Delta responsibly. The employment of local guides gives you the best insight into this fascinating country and helps to support their families and communities and bring wealth into the area.