The stars of the CBT Vietnam project

For nearly a decade I have been fortunate to be a part of a community based tourism project through Capilano University. I have worked on this transformational project in Vietnam in varying capacities and have many people to thank.

Sapa's inspiring terraced landscape.

In northern Vietnam there is a (in)famous tourist destination known as Sapa. Inspiring terraced landscape, cool climate and colourful culture is easily accessible via overnight train. For one hundred years visitors have frequented Sapa. Tourism is here to stay.

The ‘CBT Vietnam’ project emerged from a trip to Sapa by a group from Hanoi Open University (Vietnam), Capilano University(Canada) and North Island College (Canada). Dr. Geoffrey Bird led an initial five-year project supported by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. The project focused on skills-based training in the villages of Tavan and Taphin. Volunteer students and faculty from partner schools developed and delivered training primarily to local women. The goal was to create new opportunities for employment, develop a more sustainable form of tourism, and increase quality of life.

I was a student volunteer on the project who was changed by the experience. In fact, I took a leave from my studies and moved to Vietnam to travel and work in tourism. I was inspired.

Speaking with Khu in Lao Chai.

Two years after the project had completed I visited Taphin village and some of the locals. We discussed the idea of another project. Planning, entrepreneurship, network building, collective marketing and mutually beneficial partnerships were themes that would eventually lead to a series of projects generously supported by the PATA Foundation. The projects continue to bring Vietnamese and Canadian volunteer students together in the delivery of community tourism learning programs.

Some of the stars: Taryn, Stephanie, Jase and Kyle.

My current role as a project lead, and the successes it brings, is the product of the hard work of many. I am thankful for those who have continued to selflessly put forth their time and effort. Instructors and Deans, Stephanie Wells, Jen Reilly, Kim McLeod, Dr. Chris Bottrill, Casey Dorin, Ms. Ngoc Anh and Ms. Que have been instrumental in making these projects happen. The countless students that have been on the CBT Vietnam project are the heroes and heroines. Our stars. In the field they have excelled. They have been the energy and the true grit of the project. 

In a training workshop. Ms. Ly Man May is pictured second from the left. 

But the people that deserve the most appreciation are those from the villages. They have inspired us all. Tearful goodbyes when we depart from a project trip are testament that we are more than partners in the experience. This community development project is not an ‘us’ and ‘them’ case study. People like Ms. Ly Man May in Taphin, Ms. Soi in Tavan and Ms. Mai in Lao Chai are some of the individuals that deserve all the credit. These resilient, thoughtful women have trusted and welcomed us into their homes. 

When you go to Sapa you might have the opportunity to stay with some of these women. Learn from them like we have, and when you leave, be sure to thank them in their language.

Cho Lach Tourism full of attraction

In the middle of the western waterway there is a hypothetical market is located in the reed area. Over hundreds of years of development, the market has become the center of a district. It’s Cho Lach district in Ben Tre province.

Located away from Ho Chi Minh City about 120km to the west, along National Road 57 from Mo Cay district to go up, visitors easily run info the tourist destinations just visiting once is enough to get an unforgettable impression in tourists’ heart.

Hung Khanh Trung B Commune, the gate into Cho Lach is the first point stop after a long trip about 25km from the city of Ben Tre through Ham Luong Bridge into Cho Lach. It is very popular for its specialty of ornamental animal plants, ornamental shape plants, uniquely shaped by skilled hands of artisans, who must be considered uniquely skillful Nam Cong (Nam Cong ornamental plant establishment) with ornamental shaped product, ornamental animal plants which are exported to may countries around the world.

Nam Cong’s photograph of interesting ornamental animal plants

Bordering Hung Khanh Trung B commune is Vinh Thanh commune area, a fertile land with many special kinds of fruit trees that few places can match up. The highlights of Cai Mon – Vinh Thanh village is the birth of 10 seedling craft villages with many different types in which typically yellow apricots ornamental bonsai are created by artisans with quite elaborate shapes, some trees up to hundreds of years old to be at Vinh Thanh, visitors do not forget to miss the chance of visiting ancient impressive Cai Mon church which was built in 1872, visiting memorial stela of scholar Truong Vinh Ky. After the tourist trip in Vinh Thanh City, tourists can visit the resort and stop to rest at the ornamental tree base, garden cafe Lan Anh.

Cai Mon flower village

Cai Mon Church

Leaving Cai Mon – Vinh Thanh, along National Road 57 west to Long Thoi commune, Hoa Nghia commune, Cho Lach town, visitors have the chance to watch the special orchards with speciaties as: Mangosteen, langsat, rambutan, durian … bearing much, ripe fruit.

Through Cho Lach town of a few kilometers is to come to Vinh Binh commune, here there is a preservation area of small snail, getting boat down the river, watching the gentle flow of water in Co Chien river, gazing at people tapping small snails … There is also Ba Ngoi eco- tourism there.

Phu Da rice snail – Vinh Binh commune

Leaving Ba Ngoi tourist site toward Phu Phung, we could come to Nam Vu tourist site. Every place is different, but fruit is everywhere. The same fascinating waterways and the same hospitable people.

Thua Duc Sea Tourism (Binh Dai Province)

Thua Duc – Binh Dai Sea Tourism. The Beauty Of A Sea

If you have the opportunity to return to Binh Dai, visit Phu Sa Sea resort lying on a long sandy beach of Thua Trung Hamlet, Thua Duc Commune – Binh Dai district; Phone: 075.3742006. Thua Duc Beach is far from Ben Tre City approximately 67km of road. It attracts tourists from its wild beauty, with the stretch of fine sand beach together with the dark green poplar swinging in the wind along the beach, the sound of the waves whispering to harmonize with the whisper of the poplar rows creating a unique sound as a piece of music performed to captivate the people’s heart. All will make visitors forget the hustle of everyday life, to spead their hearts along with the sea, with the wind.

Road to Thua Dua sea

From Ben Tre City, only 60 minutes away by car, travelers come to Phu Sa Sea, Tourists, not only swim in the sea and watch beautiful scenery of the sea but also enjoy seafood specialties such as: Clam, shrimp, crab, oysters, and especially the pancakes (Vietnamese pizza) at the sea location.

Delicious Pancakes and unique flavor is the combination of sauce and fresh green vegetables. From the acrid, bitter taste of young mango leaves to the pungent smell of broccoli, lettuce fragrant, herbs with hot sauce, a little sweet, not any delicacies can match.

In Phu Sa sea resort – Thua Duc after swimming at the sea, setting by the tray of pancakes emitting smoke spreading good smell when not eating, how delicious, we feel After finishing eating delicious pancakes, visitors can lie down in the hammock under green poplar rows, to wholly enjoy the fresh air here, A day to experience in Thua Duc beach will leave visitors more unforgettable memories when being with this sea area.

Thua Duc Sea travel With The “Branch”of Pancakes

If you have the opportunity to go to Binh Dai, you will be invited to visit the tourist site “Bien Phu Sa”, lying on a long sand beach at Thua Trung Hamlet, Thua Duc Commune. A fine sandy beach stretch out to the sea with the green poplar row; the sea waves are whispering together with the sound of poplar trees of sugar to creating a unique sound.

Coming to “Bien Phu Sa” resort you not only sunbathe and watch beautiful scenery of the Sea, but also enjoy special dishes such as: baby clam, shrimp, fresh crab which are just caught by fishermen. And especially pancakes which are “specialty” associated with Bien Phu Sa resort. Most people who come here at least once taste the pancakes.

The main ingredients to make pancakes include rice flour, shrimp, meat, turmeric powder and other spices. To make a cake they put a frying pan on the stove, when the pan Is hot they pour cooking oil 9fat) into the pan, they put shrimp and half lean half fat pork sliced into pieces, scooping the solution of the to spread out the pan hollow. Powder reaching hot oil, emit the sizzle pleasing the ear. Then they add some green bean sprouts, or turnip onto the cake, cover and let itself cooked until crisp enough. Open the pan lid and then fold the cake in half, set the cake onto the plate to invite guests. Looking at the plates of crisp yellow and fragrant cakes, the diners want to enjoy immediately.

Pancakes wrapped with young mango leaves, silky leaves, with a pungent water cress, chicory; fragrant herles together with sweet sour, hot sauce will make you hardly forget “Bien Phu Sa” tour./.

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. 

Cai Cam Eco-Tourism

Tan Long Hamlet 3, Tan Thanh Binh Commune, Mo Cay Bac District, Ben Tre Province

Tel: 0753.3820850 Fax: 0753.3820850

Email: bentretour@mekongstay.com

Website: www.Mekongstay.com

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One day – Tour: Ben Tre – Mo Cay

From Tien Giang province, visitors take National Road 60 to Rach Mieu bridge connecting the two banks of Tien Giang – Ben Tre, tourists set foot onto Dong Khoi homeland. At Tan Thanh Roundabout Ben Tre city, turning right to Son Hoa commune, travelers take the boat across the Ham Luong River to Thanh Tan Islet (Mo Cay – Ben Tre), Tourists will go by tricycle, or bicycle along the country rood under the coconut trees after another full of shade, stopping to watch the coconut candy facility (Ben Tre specialty).

At the House of Uncle Ba (Luom), tourists enjoy Siamese coconut milk and a number of specialty fruits in Ben Tre. Continue to go down the rowing boat in the winding canals and the vessels take the tourists Cai Cam River; on the cruise, the boat will stop to visit coconut preliminary processing facilities, visitors will learn more about Ben Tre coconut trees.

Ms. Mai, a house is built of entire coconut for vacation (you can spend the night here if wishing to join the tour to the day after), enjoying the afternoon special dishes of Ben Tre … Small Shrimp roasted with coconut juice.

Before getting on the car to say goodbye to Ben Tre, tourists stop by at the coconut broom base in Xep Market. Saying farewell and setting a date to see Dong Khoi homeland later.

Lan Vuong Tourism

If visitors have the opportunity to come to Ben Tre to enjoy the waterway tourist of garden area, they do not forget to visit Lan Vuong tourism, Hamlet 2, Phu Nhuan Commune, Ben Tre city, about 3 km from Ben Tre city. This is an interesting stop, with cool green coconut-lined space, of an area of over 100,000 m².

Here, it is taking shape an organization of cultural activities, sports and travel along the city of Ben Tre. This is a tourist site of trees, shade, ornamental flowers, rowing boat … Especially thatched huts are located on the banks of the coconut made of plant materials in which they serve foods and drinks stage performance, a variety of special fruits like grapefruit, An Phuoc green skin plum, Hoa Loc mango, green Siamese coconut, … Tourists will enjoy right the spot.

Visitors can participate in exchanges of folk music amateurs, music and song, karaoke, etc. In recent years Lan Vuong eco-tourism has really become a great place to organize the camp, art festivals – sports, contests or festivals of coconut  cuisine, a top of the field tourists to the source or the conferences, seminars, traditional gathering …

Coming to Lan Vuong tourism is an exciting discovery that tourists can not miss the opportunity of being with Ben Tre. Please contact Mr. Tran Ba Sanh for more details; phone number: 075.3838030, Mobile: 0913.886178./.