News Responsible Travel

Responsible Travel
News
Issue
1
2016
GREEN
JOURNEY in
Bai Tu Long bay
12-13
TRADITIONAL MUSIC
as a TOURISM PRODUCT
03
Community tourism
at Yen Duc village POSITIVE IMPACTS
16-17
A publication of Indochina Junk
Content
3
Traditional music as a tourism product
4-5
For a green Ha Long
6-7
Vocational training for the youth of Binh
Lieu
8
Indochina Junk participated in earth hour
2016 “little act, big influence”
9
Internal responsible tourism news
10
International responsible tourism news
11
Social enterprise: Sapa O’Chau
12-13
Green journey in Bai Tu Long bay
14-15
City tour by electric car transportation for
responsible tourism
16-17
Community tourism at Yen Duc village –
positive impacts
Indochina Junk
Halong head office:
06 Le Thanh Tong str,
Hon Gai, Halong, QuangNinh
Hanoi sales office:
58, Au Trieu str,
Hoan Kiem dist, Hanoi
Tel: (84-4) 3926 4085
Fax: (84-4) 3923 2560
Email: [email protected]
Find us on
/IndochinaJunkHalongBay
@indochinajunk
@indojunk
@indochinajunk
Traditional music is the priceless
cultural treasure of any nation, and
Vietnam is blessed with 7 national
genres - as recognized by UNESCO.
While other cultural factors may
exist over an entire region (spicy
foods in SE Asia for example),
music allows travelers a unique
way to identify the heartbeat of a
nation or even a single city. This
link between music and tourism
grows stronger and more respected
every year.
I
Responsible travel activities
ndochina Junk Company has as a core mission
- developing and presenting unique, traditional
tourism products to the customer. One of
example, the Yen Duc village community
tourism program, constantly receives positive
guest feedback with its water puppet show and
folk songs performances. Here, traditional music
has added an additional “level of attraction” to the
tourism product - increasing perceived value for
the customers.
In the spring of 2016, Indochina Junk Company
initiated a program to preserve traditional music in
Ha Long, Yen Duc and Binh Lieu. Maintaining the
traditional cultural value in our products is at the
heart of everything we do. To this end, we aligned
with professional musician Phan The Phung, a man
who loves traditional music with his entire heart.
Phan The Phung examined service sites at Yen
as a tourism
product
Duc Village, Binh Lieu and Ha Long Bay - creating
artistic spaces appropriate to the destination and
customer segment. Then the long job of training
musicians, performers and staff began.
The project clearly brings value to customers, but
also it works to re-energize the local musical and
cultural heritage. This crossover between tourism
and conservation is a rising trend in travel, allowing
meaningful experiences for all involved.
Project will be conducted continuously till the
end of the year to reach the highest efficiency
and sustainability, musician Phan The Phung will
accompany with Yen Duc, Binh Lieu community
and all company’s staffs to provide unique, deeply
imbued with traditional value products, spread the
echo of thousands-year-old melodies to customers,
provoke and maintain ancient music value for next
generations.
Musician Phan The Phung will conduct this program
until the end the calendar year, ensuring efficiency
and sustainability. He will continue working with
our staff, as well as those in Yen Duc and Binh Lieu,
to imbue all we do with traditional value. It is the
efforts of those such as Phan that preserve ancient
songs and melodies for future generations.
Responsible Travel / 3
Responsible travel activities
Responsible travel activities
Duration
Activities
• Collect waste at 2 fishing
village Vung Vieng and Cong
2007 - 2008 Dam
• Provide buoy vests for local
fishingmen
F
rom day one, Indochina Junk Company has
considered “Responsible Tourism Through
Sustainable Development” as the core
mission for the business. Since 2007, the company
has administered the “For a Green Ha Long Bay”
program. This green-initiative, in the partnership
with other counterparts, encourages staffers, locals
and tourists to get involved protecting Ha Long
Bay’s environment and the local fishing culture
who call it home. The program includes larger
scale projects - such as collecting and properly
disposing of rubbish on Bai Tu Long Bay, growing
mangrove forest, and building houses and schools
4 / Responsible Travel
• Waste at these two fishing village was gathered and
disposed
• 128 buoy vests were given to fishermen
2009
• Replace Polystyrene buoys
with plastic, more durable and
environment-friendly ones in
fishing village
• Regrow mangrove forest at
Ha Long bay
• 80% households changed to plastic buoys
• From 2009 to 2011, 2 hecta mangrove forest has
regrown
2011
• Launched “clean fish” farming
support with local fishermen
(using fingerlings in farming can
actually harm the environment)
• Donate $5 from each tourist
to “For A Green Ha Long”
program
•More than 50 kg baitfish have been added to local
farming
• Upgraded the schools and visited the elderly at
fishing villages
Launched waste collection
program at almost every site
on Bai Tu Long Bay.
• From 11/2013 to 11/2014: collected and disposed
of more than 10,272kg of waste
• From 12/2014 to 12/2015: collected and disposed
of more than 23,000kg of waste
• 01 Waste collection program on two beaches
(included in a tour schedule) increased the amount
of non-biodegradable debris brought back to land for
treatment by 20%.
• 02 Poem Mountain cleaning program: With the
participation of all company members, more than
10kg non-biodegradable waste was brought down for
classification and treatment.
• 01 Giving warm clothes to children in the mountainous Binh Lieu area: 29 sets of warm clothes and 90
pairs of socks were giving to the kids at the Mooc B
River kindergarten.
for a
HaLong bay
Result
2013-2015
in the fishing villages. In 2016, the “For A Green
Ha Long” program continues to be funded and
developed. In the first quarter, “For A Green Ha
Long” was renamed as “Responsible Tourism” to
reflect the current responsible tourism activities
of the corporation. It is funded by a simple $3
per tourist served financial model, joint-venture
business revenues, and sponsorships.
brought back to land for proper treatment.
In the first quarter, the fund spent: 198,027,000
VND. Anticipated cost in the second quarter is
375,520,000 VND. By the end of February 2016,
more than 3000kg rubbish has been recovered and
• Conducting the waste collecting programs on
Bai Tu Long bay with the involve of company crew
and staff.
In the third quarter, the company plans to launch
the following Bai Tu Long Bay responsible tourism
programs and projects:
• Organizing waste recycling contests among
different boats in our fleet.
Responsible Travel / 5
Responsible travel activities
Responsible travel activities
VOCATIONAL
TRAINING
for The Youth Of
Binh Lieu
T
o the north of ward, there is a 42,999km
long border with Ninh Minh ward (Sung Ta)
and Phong Thanh area (Cang Phong Thanh
City, Quang Tay, China). In the West, Binh Lieu
neighbors with Lang Son province; in the East
Binh Lieu, located in the mountainous northeast region of Quang Ninh province, is a natural beauty with immense cinnamon, anise, Sở
flower forests. Her row on row of ladder rice
fields have earned her the nickname “Sapa of
the North East.”
with Hai Ha ward; and finally in the South with
Tien Yen and Dam Ha. Therefore, Binh Lieu plays
an essential role in terms of national defense and
security; lying on “2 passage-ways and 1 economic
rim” in Vietnamese-Chinese relationship.
6 / Responsible Travel
On February 29th, the Indochina Junk Company
board of managers had a applicant review session
at Dong Van Commune Office of the Committee.
Mr. Giap Ngoc Van, Vice President of Dong Van
Commune’s Committee, and Mr. Nong Van Duong,
President of Commune’s Farmers Association,
and Mr. Doan Van Dung, Managing Director of
Indochina Junk Company were all in attendance.
In March, with the enthusiastic encouragement of
the company’s board, eight adolescents enrolled
in the course at Indochina Junk’s Head Office.
It is the wish of The Commune Committee, the
Indochina Junk Company Board as well as the
student’s own parents, that these students become
the professionally groomed core of Dong Van
Commune, Binh Lieu Ward.
Upon
this
announcement,
our
training
department created a 3-month long program, with
concentrations on English and vocational training.
It includes:
• 3 Sessions providing an overview of the modern
tourism field.
• 24 Sessions of English Language Training
• 48 Sessions of direct vocational training (training
direction is elected by the student)
• A nighttime music class by professional artist
Phan The Phung
The anticipated cost for supporting the training
program is approximately: 80,000,000 VND.
Blessed with both a prime location and a lovely
natural landscape, Binh Lieu is poised to be the
next “Golden” tourism destination. In order for
tourists access to this wonderful land, we have
developed a Community Tourism model. Local
culture and environmental conservation combine
to create amazing an experience for our customers.
This model is fully sustainable, while maintaining
the highest level of guest service.
Known for work in the fields of education, charity
and environmental cleanup, Indochina Junk
Company places a high value on the careers of its
staff. In early February 2016, as part of the ongoing
Community Tourism model in Dong Van, Indochina
Junk created a vocational support program identifying 9 local applicants for a chance to study
at the Indochina Junk Office. This program would
cover 95% of educational expenses as well as
provide vocational opportunities upon graduation.
Responsible Travel / 7
Responsible travel activities
INDOCHINA JUNK PARTICIPATED IN EARTH HOUR 2016
LITTLE ACT,
BIG INFLUENCE
INTERNAL
Responsible Tourism
Responsible travel news
news
Indochina Junk wished Binh Lieu’s residents a Happy New Year
On the 3rd of January, Indochina Junk Company
office staff took a trip to Binh Lieu, the mountainous ward located in the North East area of
Quang Ninh province. This area is where the
company plans to invest in new community tourism projects. At the end of the visit, 21 blankets
were donated to poor households, 148 tea sets
and many more other items were giving to the
children. Total donation is 21,390,000 VND.
Yen Duc invests in building another
tourist homestay and water puppet
show stage
“Earth Hour”, an annual program
created in 2007 by World Wildlife Fund,
is held on the last Saturday of March.
Encouraging households and enterprises
to turn off lights and electronic devices
for one hour - in order to raise the
community awareness of climate
change and energy conservation.
Growing from a small-scale project,
“Earth Hour” has turned into a global
trend which gathers followers to the
green-movement every year.
Building upon the successes of the community tourism program at Yen Duc
Village, Lang Viet tourism center has just
completed another bigger water puppet performance area and an additional
homestay building to serve customers. At
this point, Lang Viet has 2 water puppet
show area with the capacity up to 200
guests, 2 homestay buildings, and 1 Viet-house with more than 7 rooms.
T
his year, Earth Hour was held on 19th March.
Proud to take part in this meaningful activity,
Indochina Junk Company turned off all of
unnecessary ornamental lights as well as electronic
devices such as air conditioners, computers,
refrigerators and printers. Our Hanoi and Ha Long
offices, Yen Duc village and our fleet of 14 boats
participated by going dark for an hour. All totaled,
more than 350 employees participated with the
enthusiastic encouragement of more than 200 tour
guests.
Office staff at Ha Long and Ha Noi, during the
electricity-less hour, paraded on the streets
calling for organizations, individuals, families and
enterprises to fight global warming with practical
and particular actions. This battle requires the
8 / Responsible Travel
involvement of the whole community, for our
own future.
As reported by the organizer, Indochina Junk
Company saved up to 300kw hours of electricity
within only 1 Earth Hour. Mr. Doan Van Dung,
Managing Director, has requested all departments
work together with the company’s union to see
every hour as Earth Hour. Thousands of small
actions DO ADD-UP to a large impact. Let us all
use a little less, and in doing so save a little more for
future generations.
Launching walking move- In addition to awareness to conserve electricity and water,
on 15th of March, Hanoi office of Sen A Dong corporation
ment at Hanoi office
launched a Walking Movement after working hours (From
17:30 to 18:30). The goal is to enhance office staff’s
heath conditions while improving workplace effectiveness.
This movement is just a part of a series of activities held
by the corporation.
Responsible Travel / 9
Responsible travel news
Case study
INTERNATIONAL
Responsible Tourism
news
Experience tours with Great White Sharks
Dyer Island is located to the South East of Cape Town,
South Africa. This is the natural habitat of white sharks –
the most aggressive of the shark species. When tourist
participate in the experience tour, they will be provided
with dive equipment and protective steel cage to explore
this dangerous area. Profit from the tour will be invested
in the developing and conserving white sharks’ population
research fund.
Image source: Internet
Social enterprise
I
Bicycle tour “CyclePower 2016”
A 13 day cycling journey from Campuchia to Vietnam was recently created by
Uniting Journey, an Australian responsible tourism organization. The tour is
one of a series of projects to provide
international tourists an interactive
experience tour, while at the same time
supporting the locals and protecting
the environment. The cycling tour will
launches August 2016.
Limiting guests to conserve the
site at Cinque Terres, Italia
Cinque Terre, Italy with its five small, beautiful
villages and natural world’s wonders has begun
attract an overwhelming number of tourists.
The local authorities will begin to restrict the
quantity of guests, beginning this year, by selling
ticket online. This should help to decrease tour
overloading, which is the primary cause of the
original village landscape destruction.
PHOTO: Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy. (Photo courtesy Thinkstock)
10 / Responsible Travel
Sapa O’Chau, a rapidly rising social-enterprise lead by Tan Thi Shu (recently named
to Forbes Vietnam “30 under 30”), is the
first ever social-oriented, non-profit tourism
company in Sapa/Lao Chai. As with many
other ethnic Hmong, Shu Tan was born into
a poor village. She had no opportunity for
an education, selling souvenirs to tourists
left little time to study. Knowing in her heart
that the only way out was UP, Shu started
Sapa O’Chau with the goal of helping other
minority children leave behind the harsh life
she knew too well.
Sapa O’chau
n 2007, with the support of
several Australian tourists,
Shu Tan set up her own onewoman tourism company. But
she quickly learned that a dream
and a business are two different
things. After nearly five years of
struggling, balancing, budgeting,
and learning - Shu landed another
break. Through partnerships
with both Vietnamese and
international
organizations,
she was connect to the social
enterprise training program
help by the Center for Social
Initiatives Promotion (CISP).
Her proposal for the Sapa O’Chau
project caught the eye of the
CISP and they agreed to support
the model. Finally, with the wind at her back, Shu
could expand into travel trade, handicrafts, and
a food & beverage service. In only one-year, Shu
created 18 stable living-wage opportunities for area
youth. The profit generated by Sapa O’Chau itself
helps support another EIGHTY minority children.
These children learn English, get vocational training,
receive free accommodations in dormitories, as
well as access to scholarships in the Hospitality &
Tourism industry.
The achievements of Sapa O’Chau are inspiring
proof that a positive, organized message over social
channels can elevate a low-income community and
the lives of those who live there. Tan Thi Shu really
is “One To Watch.”
Responsible Travel / 11
Responsible travel products
Responsible travel products
Indochina Junk Company, formerly called Tropical Sail Company (in 2002),
was founded in 2007. Currently, Indochina Junk is one among the three
highest rated companies supplying overnight cruising services on Ha Long
bay, with 14 boats containing of different number of cabins to meet the
diverse demands of tourists.
Ha Long Bay, located in the North
East region of Vietnam, is of a unique
dual natural heritage. The area
features geological wonders which
showcase different processes in the
formation of the earth AND contains
a highly diverse biology ecosystem
with thousands of different species.
Sadly, this twice-recognized UNESCO World Natural Heritage site has
been threatened by pollution.
GREEN JOURNEY
in
Bai Tu Long bay
T
he development of many industries and
tourism activities in Ha Long Bay area has
created an accumulation of solid garbage and
water pollutants. This not only critically effects the
ecosystem, but also puts a negative spin on the
experiences of visitors.
Tourists returning from Ha Long Bay trips has
been deeply concerned about the environment.
“I expected a lot from Ha Long Bay tour. But the
pollution problem really disappointed us. When the
our boat stopped for us to swim and kayak, I saw
many pieces of garbage surrounding, even floated
towards us” (Natalie Sandler – American tourist)
Born from a love of the Bay, Indochina Junk
Company noticed the need to actively protect Ha
Long Bay long ago. Since 2007, the company has
concentrated on responsible tourism activities
such as supporting green fish farms, replacing
12 / Responsible Travel
•
04 Princess boats: 1 cabin
•
04 Prince boats: 2-4 cabin
•
01 Red dragon boat: 5 cabin
•
03 Dragon’s Pearl boats: 11 cabin
•
02 Dragon Legend boats: 24 cabin
In 2007, the company became the pioneer in exploring Bai Tu Long bay
– the wider yet less known of Ha Long bay with the wild beauty and pure
environment, providing the totally different experience compared to Ha
Long Bay’s center. With quality stable services, a professional staff, and
unique itinerary, Indochina Junk Company has earned its Number One
position on TripAdvisor – the world’s largest travel site.
polystyrene buoys with plastic ones in the local
fishing village, planting new mangrove forests, and
building a school for the children in Ha Long Bay.
within the “For a Green Ha Long Bay” program and
contribute to cleaning up Bai Tu Long bay during
their 3 day / 2 night trip. Green thinking includes:
These projects have already made a positive impact
on the natural environment and the lives of local
residents. Our “For A Green Ha Long” program
collects garbage along all shorelines as well as
the fishing village - areas where company’s boats
anchor - in order to protect sea as well as provide
clean natural experience for guests. In 2015,
Indochina Junk company collected and properly
disposed of more than 26 tons of waste from the
bay. Importantly, we act as a positive responsible
example for both locals and our employees.
• While kayaking and exploring natural rocky
islands, tourists are provided a garbage collecting
net to gather floating litter. All of the rubbish
collected is transferred back to the mainland for
waste treatment. Kayaking areas include: Cap La
area, Tra San area, Vung Dang area, Cong Dam area,
Hon Co island (Thien Canh Son cave) and fishing
village Vung Vieng.
In May 2016, to further expand Ha Long bay’s
environmental protection activities, Indochina Junk
Company launched the new “Green and Easy Tour.”
Participating tourists are informed of sub projects
• Rubbish collecting activities along the beaches.
• While participating in leisure activities with
locals and staffers, guests further learn of the Bay’s
environmental and social importance.
and feedback to our staff, increasing the efficiency
of the whole process.
• Once departed, guests continue to spread the
message about protecting Ha Long Bay.
After the trip, Indochina Junk Company receives
evaluation forms from tourists and send them
to directly to Ha Long Bay’s Managing Board. In
addition to tourists taking part in “Green and Easy
Tour”, Indochina Junk Company also contributes
to the Responsible Tourism Fund. The works to
maintain the bay as well as develop new projects.
All with one goal - to preserve the natural beauty
that is Ha Long Bay, for guests and locals alike.
• Guests from all over the world bring new ideas
Responsible Travel / 13
Responsible travel products
Responsible travel products
City tour by electric car
TRANSPORTATION FOR
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
With the development of the social
economy, increased traffic density in
daily street life has had a considerable
impact on the living environment
and society’s health. This is not only
a concern for local authorities, but
also a motivation for Indochina Junk
Company - who reacted by developing
the “Visiting Ha Long City” electric
car service.
”Ha Long City Tour” is a new tourism product in
Ha Long created by Indochina Junk Company, in
June of 2015. It offers a new option for tourist
who wish to reach attractive sites in the city. Since
the beginning, “Ha Long City Tour” holds true to
the mission of “Promoting the friendly, responsible
local community while bringing unique and fun
experiences to guests.”
Developing the economy responsibility
When launching the city tour by electric car project,
Indochina Junk had to evaluate the economical
impact, determine from the beginning to prioritize
the suitable and local-community-benefited model,
at the same time reduce the negative impact on
residents’ life, not harm or use up natural resources,
assets and contribute to the Quang Ninh’s key
industry’s development
Conversely, the Ha Long City Tour encourages
participation from the local community in tourism
activities, suggesting hotels, shopping malls,
restaurants, and entertainment areas. This helps
ensure high quality for every guest traveling by
electric car. Finally, driving is a entry-level job
opportunity for the youth of Ha Long City. They are
14 / Responsible Travel
Besides reasonable, suitable to all types of tourists
price and not faster than 30km/h speed, electric
car will enable the guests to visit Ha Long’s streets,
admire beautiful features of natural landscape
without rush, unlike motorbike or regular van. With
the demonstration available on the car, tourists
can enjoy the beauty of Ha Long with no worries.
It can be said that after each trip, Ha Long City
Tour makes the tourists love the nature, love Ha
Long even more. Especially, the cars are ran with
electricity – a green, environment-friendly, noisefree energy. The use of electricity contributes to
decrease the waste level, pollution, avoid traffic
congestion and create a modern Ha Long’s tourism
image, which are appreciated a lot by the local.
age, tourism is no exception and proofed to play
an important roll in complementing that goal.
Meanwhile, for the development of tourism field
in general, choose means of transport responsibly.
Tourism activities of human have enormous impact
on the environment. Therefore, anywhere possible,
try to reduce the pollution and negative affect on
the environment by using green vehicles. Tourism
by electric car in Ha Long is expected to be the
pioneering tourism model which protects the
environment, affects possitively on social life of the
local and added value to tourists’ experience.
Sustainable development is the essential trend of
trained professionally in tourism skills, enhancing
products’ overall quality and creating an added
value.
In order to develop responsible tourism activities,
the quality of individual sites is the top concern. The
company has researched and selected satisfying
and educational destinations such as Long Tien
Temple, Ha Long Market, Vincom Mall, and the
modern Quang Ninh Museum. The tour also shows
guests the shoreline, allowing them to one more
chance to admire the world’s nature wonder Ha
Long Bay, the local fish market, and an offshore
fishing village.
Social and environment responsibility
The launching of an electric car service contributes
to the diversity of tourism products available in Ha
Long City - while increasing attractiveness among
international and domestic tourists. With the goal
of making electric car service a responsible tourism
product, the company is combining tours with
charity work at schools. This rising global trend,
builds understanding and compassion between
travelers and locals.
On 17/06/2015, Indochina Junk Company introduced a new product - The Ha Long City Tour
electric car service. 30 electric cars serve both locals and tourists visiting historic sites, shopping
malls, and tourism areas in Ha Long City. Each electric car has the ability to carry 13 tourists. This
community tourism product connects tourist with Ch Long City attractions including Long Tien
Temple, Ha Long Market, Vincom Shopping Mall, Lan Be Park, 30/10 Square, Quang Ninh Museum,
Pole 3 maritime boundary, Pole 5 fishing village, Poem mountain, and Tran Quoc Nghien temple.
Pick-up points include: Vietnam – Japan labor culture centre, Ha Long market, and Quanh Ninh
museum. Throughout the trip, tourists can enjoy the views, listen to local history, and taste local
cuisine all while taking in the city’s landscape. The tour’s duration can varies from 1 to 4 hours,
depending on guests’ requests. Hours of operation are from 8:00-22:00 every day.
Developing the Ha Long City Tour contributed to diversifying the city’s tourism products, increased
the city’s attractiveness to domestic and international tourists and works to create a new image of
green, modern and environment-friendly tourism.
Responsible Travel / 15
Local insight
Local insight
Y
COMMUNITY TOURISM
At Yen Duc village
positive
impacts
The community tourism at Yen Duc village,
operated by Indochina Junk Company, started
in the year 2011. Even from those very first
days, the project has received the overwhelming support from the locals. After over 5 years
in operation, the program continues to create
a positive impact on the residents’ life. It’s
hard to believe that simple daily activities of
farmers - such as graining, milling rice, catching fish can become tourism products serving
both international and domestic guests. At Yen
Reporter: How, in the beginning, did having
international tourists effect the peaceful life of the
local people?
Mr. San: Previously, there were just seniors
and kids here. The “adults” lived at far way in
industrial zones. Now that the village participate in
community tourism, the company has created jobs
for dozens of residents. Many men have returned
to the village to take care of their families. Taking
a break from field work, whenever tourists groups
come, farmers become tour-guides, water puppet
artists, folk music performers. The company also
hired the locasl here to clean the village roads
and grow flowers along the sidewalks. At first, the
whole village even came to my house to workout
with the tourists. It’s so much fun. The life is so
much better than it used to be. (laugh)
Reporter: So your family receives guests every
week now?
Mr. San: We welcomed about 8 groups monthly.
Most stay for 2 or 3 days. They come at noon so I
stay home to clean up and get prepare.
Reporter: When foreign tourists arrive, do you face
16 / Responsible Travel
Duc commune, Dong Trieu ward (Quang Ninh
province), these “dirty, muddy” tasks have
actually begun to attracted tourists. Currently
Yen Duc village receives an average of 2000
guests monthly, mostly Western. We recently
sat down to talk the family of Mr. San and
Mrs. Tap, the homestay house owners at Yen
Duc village, about their life and that of other
community residents who participate in the
tourism programs.
any language barriers or misunderstanding?
Mr. San: There are always tour-guides to help
interpret between us and our guests. When
the tour-guides are not here, we can use body
language to express ourselves, they (the tourists)
can understand about 70%. (laughs)
Reporter: At night, do neighbors come over your
house and meet the guests?
Mr. San: At night, they come here to play chess,
drink tea, and talk. To my surprise, many guests
are good at playing GO (a type of Chinese chess).
We also introduce the rice wine drinking culture to
them, “zo zo” together. They are so excited and “zo
zo” also! It’s so much fun. At 9:00, they come back
to the room for resting.
en Duc village is in Dong Trieu ward,
Quanh Ninh province (to the North
East of Vietnam), located 60km from
Ha Long and 100km from the capital Hanoi.
Thanks to a central geographic location, Yen
Duc village has the advantage of attracting
tourists returning from Ha Long Bay
interested in discovering a peaceful village
and local traditional culture.
- 1/2 day village walking tour (2.5 – 5.5
hours)
Yen Duc village community tour was
set up by Indochina Junk Cruise Joint
Stock Company in 2011. As a creator of
responsible tourism products, IJCJSC aims to
support local residents while sharing unique
cultural experiences, our national image,
and Vietnamese culture to domestic and
international tourists.
- Support the local develop of an efficient
agricultural economy
After 5 year of growth, Yen Duc village
currently provides many varied services,
satisfying the varied demands of visiting
tourists:
developed here, the environment is cleaner. The
local’s life is happier with foreign tourists coming to
visit. Art performances, activities, and festivals are
held more often - as they are financially supported
by the company. In the village, any family that is poor
or is fighting illness gets a visit and is encouraged
by company representatives. In the summer, when
the children are out of school, tour-guides offer an
open & free English class, bringing “Tay” guests in to
speak with the kids. Therefore, everyone benefits
from tourism -here is no conflict.
- Overnight accommodations at Viet house
or local homestay to discover local life
- Water puppet show
- Quan Ho folk-song performance
Mission of Yen Duc Village Community Tour:
- Form a clean, imbued-with-agriculturalculture-value village landscape
- Enhance an already friendly, responsible
local community
- Make Yen Duc the new “hot” tourist
attraction in Quang Ninh
Conclusion: The family of Mr. San and Mrs. Tap is one
among hundreds of households at Yen Duc village
contributing to build and develop the community
tourism program. Not only does the it advertise
the beauty of the village and promote traditional
culture values, the program also creates a attractive
destination for international guests. This type of
tourism positively impacts the local community
and encourages sustainable development of the
countryside. Our hope is that this model is adopted
around the world.
Reporter: Currently Lang Vietn center has 50
staffers, all are local and make a living directly from
tourism. How do you think those NOT employed as
part of the program feel about it?
Mr. San: Of course the company can not hire
everyone. However, no one can deny the common
benefit that everybody can get. Since tourism has
Responsible Travel / 17
Photo gallery
Binh Lieu located in the mountainous north-east region of Quang Ninh
province, is a natural beauty with
immense cinnamon, anise, Sở flower
forests. Her row on row of ladder rice
fields have earned her the nickname
“Sapa of the North East”
The Beauty of Binh Lieu