Preparations for March trip well underway

As the March 14th departure date rapidly approaches preparations and planning for the Training Trip are in motion. Visas and airfares have been booked, hotel rooms and itineraries are being finalized, and the training modules are in development.

Students in Capilano University's second-year Tourism Planning class have also made their contribution. A 3 hour workshop was organized which allowed for short presentations on Viet Nam and tourism in Viet Nam, as well as the project. Participants then analyzed the situation in Sa Pa playing the role of each of the stakeholders (tour guides, international and domestic tourists, community, street vendors, homestay owners, local government, etc.). The new perspectives will be shared and integrated into brainstorming sessions as we continue to seek out new solutions.

Currently, the primary task of the project team is to complete a series of modules planned for the March trip. Training packages in Event Planning and Management, Local Government Tourism Planning Processes, Homestay Management, Understanding the Tourist, Business Planning, Environmental Stewardship, and the Importance of Culture are in the final stages of development and are days away from completion. They will be sent to a team of student volunteers from Hanoi Open University for translating and illustrating.

Everyone involved has put enormous amounts of volunteered effort into the project over the past month. Still, as the excitement builds for the departure date, any challenge that is put in front of the team is easily and enthusiastically dealt with.

Recognising two outstanding student volunteers!

CBT Viet Nam would like to recognize the following student volunteer for his efforts in creating our fantastic new webpage which can be found at www.cbtvietnam.com.

Guillaume St-Louis

Guillaume is a recent graduate from Capilano University’s Destination Resort Management (DRM) program which is a 16 month diploma that focuses on marketing, management and entrepreneurial skills. With over 5 years experience in the hospitality industry Gui felt the need to bring his career to the next level with formal education in the hopes of one day tackling a managerial position in the tourism industry. In the DRM program Gui was able to obtain a 3-month co-operative work term with Whistler’s Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Tourism Whistler. Here he was able to develop his interest for tourism marketing and gain practical experience in the field. His enthusiasm for marketing allowed him to excel within the DRM curriculum achieving Deans Honors recognition for his diploma. Gui’s interest in marketing as a career path works considerably well with his previous education and experience in website design. Guillaume wishes to pursue an exciting career in the tourism industry following his interests and expertise in hospitality and tourism marketing. Please visit his e-portfolio at http:/zenportfolios.com/gstlouis/

The CBT Viet Nam team would also like to recognize Jennifer Miller who is student volunteer assisting our team with module development.

Jennifer Miller

Jennifer Miller is a first year Capilano University student who is enrolled in the Outdoor Recreation Management program. Jen has experienced firsthand world famous activities such as: snorkeling Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and elephant trekking in Thailand’s northern mountains. Jen is enjoying every minute of being involved with the CBT Viet Nam team and contributing by sharing her personal experiences in Viet Nam. When not hitting the books one could find Jen teaching snowboarding or planning another big adventure. The Viet Nam team feels very fortunate to have Jen’s support and positive attitude to help us realize our goals in the communities of Ta Phin and Loa Chai.

Two Cap U students off to ‘Nam | Our Town | Squamish Chief, Squamish, BC

Those who make the argument that school is boring would have a hard time convincing Capilano University Squamish campus students Jase Wilson and Kyla Derkach.

The duo will be travelling across the world to help provide practical tourism training to help two small communities in the Sapa region of Northern Vietnam reduce poverty, improve their quality of life, and help provide sustainable authentic cultural and nature based experiences for visitors to their communities.

Click here: Two Cap U students off to ‘Nam | Our Town | Squamish Chief, Squamish, BC to see the rest of the article.

Ta Phin community makes big steps towards tourism development

Within six months the small community of Ta Phin has made some big steps, with a community-based approach, towards tourism development. The small business owners and entrepreneurs have begun to make progress in starting and / or improving their business plans; and, some of the youth have found part time and full time jobs as tour guides. Nevertheless, the community has made collective efforts that truly deserve noting:

1. The Creation of a CBT Management Board voted in by members of the community at a formal community meeting on tourism. The five member CBT Management Board includes representatives from the village authority, the village police (both Hmong), the homestay business owners, the embroidery products (both Dao women), and one young Dao woman representing cultural performances. The group will help in managing futher CBT village activities, be proactive to change and sustainable tourism development.

2. The development of a Ta Phin Calendar of Events for one year which outlines possible areas for tourism product development.

3. The creation of a Homestay Committee by the homestay owners which will work to manage the village's accommodation standards, as well as possibly take on some of Ta Phin homestay marketing and event initiatives.

4. An application for permission to build a Community, Tourism, and Culture House to the district authorities. This is a self-initiated step taken by the community and village authority to attain approval to build on a community-selected piece of land in the heart of Ta Phin.

All of these initiatives and actions reflect the village's response to the training the PATA / Capilano University project has delivered, the village's growth and building of its capacity, and the village's ability to become empowered to make decisions collectively in the are of tourism development.

Two more Capilano U students are selected to deliver June curriculum

In June 2011 two more Capilano University students will travel to Viet Nam to deliver curriculum in what is expected to be a very exciting trip. Work may be coming to fruition concerning many on going projects in the region.

Introducing: Louise Wirtz

Louise is a goal orientated second year Capilano U student chasing a Bachelor Degree in Tourism Management. Louise’s experience teaching English in Malawi for a year is one of many reasons she is an excellent addition to Capilano U’s CBT team in Viet Nam. When she isn’t studying entrepreneurship or ecotourism, Louise can be found in the mountains hiking, rock climbing or planning her potential future as a small business owner in the accommodations sector. Louise has a positive attitude, exceptional work ethic and loves being part of a team. She is excited about the CBT project in Viet Nam and is thrilled by the opportunity to apply the skills she has gained during her first years of study at Capilano U.

And: Taryn Bodrug

Taryn is in the third year of a Bachelors Degree in Tourism Management building on her Diploma in Outdoor Recreation Management. Taryn is a world traveler and has traveled in the Middle East, Australia, Central America, Europe, the Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia. She has deeply enjoyed studying at Capilano U and developing her passion in subject areas such as: sea-kayaking, international ecotourism and cross-cultural tourism. Taryn has worked internationally as a sea-kayak guide and hopes to one day own and operate her own guiding company. A highly creative individual Taryn enjoys art, music and camping. She is content in challenging situations where she can express her personal energy and flexibility. Taryn is excited to participate in the CBT project in Viet Nam feeling that she brings great enthusiasm and strong communication skills to the team.

December Trip Complete!

After a very cold December training trip, Ms. Ngoc Anh and her HOU student volunteers have returned to share the successes gained in the village of Ta Phin. During this trip their were no Canadian volunteers present, instead two members of Sapa Trade and Tourism support the training activities lead by Ms. Ngoc Anh.

Training in the village was targeted at the business owners, young women, and village

authorities. Tourism training was delivered in Business Development / Marketing, Tourism Planning, Event Management and Planning, Homestay Management and Planning, Appropriate Selling Skills / Understanding the Tourist, and English.