When traveling to Indochina, all our customers are charmed by the people who are always gracious and hospitable. An yet many of them are living in poverty, but they always have a shy smile for the foreign travelers who meet them. We are inspired to give back to these people by supporting several organizations that are making a difference. These organizations have various visions: education, heritage preservation, environmental protection, vocational training…We encourage you to see how you too can help.

COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM PROJECTS

We support community tourism projects across several programmes, from local craft shops to including a homestay. We encourage homestays for those clients who are interested – this is particulalry relevant to secluded regions in Northern Laos, Northwestern Vietnam and Northeastern Cambodia. Not only does the money from these directly benefit the community, it also offers our clients an authentic insight into the local culture. We also actively recommend - across all programmes - restaurants, shops, etc, that directly benefit the community.

La Vie Vu Linh (Vietnam)

La Vie Vu Linh is part of a sustainable development project initiated 13 years ago by a local farmer, Mr Tuong Van Thuong and his family, in partnership with Mr Frederic Tiberghien (Fredo-Binh) who runs a tour operator. It includes four main goals for development: education, environment, culture and ecotourism. The project has established a school and includes a focus on tourism development. Extra classes have been introduced in French, English, cooking, traditional culture and computer training. All staff and tourist guides are employed and trained locally, and apprentices are sent to restaurants in Hanoi to broaden their experience. Overall the tourism development project provides full time employment for 20 people. Nearly all of the produce consumed is sourced from nearby households; 26 families benefit directly from it. The project also helps in supporting the initiatives of some who start their own business, like fish farming, or fruit tree planting. The latest initiative is an agro-forestry project to increase fruit production, and to diversify the current monoculture mainly based on paper tree plantations – eucalyptus, manioc, cassava, and fast growing acacias. Last but not least, La Vie Vu Linh is environmentally friendly, composting, recycling, developing biogas, treating waste and spreading the good practices in surrounding households and villages

EDUCATION&TRAINING

Shinta Mani ‘Institute for Hospitality’ (Cambodia)

Institute of Hospitality is a vocational training facility funded from the operations of the Shinta Mani hotel as well as from private individuals. The students are selected by various local NGO’s in consultation with the management of the school and are all young Cambodians at risk. The current 21 students are on a 9 month culinary course and other skills within the hotel industry. When completed they will be able to find permanent employment within Cambodia. Besides paying no fees each student is paid a monthly stipend, uniforms, meals, study materials and a weekly supply of 4 kilograms of rice for their families.

KOTO (Vietnam)

A keenness to better the lives of underprivileged Vietnamese street children in Hanoi saw the birth in 1996 of a concept which Australian Chinese Jimmy Pham continues today from a restaurant he labelled KOTO (Know One Teach One). In opening the enterprising restaurant Jimmy has provided jobs for those wanting to learn the skills and find stable employment. From small beginnings as a sandwich shop in Hanoi, KOTO is now recognised as an internationally accredited hospitality programme for young people. The 120-seat restaurant is a dynamic and popular venue which highlights the fact that every young person can have the start in life they deserve if they are willing to work hard and achieve their dream. By gaining practical experience, the students are also taught hospitality and life skills. Once they have completed their training, they remain highly valued candidates for the local hospitality industry with many going on to work in international hotels and restaurants around Vietnam. We are honoured to support and promote KOTO by including a meal at the restaurant for tours which have our value-added “unparalleled highlights” , in doing so supporting the KOTO concept - and the wonderful work of Jimmy Pham.

Pour un sourire d’enfant (Cambodia)

One such project is Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE), 'For a Child’s Smile', established by a French run NGO to help disadvantaged children who had previously lived in squalor earning a meagre livelihood collecting waste from municipal dumps. The PSE Centre and school, provides education, but also excellent vocational training from silk weaving to gardening for children and young adults. The project is well worth visiting and the students love to meet people and show you around the school so they can practice their English. Stop for lunch at the school’s excellent training restaurant called Lotus Blanc (there are several other outlets also in Phnom Penh) as all profits are ploughed straight back into the project.

Peuan Mit (Laos)

Peuan Mit (meaning ‘friends’ in Lao) is a program designed and implemented by Friends-International in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to address the needs of street children and youth in Laos. Peuan Mit works with 800 children and youth every month in the Lao capital, Vientiane, helping them to reintegrate back into Lao society and to prevent more children from coming to the streets. The association supports children and young people to return to public school, find employment, return to their families, become citizens of their own country, to discover their own culture and to express themselves. Peuan Mit has a vocational training center in hospitality through the Makhpet restaurant.

Sala Bai Hotel&Restaurant School (Cambodia)

Sala Baï Hotel & Restaurant School was founded in 2002 by the French NGO Agir pour le Cambodge. Entirely and exclusively meant for young Cambodians coming from underprivileged families. More than 800 young people with a 70% priority to girls, have been trained. They have all found a job within their one-year training. By having lunch at Sala Bai Restaurant, we contribute part of the package price to support the school

Phare Ponleu Selpak (Cambodia)

Phare Ponleu Selpak was founded in 1994 and  is based in Battambang province, Cambodia. The centre is dedicated to taking care of vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the commune of Ocha, Battambang District,through a global intervention combining: formal education, artistic vocational training and creative,cultural and educational activities enhancing child’s personal development and community life . PPS enjoys a growing national and partly international recognition through the quality its artistic schools: circus arts, theater,visual arts and music.

WILDLIFE&ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

ELIE Project (Cambodia)

ELIE, with the support of the Bunong minority villagers, rescues and treats domestic elephants which come from abusive backgrounds and have suffered illness or injury as a consequence. This truly unique experience allows you to learn more about Cambodia's elephants and the efforts to protect them in the area. Emphasis is more about observing the elephants and helping to look after them in their natural environment than actually riding the elephants, but this is a great way to relax, take in the beautiful countryside and learn a little more about the Bunong minority culture. Trained mahouts accompany you and the elephants during gentle walks through the jungle to waterfalls and if you are fortunate you may also spot some of the wildlife in the area such as gibbons and eagles.

Mine Action Group (Vietnam)

Vietnam remains heavily contaminated by Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), specifically unexploded ordnance (UXO), from a conflict that ended more than 35 years ago. As a consequence of a history of heavy bombardment, 100 per cent of the communes within Quang Binh and Quang Tri are still reported as contaminated. MAG activities are determined by clearance plans and priorities that are developed in partnership with local communities, national and local government and development partners. In this way, MAG is able to identify land that is most needed by people, then safely clear and release the safe land for development

CULTURE HERITAGE PRESERVATION

Artisans d’Angkor (Cambodia)

Since its creation at the end of 1990s, Artisans Angkor has strived to offer good working conditions and social advantages to its employees. It has now opened 42 workshops in Siem Reap province and it provides employment to over 1300 people, including more than 900 artisans. Over the years, Artisans Angkor has become a real showcase of Khmer workmanship for its silk fabrics and garments, stone and wood carving, lacquer ware, polychrome products, silver plating and silk painting. Not only does the company revive traditional Khmer Arts and Crafts but it also offers a collection of hand-made clothing and home furnishings fitted to contemporary lifestyles. Many of our tours include a visit to the Angkor Silk Farm, where visitors can see the process from the mulberry bushes cultivation to the production of silk fabrics and accessories. Or you can visit a workshop in Siem Reap where you will have the opportunity to admire the knowledge and techniques of local artisans in stone and wood carving, lacquering, silver plating and silk painting.