Kyle Sandilands to join us again!

I am having the pleasure of enjoying a Vietnamese coffee with my good friend Kyle Sandilands, who joined the CBT Vietnam team once again in Vietnam. Kyle Sandilands, a grad from Capilano U's film program, joined us last March when he filmed some of the project activities.

Kyle's last film, shown below, was a huge hit with the everyone who has had the opportunity to see it. So far the short film has been seen in over 30 countries and to thousands of people.

CapU/PATA Vietnam Tourism Training Project from CapU Tourism on Vimeo.

Kyle has decided to base himself in Hanoi for the next month, as he cuts a second short clip for PATA's Annual General Meeting in Kuala Lumpur this April. He is also currently working on a web series for the project that is due to come out soon!

Capilano University / PATA partnership

Building off of a successful five year Community Based Tourism Training Project funded by the Canadian International Development agency, Capilano University has partnered with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in an effort to further the tourism capacities in Taphin village.

The initial project - a CIDA funded capacity building project from 2002 - 2007 - delivered training in two villages within the Sapa region. In Tavan and Taphin, training in English, tourism product development, food safety, first aid, sanitation and maintenance, homestay development, and HIV / AIDS awareness were offered to community members. In addition, 50 ethnic tour guides and 20 Vietnamese guides working in the Sapa region were trained in tour guiding skills.

"training will be delivered in business development, entrepreneurship, understanding the tourist, better selling skills, environmental stewardship, community tourism planning"

For the next two years, student and faculty trainers from Capilano University and Hanoi Open University will continue what was started in the previous project, focusing on the village of Taphin. Training will be delivered in business development, understanding the tourist, better selling skills, and environmental stewardship. Attention will be placed on the local women and youth. Training in community tourism planning will also be delivered to local government.