Cycle Vietnam, small group tours with added comfort

Planet

Carbon Reduction

The way we operate this trip helps to minimise the purchase and waste caused by single-use plastic as much as we can. Before traveling, we advise customers to take reusable water bottles, preferably with an inbuilt filter, and reusable lunch boxes such as tupperware to use for picnic lunches whilst cycling and journeying on the overnight train. Our local Vietnamese partners also carry 20 litre water containers on their buses which are refilled throughout the trip and from where customers are encouraged to refill their personal water bottles.
On this cycling trip, we explore Vietnam's cities, villages and countryside by bike, thus minimising the carbon footprint of our travel. We also choose to take the overnight train between Hanoi and Hue rather than fly, allowing you to take in more of the country with a lower carbon-emission.
In our office, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.
As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.

Environment and Wildlife

We have worked with our in-country partners in Vietnam for over 25 years, a partnership that has seen tourism in Vietnam grow and mature along with our own businesses. During this time, we worked together with them to switch from sending UK based tour leaders with our groups to using local Vietnamese tour leaders. We helped to recruit and train a team of local tour leaders that is now over 35 strong. One of the reasons we prefer to use local tour leaders is that they can give a real insight into the culture and history of their home country by sharing their own stories and experiences. In addition we are helping to support them financially through employment, as well as the other members of staff of our in-country partners.
We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.
We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

Local Economy

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travelers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.
There are many opportunities to support local craftspeople and cottage industries on this trip through purchasing their wares. As many of our walks take us away from the main tourist centers into villages traditionally associated with these crafts, we are able to spread the economic benefit of our visit into more rural areas.
We also include a dinner at the famous KOTO restaurant. KOTO (Know One, Teach One) is a social enterprise restaurant, renowned for its mission to provide disadvantaged young people with vocational training and life skills. Dining at KOTO is more than just a meal, it's an experience that'll connect us with the local community and supports a noble cause.

Employment, Inclusivity and Diversity

We believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.
Our agent in Vietnam has always shown a keen interest in contributing to the community which is coupled with its endeavour to raise the awareness of environmental protection within the company and the local community. Corporate social responsibility has long been a guide in their business planning and operation. We are working closing together to constantly improve our carbon emission and help the local communities.