Exciting news from the CBT Vietnam team!

The CBT Vietnam Project has been nominated for a

 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award!

The Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award recognizes the region’s most inspiring responsible tourism initiative. The award marks the 10th year of working with the people in the region of Sapa to ensure that tourism is mutually beneficial to the tourist and to the host community.

We are incredibly honoured to be nominated as a finalist. The community of people and organizations that are working hard to foster responsible tourism in Asia is one that is innovative, resilient, and inspiring. To be a part of this group has been an experience we are very proud of. Congratulations to all of the finalists!

Photo courtesy of the CBT Vietnam Flickr - Photo taken by Kyle Sandilands

Here are some highlights of the CBT Vietnam project so far:

• Approximately 400 people, including ethnic minorities, have been involved in the training that CBT Vietnam is providing
• Over 60 tour guides from the Sapa Region have been trained
• Nearly 30 authentic cultural homestays have been set up in 3 villages: Tavan, Taphin and Lao Chai
• An increase from US$500/year to US$2400/year of revenue/income generated by some individuals in the village has been seen

In addition to these project achievements and milestones, the project has also served as a tool to create responsible travellers. 

"Projects such as CBT Vietnam play a crucial role in creating responsible tourists. It can be so easy for travellers visiting developing Asian countries to spend their whole holiday in very insular environments --on the tourist track and separate from the local communities. CBT Vietnam helps tourists witness the impacts and experiences that tourism has on the local people. The kind of understanding this creates for a tourist is invaluable and I don’t believe it’s possible to produce responsible tourists without it."
- Taryn Bodrug, student volunteer (CBT Vietnam 2010 - 2014)

Photo courtesy of the CBT Vietnam Flickr - Photo taken by Kyle Sandilands

Not only has this initiative positively impacted the community members and tourists visiting the region, it has also had a profound impact on the volunteers that have helped out with CBT Vietnam and the way that they view sustainable tourism.

"Since I've participated in the CBT Vietnam project, I've become more aware of the impact of my choices and my influence on the environment and the lives of those I come in contact with. I have come to understand that having the privilege of traveling comes with certain responsibilities, and fulfilling these responsibilities is not only a moral obligation, but also a rewarding experience. "
- Hedieh Ahmari, student volunteer (CBT Vietnam 2014)

"Responsible tourism is treating others the way they wish to be treated, traveling within means of continuity for the community and its members, without compromise. CBT Vietnam has shown me the effects of tourism on a community and the fine line that run along responsible tourism and green washing."
- Samantha Macgregor, student volunteer (CBT Vietnam 2014 - 2015)

"CBT Vietnam was developed with the community, based on its assets, objectives, and the desire of the locals to achieve an economic development. It is based off of what the locals need, rather than what the tourists need, which is why it is successful. Not only does it benefit the current local people and tourists, but it also impacts future generations through empowerment and education." 

- Sabrina Ouellette, student volunteer (CBT Vietnam 2014)

For more information about the amazing things CBT Vietnam has accomplished, please visit our website.

Read More

T-minus 4-days to Vietnam!

I sit here today in anticipation for this incredible trip that Kyle and I will embark on in less than a week!

These last four months have been a whirl wind of trip prepping, regular meetings with the team, working our day jobs and all the while trying to rock our studies. I have a few more tasks to complete, but it feels awesome that all this intense preparation will be worth it once we have arrived in Vietnam, where we will actually get down to business in Hanoi and Lao Chai.

Neither Kyle nor I have ever been anywhere in Asia before, and we are both so excited that we have the opportunity to experience Vietnam for the first time together. I am also super eager to immerse myself in a completely new culture.

However, with a new culture comes the risk of culture shock. So, I am currently trying to mentally prepare myself for the shock of a new environment but from what people tell me the culture shock may be inevitable. I am now starting to believe my best plan of action is to just try and relax and enjoy this adventure! Although, to keep a bit of the homesickness at bay, I’m bringing a few things with me that will remind me of my life in Vancouver. Check them out in the picture below!

A few of my favourite things. 

Keep an eye out for my next post upon arrival into Hanoi to get our first impressions of the country. Until then, wish us luck on our 24 hours of travelling from Canada to Vietnam!

Read More

So I'm back. What now?

Sam is pictured standing in middle of the back row with her fellow CapilanoU student volunteers.

I have been travelling pretty extensively for the last ten years. Whenever I had the opportunity I would save, plan, pack and go. Before the Vietnam trip I hadn't travelled for a year so one could imagine how excited and honoured I was wen I was selected as a student volunteer. With a full course load and working two new jobs I jumped right in!

An informal meeting in the Lao Chai.

Looking back on this past winter; the hours I stressed over not doing enough for the project, working too much, and my studies, at the time it felt like the end of the world. The experience of barely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel can be daunting.

Well, I did it! I reached the end of the tunnel, and damn it was awesome! Vietnam was amazing. Not only am I walking away with a new outlook, I have developed a new sense of humility and a incredible appreciation for the access to opportunities as a Canadian.

Some of the amazing women in Lao Chai. 

The women in the village taught me more than I could have ever brought to them as a member of the CBT Vietnam team. I owe them more then words can ever explain, and the only way to do right by them is to bring this knowledge and personal change and use it in the future. As my 440 Paper (the final graduating paper for my Tourism Management Degree) comes around I plan to use this and start my next chapter. I hope to find a female mentor with experience in community development, learn from her, and research a subject around females in tourism.

Looking forward to new challenges, opportunities and experiences. Thank you CapilanoU, CBT Vietnam, and the PATA Foundation. 

Read More

TaPhin: Where Life Goes by Different Rules

There is a road in SaPa that goes all the way from the mountain down to the valley. I once called it the stairway to heaven. If SaPa is the stairway to heaven, TaPhin is heaven itself! 

We left SaPa on Monday morning and arrived in TaPhin village before noon. The car dropped us off near the entrance of the village in an area known as Doi Mot, or the Commune One. We walked down the valley, crossed a river and trekked up the mountain for about 30 minutes to get to where four home-stay owners run their businesses. The scenery was breathtaking. 

We spent the whole afternoon meeting the owners, touring the homes, asking them about the challenges they are facing, inspecting the capacity and potential development of the homes, and talking to them about promotional and marketing strategies. 

We split up into three groups in the evening to stay in different homestays in Doi Mot, in order to experience what tourists experience when they stay in those homes overnight. I stayed at Ms. Ly May Lai’s house and got to meet her family and extended family who were visiting from China. I offered to help prepare the dinner and May Lai showed me how to clean the pumpkin leaves before she cooked them.

Fresh and local aren't just trends here!

The process of preparing meat is very different from what we are used to in Vancouver. Even in scratch kitchens in North America, things are not as ‘from the scratch’ as are in the village! I didn’t expect the pork and chicken to come out of beautifully sealed packages, but I was still surprised when they just grabbed them from outside, killed them in the kitchen, clean and cut them, and then cook them right away! When I told my host that my family eats rice, I was asked if we have a rice field!

Preparing dinner

Getting ready for dinner

We spent the whole evening cooking on one stove at the corner of the house. There are usually two stoves in each house in TaPhin: one for cooking and one for preparing the herbal bath. May Lai was sitting by the stove the whole time and cooking the dishes one after the other. When one dish was done, it was put into a plate and sent to the table, but no one started dinner until all the dishes were done and placed on the table. The process of preparing ten different dish on one stove and in one pot took about an hour. The whole family then gathered around the dinner table and rice and alcohol were served.

Herbal baths

Even though I was planning to have a herbal bath, I was too tired to stay up late that night. May Lai’s house has two guestrooms. Since I was the only guest that night I got the whole room to myself. The room had 7 beds in a row with red/pink flower patterned blankets. A blue mosquito net was hung on top of each bed, and there was another door at the other side of the room which opened to the washroom and herbal bath areas. I called it my own en-suite shower room. 

Bamboo bug!

Roosters woke me up at 4:30. This was not my first time away from home opening my eyes in an unfamiliar environment, but it sure was the most authentic one. Outside the glassless window chicks and piglets were playing; the sound of a woman singing in the distance had added a mysterious feeling to the foggy view of the valley; and the smell of the burned bamboos in the fireplace was like no other worldly smell. Even the big bamboo bug that May Lai’s father had found outside and brought in didn’t look scary anymore! The time had slowed down letting me grasp and take in this new experience. That morning as I walked down the valley and crossed the river through the fog, I knew I was a different person; I had seen the heaven. 

Ms. May Lai and Hedieh

(Written by Hedieh Ahmari, student volunteer)

Read More

One day to go!

With final exams finished and ONLY one day till departure, there is a buzz amongst all us girls. Whether it is constant stress about what to pack, or figuring out which insurance to get, we are down to the wire and couldn’t be more excited!

For the past few months, we’ve had weekly meetings in preparation for this upcoming CBT Vietnam trip. We have been emailing back and forth with connections in Vietnam and are eager to finally meet everyone. Like all the trips before us, we hope to build strong relationships and bring back memories that will last a lifetime.

But am I getting ahead of myself? We haven’t even left yet! Right now, I need to focus on making sure I don’t forget anything and mentally preparing myself that I will be flying to Vietnam in one day! 

See you soon Vietnam.

Be sure to follow us and our adventures on Facebook. 

Read More

Setting a plan, charting a course...

I have been working on the itinerary for the February trip the last couple of days. For those who are curious I will give you the Coles notes, and include a bit of info about each place that we have an opportunity to visit.

The trip begins with two days in Hanoi. A hustling, bustling city the architecture has been described to me as a blend of French Colonial and traditional Vietnamese styles. Tree lined boulevards abound and reflect Hanoi's history as the capital of French Indochina. The food sounds amazing, and reading Rachael's blog about her first pho experience had my tummy rumbling. One of my favorite things about travel is experiencing the food. I can't wait to cram in as many new dishes as possible.

It's not all play, though. There is work to be done: obtaining supplies for our modules, exchanging money at a jewellery store, meeting with the folks at Footprint Vietnam Travel to get tickets, and recovering (at least trying) from the travel are just a few of the tasks from a long list that need to be checked off to ensure that the trip is a success. We'll be doing this work with the HOU student volunteers, relying on them to help us navigate the city streets.

From Hanoi we travel by overnight train to Lao Cai. The town is located on the border with China, and is an extremely important border crossing and economic link with China. Depending on the weather we might be able to spy Hekou on the Chinese side of the border. We do not have time to linger, as we have a bus to catch to Sapa.

Sapa, I am told, is like a central hub to the smaller villages of Lao Chai, Ta Phin (both to the North), and Ta Van (South)  This link will take you to a map to provide some context. Sapa was established by the French as a hill station in 1922, although it has a history which is barely documented going back to at least the 15th century.

We will be spending two days in Sapa, and this is where the real work begins for our PATA Foundation funded project. We will be prepping for the workshops we will be running. The prep work involves: inviting the private sector operators, figuring out food, and crossing the T's and dotting the I's.

Check back for part two of this blog, where I'll get into the CBT Vietnam activities we will be engaging in in the villages of Ta Phin and Lao Chai.

Bye for now...

Read More

Memories

The preparation for the February Vietnam trip is bringing back so many memories. The last time I traveled to Vietnam I was seven, so I don’t remember much about the trip. But learning about the history of Vietnam through Chris and the different sources I have been reading, the memory bank has been opened. 

They say that the senses are the strongest memories, and it is true! The smells and tastes of different foods are flooding my mind. The clearest memory is definitely the orange flavored ice cream my parents would bribe my brother and me with in order for us not to complain about the heat.  Of course that would something I would remember, what seven year old doesn’t love ice cream?


I was only in the Sapa region for a short amount of time, but as I look at pictures of the area, I remember the train ride up. Fortunately, this trip we will not be taking the train that I remember. From what I recall it was the cheaper of the two trains… and it showed. This train was my first experience to rail travel and to be honest I have never recovered! Most details have been mentally blocked out for my own sanity of that train, but I would take it again just to travel to Sapa. One of the feelings brought up when thinking about this region is being cold. I was so cold when I was there. 

Learn from my mistakes right? Bring warm clothes is underlined twice in my packing list. 
The memory that has stuck with me since we traveled is the vibrant colours and designs of the fabrics and sashes the women were selling. My family has one hanging in our dining room, which is probably the reason I remember the moment we bought it in Vietnam!

Even if I don’t get the chance to go on the Vietnam trip in February, it is amazing just to be part of the planning process. I am learning so much about Vietnam that I never would have known, which is making my desire to go someday even stronger.

Read More

Phase 2 begins: First trip starts in 4 days!

The CBT Vietnam slogan for this month is: "if you're not running, something is wrong!" We're joking, of course! But seriously, Phase 2 of the PATA Foundation funded project in Northern Viet Nam is underway and it is going to be a busy one!

Returning to Vietnam will be Dr. Chris Bottrill, Dean of Global and Community Studies at Capilano University, Instructor Stephanie Wells, and students Jase Wilson and Taryn Bodrug. Once again we will be joined by Ms. Ngoc Anh (Vice Dean of the tourism faculty at Hanoi Open University - HOU) as well as a team of HOU student volunteers.

It is going to be an exiting, ground-breaking trip for our learners and community leaders in Ta Phin. We will be working on the following:

• facilitation of a business trip for 12 entrepreneurs to the big city of Hanoi;
• here our entrepreneurs will meet with private tourism companies to begin:
• partnerships will be created;
• and, negotiations will ensue.

Tourists to the region would usually book a hill tribe trekking tour that lands them in Sa Pa -visiting villages such as Ta Phin and Lao Chai for merely an hour or two. The home-stay operators from Ta Phin are collectively working towards creating packaged experiences where tour guides bring visitors directly to Ta Phin home-stays. This will be a fantastic development for our home-stay owners and the village of Ta Phin. 

In the village of Lao Chai, the CBT team will continue delivering training on entry level skills. Our goal is to help residents of Lao Chai to increase their capacity to pursue their own brand of successful community based tourism. This is not cut paste here - what works in Ta Phin can serve as a model for success but every case is different. The CBT team will sample what Lao Chai has to offer and connect with local stakeholders.

Our whirl wind two week schedule will start on Thursday September 27th and end October the 9th, 2012. Readers will not want to miss out on what is happening! Over the next few weeks we will be releasing new media and performing regular trip updates. 

So get onto twitter @CBTvietnam and facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cbtvietnam, let us know what you think! We want to hear your voice!

Read More

Meet Jordan Kallman. Past CBT Vietnam Volunteer

Meet Jordan Kallman! He is a past CapU Volunteer with the CBT Vietnam Project when it was funded by CIDA; a 'Next Gen' tourism professional; Capilano University Alumni; a "creator, life-long explorer, and experiential entrepreneur";  and, all around great guy to be around. We (barely) caught up to Jordan and had the opportunity to ask him a few questions. Here's what he had to say:

Can you tell us a little about what you did on the CIDA funded project with Capilano?

I was involved in year 2 (2004) of the project at a time where training in the villages was just beginning. I took part in the first train-the-trainer experiences, first village training experiences in areas such as English communication, food safety, cultural protection, waste and collection and product development.

As with any new venture, relationships were just beginning to form as well. From the many different levels of government, local and regional NGOs, with Hanoi Open University and in the villages themselves – it was all new.

Very exciting times.

How did - what you did on the projects - inspire you?

The project was inspiring for many reasons. It was the first time I had ever worked on an international development project, first time I had found myself in a rural, very economically disadvantaged part of the developing world and first time I had ever officially taught on a topic with learners staring me in the face. All three were incredibly intoxicating.

To this day I still wear an anklet sewn and gifted to me by a young girl in Ta Phin. I am shocked it has survived eight years around my leg, but I look at it everyday as a reminder of how lucky I am to be who I am, living in one of the most advantageous, democratic places on the globe. And everyday, I take that inspiration and put it to use creating value.

If only that young villager knew the power of the gift she gave me.

Can you tell us about the last time you may have included the CapU CIDA project in conversation with a colleague?

I talk about this project all the time. Most recently I have been involved with the Vancouver Chapter of Acumen Fund. We meet once a month, gathering in the time-honoured tradition of a “discussion salon” to talk and debate over great food the many facets, both positive and negative, of international development.

What would you say to other students that would consider going on these projects?

"Run. Jump. Throw yourself off a mountain 

if it means you get to take part in a project like this. 

It will change your life. Guaranteed!"

As a past volunteer, turned tourism professional what would you say to potential funders who are thinking about funding such a project (i.e. involving students to volunteer as changemakers) -- or if you rather, Cap U who might be thinking about enhancing its international development programs?

International development projects are not without their perils. There are incredible pitfalls, most of which I will avoid in detail here. But generally speaking, as long as the project shares value along the stakeholder spectrum, deeply involves local communities and decision-makers as leaders, spawns community-directed independence, is genuine and accountable, the project is likely worth a deeper look in regards to funding.

Utilizing student talent in a project, engaging young passion and championing emerging changemakers – now that is amazing stuff. If a student can finish their education with a greater awareness of what it will take to create positive change from their future actions, that institution has done its job. In a world where education takes on many forms, the traditional university needs to take a more active role in developing innovation, creativity and social progress – core drivers of a changemaker.

As a person working in tourism / development where does tourism fit into making the world a better place?

I don’t necessarily classify myself as a tourism professional, more an experiential entrepreneur constantly in search of opportunities to create shared value. But having worked in the industry and extensively travelled, I

do have a deep love for tourism.

At its simplest, tourism brings people together. And it is the interactive aspect that has always excited me so much. But from a big picture I suppose it is the hope, from greater cultural interactions comes greater understanding, empathy and togetherness. Unfortunately, I don’t think this  is always the case.

The tourism industry has a lot of work to do in innovating shared value amongst the communities, social structures, environments and cultures it operates within. And it needs to be done without the consumer sacrificing much of what they have come to expect, but rather continuously adding value to the proposition. 

What the industry needs is brilliant social entrepreneurs who are willing to turn the industry on its head.

Most profound learning experience you gained from the communities?

Be ready to ditch your well thought through, meticulously organized, “bullet-proof” plan for something that works in the moment.

What's next for Jordan Kallman?

I live in the next! I have two very cool entrepreneurial ventures on the go that I am incredibly excited about. I live for that adventure right now.

Last words?

“Columbus wasn't looking for America, my man, but that seemed to work out perfectly, didn't it?” – Vince Vaughn, Old School

To get in touch with Jordan you can follow him on twitter @JordanKallman.

Read More

One Year Later

When I was 20 years old, I left Canada for the South Pacific on my own, with nothing but a backpack.  After a year and a half of travels including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Australia, I had a lot more with me than just my backpack. I had a wealth of experiences — Moments that have left a long lasting and ephemeral impact on my  entire being.  It left me with a sense of conviction, that whatever I did in my life, it was going to be related to tourism industry. This propelled me  into my enrolling into the Destination Resort Management Co-op Diploma with Capilano University.   During my time in the program, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunities to work as a Data Entry Clerk for Penticton Economic Development, a BC Ambassador in San Francisco and a Tourism Marketing Assistant for Tourism Penticton.  

My most amazing experience to date, however, is working in Ta Phin, Vietnam with Capilano University and Hanoi Open University  (HOU).  This Community Based Tourism project supported by PATA, with training in areas such understanding the tourist, business development, selling skills, event planning and more, is focused and determined on making a better quality of life for the local people of this area. Living off the land and what little resources they have, these men and women literally reap what they sow. They are famous for their embroidered items such as scarfs, handbags, headbands and just about anything else under the sun. These items are intricate, in that they tell a story and sometimes take months to make. 

I still find myself reflecting on the time in the village with a sort of nostalgia, a force that brings me back there in memory. I wonder how people who have such little, are so happy. After being in Ta Phin, I decided that I was past materialism, thinking this was the key to true happiness. If social classes don’ t exist, then is there no one to compare ourselves to. I don’t know what the answer is but what I do know is there are plenty of places in the world that need our help regardless. Often enough these places have the industry to capitalize on, they just need the resources necessary to develop their skills.  Eighty percent of the world is living in poverty and they say action isn’t taken because the images they see are merely projections that don't resonate with the audience. I challenge these people, to go to Ta Phin.

This month marks a year since I have been in the village and all I can say at this point is that  I want and need to go back. The project continues to move forward with the support of many people just like myself — students who want to make a difference.  Between a blog, twitter and facebook page, our social media channels are definitely gaining momentum.  We also have a video —I strongly encourage you to see it if you haven’t so yet. It can be found here.  Its been 5 years now since I first embarked on that trip to the South Pacific — As fond as I look back on it, I can say with confidence that Ta Phin, Vietnam was a cut above.

Read More