Travel for happiness, travel for a cause — Tours for Books, a unique initiative
Leaving behind the cacophony of city life and the mundane settlements at rest, traveling helps in setting spirits free and inhale new energy. Traveling is the source of quintessential 3 Rs — revival, rejuvenation, and redirection! But, while traveling gives so much, it takes away a lot from the environment and the places visited. Unknowingly, tourists leave behind carbon footprints, cause social dislocation, ecological degradation and of course economic dependence for other communities. But over the last few years, the definition of traveling has changed a lot making it more responsible and sustainable. ‘Nature-based tourism’, ‘ecotourism’, ‘community-based tourism’ are evolving significantly and becoming part of mainstream traveling ideas. So now while you travel and try to reboot yourselves, you can also give back a lot to the environment and communities you visit. Undoubtedly, it will double your happiness of travel when you can support local businesses, help in conserving natural resources and participate in communities.
Vietnam is a traveler’s paradise with her breathtaking scenic beauty, delectable Vietnamese food, and vibrant culture. According to the National Tourism Administration[1], Vietnam is expected to record 18 million foreign tourists in 2019, an 8.8 percent increase from 2018. The “smoke-free” tourism industry has become a driving force behind Vietnam’s economic growth. Apart from enjoying the diverse landscapes of Vietnam, tourists also love to learn about Vietnamese culture and local living by interacting with local people.[2] And this opportunity is leading to the emergence of great community-based tourism endeavors in Vietnam.
60 kilometers away from Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi, is located the mountainous region of Ba Vi. You may identify this name with the magnificent Ba Vi National Park — one of the most famous and beautiful attractions to visit in Vietnam. But Ba Vi also has much more to offer. The Minh Quang village in Ba Vi is a quaint retreat. While enjoying the solitude, you will get a unique opportunity to experience the Vietnamese lifestyle and enjoy local food through community-based tours in this village.
Local families will be your hosts in these day-long tours. They will welcome you in their houses, show the tea plantations, take you for a boat ride on Da river and cook lip-smacking authentic Vietnamese food for you. You can make the most of this experience by trying a hand at cooking too! Some of the villagers have been Vietnam war veterans, so you get a chance to listen to their experiences during the war. The local people will also show you around the village and you can visit other families who make tofu, conical hat, cake, or carpentry. The highlight of the trip is a bike ride around the village, through the lush green rice fields. Another host family offers a very relaxing traditional herbal foot bath. This is the best way to see, hear, touch, taste, and experience things authentic to the rural lives in the North of Vietnam that you might never get a chance to do otherwise. You will return with a bag full of memories and beautiful travel experience wrapped in the radiant smiles, warmth, affection, and love of the villagers — that is priceless, and something you will cherish forever.
But the magic is not over yet! These community-based tours are special for more reasons than one. A social enterprise, Tours for Books (TFB), organizes these tours. All profits generated from Tours For Books (TFB) support the programs of Better Life Vietnam, a non-profit organization that works to improve education conditions for underprivileged children and youth in Vietnam. This is a unique opportunity to give back so much to a community without taking much of an effort! While you enjoy the picturesque beauty of Vietnam and treat yourself with their cordial hospitality, the local people get employment opportunities, children get an education, the environment gets less toxic and the world smiles a little more. You will feel a deeper connection with the people of Vietnam because now you know you have made a positive difference in their lives. This tour will rejuvenate your mind, the experiences will refresh your soul and bring a smile on your face. In all capacities, the choice to take a trip like this enhances the happiness of traveling by many folds because as Winston S. Churchill rightly said, “we make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
To book a tour email: contact@vietnamtoursforbooks.com
For more information visit: http://www.vietnamtoursforbooks.com
[1] https://www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=42547&SEO=vietnam-tourism-keeps-growing-in-2019-expected-18-million-visits
[2] https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/03/28/vietnam-eyes-tourism-reform.html
Author: Shilpa Das Gupta
About the Author:
Shilpa Das Gupta is a communication and media professional from India currently residing in the US. After working in corporate media houses in India, she decided to transition into development communication. Shilpa joined Better Life Vietnam (BLV) as a volunteer to learn more about using communication techniques for social causes and help BLV in providing education to children and creating sustainable employment opportunities for disabled youth in Vietnam. She is currently leading BLV’s social media promotions team and is also part of their marketing team. In her free time, she loves reading, singing and doing DIYs.
