VIETNAM TRAVEL is committed to environmental, social and cultural responsibility. Our goal is to minimize the negative influences and maximize the benefits to local communities, economy and environment. Please respect the following elements:
Etiquette : As you are at home, be familiar but respectful of people around you. It's a good idea to learn a few words in Vietnamese or dialects to break the cold, bring smiles and friendship.
Be patient when you bargain or if you expect service even if this takes time, it's part of the experience and any unpleasant sign.
Clothing: among the locals, dress modestly and be careful with what you wear. Cover your knees and shoulders as the criteria of the Vietnamese: Light clothing, discreet and very short skirts are considered disrespectful.
Photos: Before taking pictures, ask politely permission. Do not pay in advance even if you require. For ethnic minorities, the photos are acceptable but it is forbidden to film because they have their own cultures. So, be patient, our guide is a negotiator to help you in communications.
Present: if you want to offer small gifts to the villages you visit, school supplies is a great idea (kits, binders, books, rulers, colored pencils, etc.). Tell your guide, you will be presented to a local schoolteacher.
As you walk through the villages, do not hand out sweets to ethnic minorities because they do not have the same dental hygiene you.
