Responsible travel is all about making a positive impact while exploring the world. In Vietnam, there are numerous opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture and support worthy enterprises. From community tours to shopping at social enterprises and eating locally grown food, there are plenty of ways to make a difference during your travels. Read on for some of our favorite sustainable brands and ideas that will inspire your Vietnam itinerary.
Tours and Trips
Get to know your destination with a tour operator that supports the local community. One such tour is HanoiKids, a free walking tour of the capital. Enthusiastic high school students will show you around their favorite markets and streets in exchange for the chance to practice their English. By taking this tour, you’re not only experiencing the local culture but also contributing to the local economy.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Hotpot offers a similar free walking tour experience. You can choose to take the tour by cyclo or on foot. What’s even more remarkable is that Saigon Hotpot organizes an annual Sky Lantern Festival, with all proceeds going towards education drives for rural youth.
If you’re ready to venture out of the city, consider joining Bloom Microventures, a tour company that takes you into Hanoi’s countryside to see daily life for women in rural Vietnam. Part of the tour fee is used to micro-finance the businesses of the women you meet. In Sapa, Sapa Sisters is a tour company owned entirely by women from the ethnic H’mong minority. They offer treks with hardworking guides who will take you trekking and provide you with a rustic homestay to experience H’mong hospitality and culture.
Plan a Sustainable Holiday in Vietnam with our Green Travel Guide.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Looking for a sustainable souvenir? Start at Collective Memory in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The owners curate Vietnamese products and art from all over the country, supporting upcoming artists and showcasing fair trade products and local brands. You can also visit Mekong Quilts shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where handmade quilts with vintage Vietnamese embroidery are sold. This social enterprise employs 100 women from rural areas, providing them with sustainable and fair income.
In Hoi An’s charming ancient town, Reaching Out Vietnam runs a teahouse and craft shop. The profits from this shop go towards speech ability programs and educational drives to create a better life for disabled people in Central Vietnam. Here, you can find elegant tea sets, jewelry, and Vietnamese teas. Textile lovers in Sapa can visit Indigo Cat for beautifully handmade products directly from 50 families of ethnic minorities in Northern Vietnam. Look for autumn jackets, beautiful textiles, and bags designed with hemp, batik, and delicate embroidery.
Wellness and Spas
In Vietnam, your spa visits can be an opportunity to feel good and give back. Omamori Spa in Hanoi trains visually impaired personnel in Swedish and Vietnamese styles of massage therapy, empowering them and helping them gain self-esteem and financial independence. Another spa in Hanoi, Dao’s Care, offers massages given by visually impaired people from disadvantaged families who have been trained by the spa’s vocational program. Before enjoying a relaxing massage, you can soak in the Dao herbal baths, a traditional treatment from the Dao ethnic minority.
If you’re in Nha Trang, visit Pure Vietnam for the best Lomi Lomi massages in town. This spa is active in supporting local schools and orphanages, providing food, clothing, visits, and proceeds from their business. And if you’re visiting Sapa, don’t miss Sapa-Napro for a bubbly herbal bath against a magical backdrop. This bathhouse employs Dao ethnic people from the Ta Phin community and offers wellness treatments derived from age-old medicinal knowledge and indigenous traditions. They are also involved in many other community initiatives to support the livelihood of Sapa’s indigenous people.
Hotels and Lodges
When booking accommodation in Vietnam, consider staying at places that go beyond making up beds and focus on making better lives for the people in their destinations. The Sapa O’Chau Hotel is a social enterprise that has gained international recognition for its community-based model. Staffed by language school students, the hotel acts as a liaison between the H’mong ethnic people of the region and visitors, directing them to sustainable trekking tours and homestays. You can also book memorable holidays at community-run H’mong homestays in the hills outside Mai Chau through Mai Chau Lodge.
In the Mekong Delta cities of Cái Bè and Cần Thơ, Mekong Rustic sets up beautiful homestays run by local families. Each homestay provides guests with a slice of local life in lush surroundings and contributes to the community by utilizing ingredients from fish farms, gardens, and nearby orchards. During your stay, you can also book tours that directly support small families and artisans living in this part of Vietnam.
Making a Difference
Every choice you make as a traveler has the power to create a positive impact. By supporting sustainable brands and engaging in responsible tourism practices, you can contribute to the local economy, protect the environment, and empower communities across Vietnam. So, be a responsible traveler and make a difference wherever you go.
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