Vietnam family adventure vacation, 14 days

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

In this itinerary we have limited the use of flights as much as possible by using an overnight train from the north to the central region. The rest of the time you will be driven in one of our local partners’ modern and fuel efficient vehicles, apart from when it is more fuel efficient to take a boat such as in Da Bac.

The vehicles are maintained to high standards and undergo a safety and emissions check before each trip and we also plan routes carefully to reduce unnecessary driving time. The vans' emissions are ~145 g CO2/km compared to local market averages of 170–200 g/km. The vacation includes several low carbon people-powered excursions such as hikes and nature walks and bike riding around the Mekong delta.

We also try to reduce food miles by using hotels that grow produce for their meals on site and the cooking class uses herbs from their own garden, seafood from local fisherfolk and fruit and vegetables from local growers to deliver fresh and crisp flavours.

As a result, the carbon emissions of the trip are 35–40% lower than a similar itinerary using hotels, domestic flights and full vehicle transport.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Guided trekking in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam’s first national park, supports conservation and wildlife protection efforts, while cycling tours in the Mekong Delta offer low-impact ways to explore nature and rural landscapes.

We choose small, locally owned hotels for all our trips and avoid large international chains. Wherever possible, we use accommodation that goes beyond the usual to reduce its environmental impact, such as the family-run ecolodge in Vinh Long, which is plastic free and has its own organic garden to supply the kitchen. The accommodations in Da Bac, Cuc Phong and the Mekong delta consume 30-50% less electricity than standard hotels.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

In the Mekong Delta, travelers stay at local ecolodges, join home-cooked meals, and experience life from a grassroots perspective, helping tourism benefits remain within host communities. Meals are taken at local restaurants or prepared by homestay hosts, directly supporting small businesses and local food producers.

Activities such as cycling, boating, and walking tours are operated by local guides, ensuring income flows back into the community. A visit to the water puppet village further supports the livelihoods of the community-run troupe, contributes to school workshops for local children, and helps preserve traditional culture.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Guests stay in Da Bac, a rural and pristine area, supporting a community tourism initiative involving Muong and Dao ethnic groups. This model promotes local ownership and profit sharing, while emphasising environmental conservation and the safeguarding of culture. Decisions are taken communally and everyone is encouraged to play a role in planning and implementation in whatever way they can.

Different families run their own businesses within the CBT, ranging from homestays and catering services to fish farms, kayak rentals and motorbike transportation. Homestays are owned and run by local families, half are owned by women, and all come from ethnic minorities.

Part of the profits raised from tourism go into a community fund, which is used for infrastructure projects such as clean water and waste projects, and jobs for local people. Homestay owners typically invest the extra income into their children’s education.

Also importantly, tourism has helped to bring traditional music and dance back into daily life so villagers can enjoy them alongside visitors. A new community center has been built in Sung using money from the CBT community fund. It’s now being used for elders to teach young people how to read and write the Dao language, which is still widely spoken.