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T
hink of the northern mountain-
ous provinces of Vietnam and
images of stunning mountain
and forest scenery will likely
come to mind. That was the case for
me until I joined a charity trip to give
presents to children in Dao San com-
mune, Lai Chau.
After passing along a muddy path
we came to what they call the ‘wind
schools’ of Dao San. The main school
is a sturdy building, but the other units
scattered around the villages are made
of earth or bamboo.
I visited in winter. Members of my
group shivered in thick warm coats,
while the children wore ragged, dirty
T-shirts. Some had old shoes or san-
dals, some came bare foot, while some
carried a brother or sister on their back.
2 in 1 tour
These charity tours can be called
2 in 1 tours as guests don’t miss out
on the stunning beauty of the moun-
tainous regions and they also contrib-
ute to the local community, especially
the children.
“Our customers really enjoy this
kind of tour,” says Dang Thanh Tung,
manager of Vietravel’s Hanoi Office.
The company has been a pioneer in pro-
viding such tours for over three years
Before a trip, the travel agent has to
contact the local authority and schools
to learn about their needs. Some need
toys for kindergarten children; some
need books, warm clothes and blan-
kets; others may need food.
Customers contribute money and
items. The day of giving presents usu-
ally falls on the second or third day of
the tour so that the customers do not
feel tired after travelling a long way.
On other days they settle in to their
hotel and visit some beautiful places.
Before giving presents, they usually
play fun games or join performances
with the local children.
“The tourists are willing to share
our job and do not just want to be
served as usual. When we go to the des-
tination such as a school, despite their
age, they all join in to carry heavy bags
containing the gifts before giving the
gifts to the local children,” says Tung.
48
timeout
Charity tours are offer-
ing tourists the chance
to discover beautiful
parts of Vietnam while
giving something back
to local communities,
writes
Hong Nhung
Travel
for a cause