Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam family vacation

Planet

Carbon Reductions

In a world where travel can significantly impact carbon emissions, this itinerary is designed to mitigate its environmental footprint. Throughout the journey, low-emission transportation is prioritized. For instance, traveling by boat along the Nam Ou and Mekong rivers significantly reduces vehicle use, allowing you to explore the landscape sustainably. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, exploring by motorbike also conserves energy and emissions while immersing you in the cities' vibrant culture. Additionally, the Dragon Legend Junk on Bai Tu Long Bay emphasises eco-friendly operations, minimising waste and maximising resource conservation. With an eye on sustainable travel, this itinerary takes steps to lower carbon emissions at every turn, preserving the beautiful destinations you explore for generations to come.

Environment and Wildlife

This journey through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam includes remarkable ecosystems and wildlife experiences that prioritise respect for nature. In Luang Prabang, visiting the Kuang Si Waterfalls supports local conservation efforts that protect these pristine waters and surrounding forests. On Bai Tu Long Bay, you’ll witness the untouched beauty of limestone karsts while the eco-conscious Dragon Legend Cruise ensures minimal environmental impact, safeguarding this unique ecosystem and marine life.

Whenever possible we work with suppliers who have a demonstrated commitment to environmental sustainability – by, for example, avoiding single-use plastics. We are currently working with our transport providers here in Vietnam to supply drinking water tanks in all vehicles to support our travelers using refillable bottles. Both our offices in Vietnam are participating refill stations in the RefillMyBottle (https://refillmybottle.com) program, offering a feasible alternative to the ubiquitous plastic bottles which are such a big part of the litter problem in our region.

This tour also includes an amazing experience with elephants at Mandalao Elephant Conservation in Laos. We are very happy to be able to cooperate with Mandalao, as we fully support their efforts to provide a non-riding experience allowing visitors to connect with elephants within their natural environment, to as great an extent as possible. The emphasis on education, on protecting both domesticated elephants and those in the wild, and successful cultivation of sustainable relationships with the local community, are all reasons why we choose to offer this experience on our tours.

People

Local Economy and Employment

Supporting the local economy and creating employment opportunities is a core objective of this tour. Each destination—whether a Hmong village near Luang Prabang or a pottery village along the Mekong River—offers opportunities to engage directly with local craftspeople, artists, and guides. For instance, in Siem Reap, visiting the lesser-known temple of Beng Mealea provides income opportunities for nearby rural communities, which often rely on tourism. Additionally, each visit to local markets, from Can Tho’s floating market to Hanoi’s Ngoc Ha Market, contributes directly to small-scale vendors, artisans, and food producers, enriching their livelihoods and boosting the local economy.

Inclusivity and Diversity

This itinerary champions inclusivity and celebrates the cultural diversity of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. From the daily alms-giving ritual in Luang Prabang to the Khmer and Cham cultural sites in Cambodia, the tour offers immersive experiences that respect and honour local traditions. Activities such as the Baci ceremony in Luang Prabang and Vespa tours in Ho Chi Minh City bridge cultural divides by inviting you to partake in unique, traditional practices. These experiences are led by knowledgeable, local guides and often include interactions with community members, fostering genuine connections across cultures and backgrounds. By encouraging dialogue and interaction, this tour supports a diverse, inclusive travel experience that fosters mutual understanding and respect.

As a local tour company in Vietnam, we well understand that tourism growth does not always translate into increased opportunity for local people. As a result, we work hard to ensure that our tours play a part in putting tourism income into the hands of local people. In order to accomplish this, we place a strong emphasis on:
- Employing local guides, who have the best knowledge of and insight into the local communities we visit, and can best connect visitors with local people. On this tour, as on all our tours, you will have a different guide in each region, as all our guides specialize in the area of their expertise.
- Cooperating with other locally run suppliers, such as local artisan cooperatives which we rely on to provide authentic traditional gifts for travelers. We also use locally-run restaurants when quality options are available, as well as charity association restaurants, such as Hoa Sua or Koto in Hanoi, which provide invaluable vocational training for disadvantaged local youth.
- Mekong Rustic, our provider for the Mekong Delta portion of this tour, focuses on low-impact tours which positively impact both visitor and host, working to create sustainable tourism opportunities embedded within local communities. The experience for the visitor is an authentic window into local life, and locals benefit through fair-wage jobs and training offered, as well as through direct support such as scholarship programs for students and funding housing construction for the poor.
We are an active member of The Responsible Travel Club of Vietnam (RTC) and adhere to the RTC programme and policy to support locals.